“OK, Joy, find five things that are blue. Five blue things, baby. What are they?”
My eyes land on a painting Kit gave me after school yesterday. “Kit’s painting of the beach,” I wheeze out.
“Good, so good, what else?”
“My slippers,” my lips whisper out as my eyes are already scanning the room for the next blue thing I can see. “The little book on my shelf,”
“You’re doing great, babe. Two more things Joy,” Switch soothes, running his hand over my hair as my breathing starts to calm.
“The cushion on the chair by the window, and -” my gaze swings around my room again, trying to find anything blue before landing on the man in front of me, “your eyes,” I whisper out before my eyes close and I slump into Switch’s arms.
He catches me, as I knew he would and a sob rips from my chest, I’m not sure why, all I know is at this moment my body needs this. Needshim.
“I’ve got you, Joy. I’ve got you and Kit and nothing andno oneis going to harm you. You hear me?” he grits out, his warm breath ghosting over me.
“Yes,” I croak out.
“Good.” He rocks me slightly. “Good. Whoever this fucker is that thinks he can own Kit has another thing coming. He has the DRMC looking for him and we will end him, Joy.”
“Why are you helping me? I’m nobody.” I whisper out, still raw from my meltdown. From the voices that swirl in my head, the ones I carry with me.
“Because you and Kit deserve to live a wonderful fucking life in your little house, safe and sound. You deserve to have so much happiness that you two will shit rainbows.”
I snort and then giggle a little before that small giggle turns into a tremulous laugh. “Thank you, Switch, just, thank you.”
“Anytime, babe. Anytime.”
Chapter 6
Switch
“Dr. Manning, you have a patient in room 3.”
“Thank you, Mary.” I reply, walking briskly past Joy on the front reception desk to where I need to be.
Knocking twice on the door I let myself in, not paying too much attention to the person sitting on the bed, instead moving to the basin and washing my hands.
“I’m Dr. Manning, what can I do for you toda-” I let out a long groan as soon as I spin around and lay eyes on the exam table.
“Well, Doc, you see, I’m not feeling very great. I got a bad case of Love Pres-ticular Cancer.”
Closing my eyes I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What the actual fuck, Pops?”
“Yeah, sounded better in my head,” he says thoughtfully. “Anyway, what the fuck are you doing letting sweet Joy and herlittle girl stay in their house and not bring their cute little asses to the clubhouse last night? You were there when Marx said we got sick bastards after them.”
I lean my ass against the basin, crossing my arms over my chest, my white doctor coat tight across my back. I don’t even know why I wear the fucking thing. I’m a co-owner of this place, in theory I could wear whatever I want, but I doubt anyone wants to be treated by a man in a cut.
“You think I want them living there? Fuck no! But it’s up to Joy. I’m not making decisions for her. She’s had that her whole fucking marriage and I’m not going to be that guy.”
Pops’ face softens a little. “I get it kid, but maybe if she knew the danger?”
“She does.” I answer flatly. “I told her last night. I just couldn’t fucking keep her in the dark. She deserves to have control of her life, I’m not going to bulldoze her into coming to the clubhouse if she doesn't want to.”
Pops narrows his eyes at me before a sly smile starts to bloom. “You’ve got eyes on them, haven't you?”
I don’t answer. There is no way I want Joy to find out that I spent the night in the SUV so I could keep an eye on them. Not that I needed to worry too much. It seems that Willa has taken to doing the same thing, even going so far as to pull a gun on me when she realized I was still out there. We’ve since come to somewhat of an understanding. I treat Joy well and I get to keep my balls. Sounded like a good deal to me.
“Well, you can keep your big, ginger secrets, but I’m going to work on Joy. You may be content to sleep in the SUV, but I know my old heart just wouldn't take the stress of worrying about those girls.”
