I shake my head and pull my hand from Bishop’s cheek, sliding back in the chair, trying to control my thundering heart that was prepared to battle her on this topic if necessary. “Nope. I was just re-emphasizing to her how important it is that she take things easy.”
Pope snorts, crossing his arms over his chest. “Like she’s going to do that.”
Nora purses her lips and looks down at Bishop. “He’s right. I don’t have to tell you how serious a head injury is, even a concussion. No work, and I mean none, for at least two weeks. And then we’ll talk about it and reassess.”
Bishop grits her teeth and pushes up, shifting back in the bed until she’s sitting vertically against the pillows. A move that had to be painful but she’s so damn stubborn she did it anyway. “I’m not doing that, Nora. I’m not sitting out when someone just attacked us.”
Saint issues a low grumble. “You don’t have a choice. Those of us without injuries are going to take over everything. And those of you with them are going to do what the medical doctors order.”
She scowls, crossing her arms over her chest and muttering a curse under her breath when the movement pulls at her IV line. “Well, then I want a doctor who isn’t family and doesn’t have a personal reason to issue orders that aren’t necessary.”
For the love of God…
If I thought this would be any easier with the rest of the Hawkes backing me up, I was clearly wrong.
Nora gives her an exasperated look. “Not necessary? I’m happy to call down the neurologist who reviewed your MRI scan and have him explain exactly what could happen if you push yourself if I have to, but he’s currently operating on another patient.”
Bishop’s breath hitches. “Gabe?”
If it is, it happened very recently, because before I came in here, I was under the impression he was stable.
Everyone else exchanges a look that suggests I’ve definitely missed something.
Nora draws in a slow breath and then releases it. “Yes. The bleeding intensified. They had to go in.”
Bishop’s eyes dart to her parents, then back to her brother and her aunt. “Is he going to be all right?”
He has to be.
Men like Gabe Anderson can’t go out like this.
It wouldn’t be fair.
Life isn’t fair.
I don’t need a reminder of that today, or ever again.
Nora gives her a tight smile. “Dr. Bankes is one of the best neurosurgeons in the country. He’ll take care of him, but you need to take care of you. The more relaxed you are, the more you take it easy, the fewer side effects and the sooner you’ll recover, I promise.”
“You’ll come home with us.” Caroline steps forward and grabs her hand, squeezing it. “Your old room is still set up and?—”
I shake my head. “No.”
Caroline glances at me with a raised brow. “What do you mean ‘no’?”
Shit.
Maybe I should have thought this through before interjecting myself into Hawke family politics, but I can’t just sit here and pretend there aren’t things happening beyond these walls that are also at play.
“She’s coming home with me.”
Bishop gapes at me. “What? Like hell I am!”
“Listen…” I push to my feet, glancing at Saint because I know he’s probably pissed, but likely also the one who will understand where I’m going with this. “Whoever planted that bomb was, at the very least, targeting Gabe and Savage, but probably all of you, right?” No one argues otherwise. “Which means Bishop is in danger…”
Saint nods. “Agreed. We all are.”
“So, wouldn’t it be better if she recovers somewhere no one would look for her? Where no one would expect to find her? Somewhere not connected to the Hawkes in any way, shape, or form?” I press my hand over my chest. “That’s my place. I’m new in town. No one knows me, and they certainly don’t know about my connection to Bishop. I’ll take care of her. I’ll keep her safe. I’ll do whatever intelligence work I can from there while you do the field work.”
