Emerson eyed Jackson.
Jackson eyed him back, shrugging. “I’ll make some calls, but I can’t promise anything.”
“And you’re staying here until you hear back. At least tonight,” Emerson said. “If you’re feeling stronger tomorrow, we can talk to your doctor about leaving. And only under my care and supervision.”
Dash grinned. “Deal.”
“And you won’t go gallivanting all over for a while, either. You get what they need, hand it over, and go home to rest,” Emerson said. “If they have questions about your evidence, they can come talk to you. When you’re not sleeping.”
Dash sighed. “Fine.”
“There will be a lot of napping.A lot,”Emerson spat.
“For fuck’s sake, Em. I’m not five.”
“You almost died,” Emerson repeated.
“Almostbeing the key word,” Dash snapped back.
Emerson knelt by the wheelchair and leveled his gaze at his mate and barked, “You will do as I say.”
Dash sat up a little straighter, narrowing his eyes. “Yes, sir.”
Emerson grinned and stood back up. He glanced at Jackson who stood there with his jaw hung open.
“What the entire fuck was that?” Jackson asked. He looked down at Dash.“Yes, sir?”
Dash growled under his breath.
“Oh, I see. He’s got that shit on lockdown.Okay,”Jackson said, grinning at Emerson. “Definitely not messing with you, my man.” He turned to Dash. “Talk soon. Get some rest.”
As soon as Jackson returned to his room, Emerson stepped behind the wheelchair and turned Dash towards his bed. They rolled down the hall silently for a few seconds.
“Youdorealize I’m going to make you pay for that, right?” Dash said, his tone lethal—but with the tiniest hint of amusement.
Or so Emerson hoped he heard. “Oh, I don’t doubt it, but I’ll take whatever punishment comes if it means your heart won’t stop again anytime soon.”
“You better be glad I love you,” Dash murmured.
“Every day for the rest of our lives,” Emerson said, pressing a kiss to the top of Dash’s head.
He strolled down the hallway, considering a tidbit of information he’d withheld from Dash. Dash had every right to know, but he wasn’t sure if his mate’s heart could take it.
Not yet, anyway.
34
One week later…
Dash slipped into a chair at his dining room table and opened his laptop. After signing into the meeting app, his screen opened to a sea of faces. He scanned the solemn faces of the Black Guard agents, only recognizing a few.
“Dash, welcome,” his ex-station lead, Hayden Harris, said. Hayden smiled. “You’re looking stronger today.”
“Feeling stronger, thanks.”
“I believe we’re all here now,” Hayden said. “Let’s get started. Dash, I first want to update you that our agents arrested Felix Crenshaw last night. He was attempting to flee the province.”
“I warned you he might,” Dash replied.
