Page 82 of Hard Heart

“Is Diesel okay?”

“Couple of cuts, nothing serious.”

A nurse showed up, looking nervous, and injected something into Levi’s IV. Then a doctor arrived and told him he’d been lucky. He didn’t feel lucky. He felt as if he’d been run over by a semi, then punched in the stomach for good measure. Another nurse brought a cup of water and held a straw to his lips, standing as far away as possible.

“Can you lose the cuffs?” Levi asked Jim. “I have a catheter in my dick, and I’m sure as hell not going to be running anywhere.”

“There’s rules.”

Rules they could bend in the prison, but not in the hospital where other folks might see.

“Can I at least make a phone call?”

“I’ll look into it. Your lawyer’s over at the prison raising a ruckus about visitation rights, so you’re gonna want to speak with her first.”

“My lawyer? You mean Serafina?”

“Nah, some other woman.” Shit. “But Serafina is with her. Let me know when you’re well enough for visitors.”

He just wanted to see Sera. Needed to see her. He had to warn her to stop doing whatever she was doing, that she was in danger. One of the hornets had come after him, and he had no doubt she’d be next in line for the stinger.

“I’ll see them as soon as they can get here.”

Sera was pale as a ghost, trailing behind a besuited brunette at least fifteen years older and two inches shorter, even when the newcomer was wearing four-inch heels. Sera had found her ballet slippers again, but there would be no foot massages today. Levi wasn’t sure he could lift his arms in any case.

The two women were escorted by another CO, and Jim rose when they walked in.

“I’ll be outside,” he said. “The doc said you only get ten minutes.”

Levi tried to smile, and that hurt too.

“Hey,” he said huskily.

“Hey back.” Sera’s voice came out uncertain. “Uh, this is Raelene. My boss at the Justice Project.”

The one Sera had been certain would fire her if their discussions came to light? Interesting. Ruby would have loved psychoanalysing the reasoning behind that. Sera was used to being cast aside, first by her parents in favour of her sisters—classic middle-child syndrome—and then by her ex-boyfriend. She’d told him a little about her family in their phone calls.

“I’d shake hands, but…”

“Raelene agrees your case has merit, and she’s offering to represent you.”

Two months ago, he would have jumped at the chance. But everything had changed. Levi had fallen halfway in love with an enigmatic stranger with great toes and no sense of self-preservation. And he’d led her into danger.

“Thanks, but I’ll have to decline.” Uttering the words nearly killed him, and it wasn’t lost on him that if he died, she’d be safe. “I appreciate everything you’ve done.”

He coughed, and Sera snatched up the glass of water. “Here.”

She jabbed the straw into his mouth, glowering. Good. She was angry. That made this easier. He could handle her fury, but not her tears.

Or, as it turned out, her stubbornness.

“I can’t force you to accept representation,” Raelene said. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got stabbed in the gut. You shouldn’t have come here.”

He was speaking to Raelene but looking at Sera. Who had called her? Duke?

“We were in Unit Eight with another client when the sirens went off.”