Page 119
Lark lifted his chin, turned on his heel, and left without another word.
Volt stepped closer to me and Gamble. “What did the doctor say?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. The doctor asked me to step out, and two deputies were waiting in the hall. I gave them my statement, and then they went to talk to her, but requested I not be there.”
Gamble looked down the hall toward where Victoria waited outside Mickayla’s room. “I’m gonna wait with Vickie.”
I locked eyes with Volt. “Are you turning management over to the triplets? Or is Beast going to take lead on that?”
Volt cocked his head a touch. “I was going to ask if you’d be interested in doing it. You’ve taken care of the inventory at Platinum’s enough that at a minimum you could help manage the bar.” He twisted a hand out in question. “But I also understand if you’d rather not because not every couple is good at working a full-time job together.”
That caught me by surprise. “Can I think about it for a week or so? Not sure how long she’ll be in here, or what her recovery situation is, and I don’t want to leave Turk and Yak in a bind.”
Volt clapped me on the shoulder. “Take your time.” His eyes slid toward her room and back to me. “Looks like the cops are wrapping up, which means I’m gettin’ out of here. Swing by the clubhouse. I’m pretty sure Abby has that cut you asked for by now.”
My brows shot up. “That fast?”
Volt grinned. “You know how she is. She’s been waitin’ for you to find a woman for a long time. Probably had the rockers already made, just didn’t know what name patch to put on the front.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”
Volt and I parted ways, and I leaned up against the wall next to Ricochet, doing my damnedest to ignore the sullen look Nickel shot my way.
“Listen,” Ricochet started in a whisper.
I held up a hand and spoke loud enough her whole family could hear me. “I’m gonna convince her to talk to all of her family.” I stared at Nickel. “Especially you.”
“So I can get thrown under the bus again?” he asked.
I fought off a head shake. “So you can let her know where your head was at…and make some amends - if you’re really putting effort into getting over the age issue.”
His jaw ticked and he looked away.
I debated sharing this, it might make Mickayla mad, but if she shut him out today, I wasn’t sure they’d get over it. Both of them were stubborn as hell.
“Did you listen to what she said when you swung by her place the other morning?”
Nickel’s eyes locked with mine. “You were there. Hell, you must have made the omelet.”
I ignored that. “She said, her happiness should matter more to you than any man’s age.”
Nickel’s eyes slid toward Ivy standing at his side and back to me. “Yeah. I’ve been reminded of that plenty in the last twelve hours.”
“Ryan, try to have an open mind,” Ivy said, reaching for Nickel’s hand.
I sighed. “We’re focusing on the wrong thing. What devastated her was you wanting her out of the restaurant. For giving me shit about snatching her dream away from her, you made your opinion known. Luckily, not many of the other brothers agreed.”
The police finally came out of her room and left the door open. Victoria hurried inside with Gamble right behind her. Ricochet followed. I waved my arm out for Nickel and Ivy to precede me.
I shut the door behind me and Mick sat back on her inclined bed, holding her hands up. “I can’t deal with this many people at once.”
“Honey…” Victoria started.
At the same time, Ivy said, “I can go.”
Nickel looked at her. “You aren’t leaving, Ivy.”
Mickayla glanced at me.