on Ryker’s foot. “I mean it, Ry. We need you in our lives.”

He nodded, the emotion tightening his throat, preventing any comment. Killian stood and moved beside Xander. “I’ll go now, too. But I’ll be back. Can I bring you lunch? Maybe a gyro from Aunt Tallie’s?”

Ryker smiled at that. Aunt Tallie’s was on the other side of the city. It had been Killian’s favorite when he was little. The food would be a wet mess before Killian could get it here. “Nah, I’m good.”

He watched his brothers leave and closed his eyes. Not because they were leaking. No. He was just tired.

“All right. I have the scissors and the safety pins. And just in time, the doctor is next door.” Carl, his nurse, buzzed in and grabbed the hem of his shirt. The razor-sharp scissors made quick work of the cotton from hem to armpit and the fabric opened. Carl dropped the scissors into his pocket and quickly attached two safety pins to the fabric under his sling-hobbled arm. “Next time, ask for help.” Carl checked his watch. “You’re due your meds soon. How’s the pain?”

“Manageable if I don’t move too much.” Actually, he didn’t hurt as much as he’d expected. It was the weakness after the surgery that was kicking his ass.

“That’s good. Oh, here’s the doctor.” Carl turned and gave him a wide-eyed stare. The ‘I saved your ass’ look made him chuckle.

He dealt with the doctor’s poking and prodding, took a pain pill, and dozed for a while. A knock brought him from a light sleep. Ryker sized up the big man. Broad shoulders, heavy muscles, and a short haircut. He didn’t know this guy and, given the fact the man was wearing the duty uniform for Hope City Fire Department, the man probably had the wrong room. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah... no. I think I can help you, though.” The guy crossed his arms. The shoulders and biceps on the guy were thick with corded muscle, but he didn’t seem menacing, although the fixed stare could burn a hole through him.

Ryker arched an eyebrow. It was about as much energy as he had right now. “Exactly how do you plan on that? Am I on fire?”

The guy shook his head and then laughed. “Dude, I’m sorry. My name is Blay. I’m Brie’s younger brother. Mom and Dad called last night. I understand you need a place to stay.”

Ah, the eyes, yes, he could see the resemblance there, but unlike Brie and Brody, Blay’s coloring was lighter and his facial features were stronger or perhaps more squared off. His mind caught up with the conversation. “Wait. They called you about me? Is that why you’re here?”

“Nah, I’m here because one of our guys got his ankle tweaked when he fell through some floorboards at a house fire this morning. The rest of the team is two floors down.” He adjusted the radio on his hip. “I can’t be gone long, but I wanted to pop up and tell you I may have a solution for you.”

“I didn’t ask for help, but thank you.” He was going to look for a place to stay today because Carl was right, the doc was making him stay one more night. He had time to figure something out.

Blay tipped his head back and laughed, his arms wrapped around his stomach. “Oh, man, you are so screwed. Mom already has your life arranged for the foreseeable future.”

Ryker narrowed his eyes. “How?”

“Well, see, I’ve been renovating an apartment. I was going to move in next weekend. I’ve been couch surfing with Rory while I put the finishing touches on the place. She suggested that I offer you the apartment until they catch whoever has it out for you.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m sure I can find a place.”

The guy sobered quickly. “Dude, have you met my mom? It’s either my apartment or their house. You want to use my apartment. Trust me.”

“Yeah, again, I appreciate the offer, but your mom doesn’t run my life.” He was forty-six, damn near forty-seven years old. He could find his own place to stay.

The guy laughed again walking back to the door, HCFD sprawled in print across the back of his shirt. He stopped, shaking his head as he turned. “You have so much to learn.” He braced his arm against the door jamb. “Got to tell you, I thought you’d be younger.”

Ryker flew his middle finger at the guy, which earned him another laugh. “Oh, dude, I’m not criticizing. If you have the energy and the drive to keep up with Brie, you’re okay in my book. Now Brock, he may be just a bit more miffed. You made him do math, man.”

Ryker rubbed his face. What the hell was this guy talking about? Fuck, no more pain pills. He was having problems keeping up with this conversation. “Excuse me?”

He laughed again and shook his head. “You realize they figured out how old you’ll be when you and Brie have kids, right?”

“Kids?” His voice strangled a bit. Kids? Who said anything about kids? Did he want kids? Well, yeah. Maybe. Probably.

“Yep. Anyway, the offer is there to use the apartment. It is a keyed entry building, oh, and your sergeant owns it. Cozy, that’s what it would be. Mighty cozy, especially if Brie is going to stay with you.”

“Yeah, thanks but no thanks.”

“Think about it. It is better than the alternative. Besides, Rory is going to let me hang with him at his place. Actually, I’m teaching him how to lay flooring so I’m not wearing out my welcome.”

That was the second time Brie’s brother mentioned that name. Was that a relative, a brother she hadn’t mentioned? “Rory?”

“McBride. Our next-door neighbors. Brie told you about the McBrides, right? Colm is retired CIA and Sean’s a homicide detective. Tara McBride is married to Carter Fiske, he’s a narcotics detective, then there’s Kyle, also narcotics, but you should know those guys, seeing how you’re the

Вы читаете Ryker (Hope City Book 5)
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