He chuckled. “I got dressed this morning and thought I’d run a marathon. Wiped me out.” He sat down and adjusted his position so he could face the table. “I slept most of the morning.”
She retrieved a massive burger and two large orders of waffle fries. “What did the doctor say?”
“He wants an x-ray this afternoon and then, if everything is good, he’ll release me tomorrow morning.”
Brie unwrapped his burger and poured his fries onto the wrapper. She shook down a ketchup packet and opened it, squirting the contents onto the wrapper so he could dip his fries. Her hand still trembled.
"You're sure you're okay?"
"What? Yeah. Mom called this morning.”
He took a drink of the massive, ice-cold soda and watched her, waiting for her to tell him what was actually happening. He'd been a cop for far too long not to trust his gut. Something else was going on, something she wasn't telling him. Brie cleared her throat. “She and Dad think it would be a good idea if you moved into Blay’s apartment until you figure out what happened last night.”
She tore her fry in half and nibbled on the damn thing. He could tell she was in pain, but she was trying not to show it. He dipped a fry into the ketchup and ate it before he responded. “First, we know what happened last night. Someone was trying to kill me. I will not put others at risk. What happened to you?”
Brie leaned back in the small chair and stared at him. “I told you, and we'll have to figure something out because you aren’t getting rid of me. Brody and Amber have guns.”
“And what about their kid?” Ryker picked up his burger with one hand and took a massive bite. He wasn't ready to give up on what really happened to her, but he'd reattack that later.
“Oh, like Mom wouldn’t love to have a reason to have Gage at the house.” Brie picked up her shake.
“I met him today, you know,” Ryker spoke around his food.
“Gage?” Brie’s eyebrows popped toward heaven.
“Blay. He was here this morning. Offered me the apartment temporarily.” He dipped another fry.
“He’s a good kid.” Brie nibbled on a fry. “It isn’t a bad idea.”
“The person I met today was a full-grown man, and it isn’t the best idea either.” Ryker shook his head. “I can get a room at a hotel.”
“Wouldn’t that put you at risk?”
“I don’t think so. I believe the people who shot at me were sending a message.” He leaned back and took a drink of his soda.
“So, us moving into a full apartment where I can cook us meals and take care of you is less preferable than us moving into a hotel room and having access to nothing.” She nodded her head. “Got it.”
“Manipulation.” He picked up the burger again. “Doesn’t work on me.” He took a bite and sat it down, wiping his chin with one of the paper-thin napkins that were in the bag.
“I don’t like the idea of a hotel.” She grabbed another fry and tore it into pieces, not really eating it. “Brody and Amber can load the apartment with food and bring our clothes from the house. You’d be able to heal, and I could hide for the next week with you. Roger has everything he needs, and he said he’d call if he ran into problems.”
A wave of exhaustion rolled through him. As much as he hated to admit it, hiding for a week sounded like a fantastic idea. Minus the day he’d have to travel to New York, it sounded perfect. “Okay, but make sure Blay isn’t doing this against his will.”
“Oh, I guarantee Mom probably guilted him into it, but welcome to our world.” Brie chuckled. “If you can’t think of something better by tonight, we’ll accept. And a hotel room is not a better idea, by the way.” She pointed the straw of her drink at him as she spoke.
He nodded and closed his eyes. “My brothers stopped by this morning.”
She cocked her head at him. “All of them? That's kinda sweet.”
More like bittersweet. “No, just Xander and Killian. We worked through a few things.”
“And these things you worked through involve…” She let the sentence go, asking for information she had every right to know.
“Our mother. Their father. A past that isn’t pretty but not their fault—nor mine.” He looked at his half-eaten burger and fries. “I think I’ll save this for later. I’m tired.”
Brie was on her feet and at his side immediately. At least she wasn't shaking when she helped him stand and make his way back to his bed. He’d just laid down when a nurse swooped in to take his vitals again and give him another pain pill. Brie put their lunch back into the bag and moved the chair to sit beside him. “You don’t have to stay.” He smiled at her surprised look.
“I know, but I want to. I have a book on my phone app that I want to read and being near you makes me feel… safer.” She gave him a sad smile and winced. “I’m sorry for being clingy.”
“I feel better with you here, too. You’re not clingy.” He closed his eyes. Her warm hand covered his, and he sighed. He felt so much better with her by his side.
Chapter 12
Well, hell. The apartment was way better than a hotel room. Brianna picked him up from the West Entrance, just in case someone was watching the hospital. He would not parade out the main patient entrance and wave a fucking flag in their face. Additionally, he wore a Hope City Captains cap tugged down, obscuring any direct recognition. Was it overkill? Probably, but for Brie’s safety, yeah, he’d go the extra mile.
“Do you want to lie down?” Brie asked as she engaged the second deadbolt.
“God, no. I want a hot shower.”
“Doc said not to get those stitches wet.” Brie smiled at him.
