I stare at him, my voice more of a whisper than I intended. “When did he ask you to start watching me?”
“The night he came home without you.”
Fuck.
“He trusts Captain to keep you safe, but he needed to know someone had your back if Cap could only have your front.”
There’s a hard knock on the room door and my eyes narrow.
“Told him what you said.” He shrugs, tossing the cotton ball in the sink as he backs out. “Told me to fuck off.”
‘Course he did.
The second the door clicks, it’s slammed against the wall and heavy footsteps bound my way.
A mess of dark hair and wild dark eyes hit mine. His shoulders drop and he rushes for me, his hands planting gently on my face, getting a good look. I keep my muscles loose so he can move me as he needs.
He tilts my head to the side and down, softly brushing against my hair to see the damage the gun made beneath it.
“You keep getting this pretty little head beat on, and you might forget us altogether, RaeRae,” he teases, bringing my eyes back to his. “On second thought, I could get down with that, maybe win you over first the second time around.”
My lips press together, a small laugh leaving me. I grip his wrist, bringing my forehead to his. “Yeah, ponyboy. I’m good.” I catch his eyes again. “I promise.”
With a deep inhale he nods, and then steps back, glancing across my body. “She get you anywhere else?”
“My ribs are a little tight, chest is heavy.” I look away. “Not sure what’s causing it, though.”
He grabs my hand and tugs me to him, wrapping his arms around me loosely.
“Imma need you to stop gettin’ your ass kicked, RaeRae. Let me take the hits for you.”
“I needed the pain today,” I mumble against him.
He jerks back, glaring at me, but he can only hold my eyes for a few seconds now that we’re back to the reality of the day.
They found out I married their brother, and without them. I know that’s what hurts Royce the most.
He was left out. He doesn’t know how to handle being in the dark.
“We didn’t want to force you guys to watch.”
“We wanted to be there. Silent strength, RaeRae, that’s what we could have given you, and him.”
I swallow, but it burns. “Is he okay?”
“Let’s go.” He ignores me. “Someone needs to be there when he gets out of surgery.”
He starts walking when I ask, “Maddoc isn’t there yet?”
Royce freezes. He turns his head, but not all the way – a slight glance over the shoulder. “Nah...” He starts walking again. “Not yet.”
“I...” My brows snap together. Never. He would never not be there or here in a moment like this, no matter fucking what led to it. I dart forward. “Royce.”
He pauses again, shaking his head. He looks to Bass who spins on his heels and steps out the door.
I walk around, planting my feet right in front of Royce.
“I can’t find him,” he whispers regretfully.
“Call him.”
“I tried.”
“Try again,” I snap, panic flaring.
He digs in his pocket, flopping Maddoc’s phone into my hand.
My eyes reluctantly pull from it to him. “Royce...”
“Had Mac track it when he didn’t answer. Found it with his GPS in the alley behind the donut store.” He doesn’t meet my eye. “He ripped it straight from the dash. We can talk about this later. Right now, Captain needs his family.”
He waits for me to nod and together the two of us make our way to his SUV.
The drive to the hospital is a silent one.
When we get there, we pull around the back.
As we step out, another door sounds, and I turn. Bass is ten steps behind me.
He gives a subtle nod, so I nod back.
Royce stops, glancing around and in the next second, what looks like a glass window, becomes a sliding door and we step inside what is apparently a private elevator. It starts to close but I throw my arm in front of it, not looking Royce’s way when his head slices toward me.
Bass steps inside with us.
The ride up, I’m sure is a quick one, but with each floor higher, my distress levels double. “There’s no way he knows Captain’s hurt. He’d be here if he did...” I look to Royce who again glances away. “Right? He’d be here?”
Royce’s forehead contorts. “Any other day, I’d say yeah in a heartbeat, laugh at you for questioning it, but...”
But he found out I married his brother today, and at the same time and in front of the entire fucking school.
Big Man...
My mouth opens but I close it just as quick. “He told me to do this, then left when I listened.”
Royce glares at Bass a moment so he slips the headphones forever around his neck on, turning away.