“Cade has a personality conflict with Manson because they’re both mean fuckers. Noooo, I’m not going to do it.”
“Not even for a car? Wow, I expected you to help a bitch out.”
T.A.’s mouth dropped open. “Are you crying?”
Killyama reached for a tissue that was sitting on her table. “My hormones are out of whack. Never mind, I’ll tell Crazy Bitch I’ll take the cat.”
She knew when she was beat. “Agh! I’ll take the fucking cat.”
A second later, Killyama had tossed her tissue to the table and picked up the banana she hadn’t eaten for lunch and started peeling it.
T.A. narrowed her eyes on Killy. “You played me, didn’t you?”
“Like a violin.” She shrugged. “Bitch, what did I tell you about giving in? Such a sucker. Consider it another learning experience.”
Her friend knew she wouldn’t go back on something when she’d said she would do it. Well, there was a first time for everything. Her mouth opened to tell Killyama that no car was worth taking Manson when a movement in the doorway had both of them receiving a surprise.
She hadn’t really expected Dalton to show at the hospital, nor was she expecting him to bring Grace, Dax, Kaden Cross, his wife, Shade, and Lily.
“I hope it’s okay we stopped by. We asked at the nursing station if you were taking visitors.”
Killyama grinned, motioning them forward. “Am I dying and the doctor didn’t tell me?”
“No.” Dalton grinned back as he walked to stand by her bed while the others lined up beside him.
T.A. hadn’t seen Dalton’s daughter before. Dax might have taken after his father, but his daughter looked like their mother.
Scrupulously lowering the feet of the recliner, she pretended to watch Killy and Dalton while her attention was on Grace. The former model was dressed in a green sweater and jeans, holding a coat over her arm. She was freaking gorgeous, and that was without makeup. T.A. felt like an overly made-up floosy in the room with her.
She had dressed in a pair of skin-tight black leggings and a bulky grey sweatshirt that had a graphic design of a motorcycle and the words “Ride or Die” embossed on the front. The neck was cut out of the collar and neckline, so that it dipped down to her cleavage, showing the lacy red camisole that was worn underneath.
She felt hot when strutting into the hospital. Now not so much. Self-consciously, she tugged on the back of her shirt to raise the front higher. Flushing, she saw that Dalton had seen the furtive movement.
“T.A., hand me my overnight bag.”
Standing, she went to the closet and took out a large suitcase that had been put on its side to fix. Wheeling it to Killyama, she was going to lift it onto the foot of the bed, but Dalton reached for it before she could do so easily.
He gave her a surprise glance. T.A. rolled her eyes.
“Don’t ask. You’re about to see.”
She unzipped the suitcase for Killy, opening to the assortment of items within. The largest item was a stop sign that looked like it had been run over by a tractor trailer—because it had.
“Where did you get this?” Dalton asked, picking the sign up to study it closer.
“Ebay,” Killy told him, leaning forward to take out a small zippered bag. Opening it, she took out a permanent marker. “Pull up a chair and get busy signing.”
Shade went to side of the room and brought a chair for Dalton, his expression plainly saying Dalton had been warned.
Good-naturedly, he sat down and started autographing items that Killyama had brought for him to sign.
“How are you doing today?” he asked conservatively as he scrawled his signature.
“I’m fine,” Killy answered him, handing another marker to Kaden. “There’s some shit in there for you too. Found out I was having a girl.”
“Train must be thrilled,” Grace said as she separated the items for Dalton and Kaden.
“More like scared shitless. He’s afraid she’s going to take after me.”
“Everyone’s afraid of that, not just Train,” T.A. said, holding her hand out to Grace. “Hi, I’m Trudy.”
“Hi, I’m Grace. It’s nice to meet you.”
Dalton paused, raising his head. “I thought you met her the night of the party.”
“No, Sex Piston and I left right after you to check on Killyama. Grace wasn’t there.”
“Penni and I fell asleep while Shade was putting John and Clint to bed.”
As Grace was explaining, Sex Piston came in the door.
“Damn. If I’d known you were having a party, I would have brought chips.” Sex Piston glanced down at the suitcase on the bed. “I see she’s been keeping you busy.”
Grace lifted a pair of black gloves, placing them in Dalton’s stack. Lily picked them up and placed them in Kaden’s. T.A. hid a smile at Shade’s expression. As Grace pulled out a leather vest, she eyed Lily questioningly. Lily was aware of her husband’s eyes on her as he stood motionless.