Some of her despair must have leaked out because Sam shifted position and pulled her into a side hug. “It’s going to be okay. We’ve got this, Tans.”
Another knock on the door and a nurse walked in with a wheelchair. He startled a bit at the crowded room and he raised his eyebrows at her. “Needed a little testosterone boost, did you? I told you, I can ooze more if you need some.”
Tansy laughed. “Thanks, Jean-Paul, I think I’m good.”
He grinned at her sarcastic tone and waggled his eyebrows. “Good to go, I hear. I’m your official escort out of this joint. You’ve got all your discharge info?”
She nodded.
“You’re not to overdo it. Doc says you need to sleep in batches that count in hours, not minutes. You need your wounds cleaned and checked daily. I’ve gone over that with Sam as well. Keep them dry, no showers for a few days. You’re to eat more and stay off your feet as much as possible. Crutches until the next visit and absolutely no weight bearing. Got it?”
All the men surrounding her nodded and made her smile. Jean-Paul laughed and then shooed some of the guys into the hallway and brought the chair to the bedside.
Before she could move to the chair, Sam scooped her up and plopped her into it. Joe picked up her crutches.
After a trip through the hallways, the guys pulled the cars up to the door and Sam picked her up again. “This is why I have crutches. I can walk with them.”
He ignored her and put her in the back seat. He returned the chair, then slid in beside her and lifted her foot to rest on the seat. Then he tucked her back into his side with his arm wrapped around her and kissed her hair.
She sighed, but wasn’t entirely sure if it was in despair of losing control of her life or from the warmth of the love she felt surrounding her.
Deciding to go with love, she snuggled into Sam while Joe put the crutches up front and got in to drive.
Marcus and Troy jumped in Marcus’s squad car in front. A peek out the back window showed Nico and Graham in Red.
“Are we a parade?”
Joe laughed and followed Marcus. “Damn straight. You scared us, Sis. We’re making sure nothing like this happens again.”
Tansy let herself relax into the ride and listen while Joe updated them on the investigation.
“Howard’s fancy lawyer is throwing epic-level hissy fits, but so far hasn’t been able to get the judge to agree to bail. The judge knows he’s a flight risk because he has a private jet and homes in multiple cities around the world. Several with no extradition treaties with the US.”
“How did someone like that find out about me and my project?”
Sam’s body tensed around her. “Not sure yet, but probably Stephens.”
In all of this, she’d forgotten about James.
Joe’s voice was angry. “Haven’t found the weasel yet, but I’m sure he’ll turn up.”
Unless Howard had him hidden away somewhere. “I find it difficult to believe James is involved with an arms dealer.” She stroked her fingers along Sam’s arm. “He fooled me completely. I feel like a giant idiot.”
Joe grunted and glanced at her in the rear-view mirror. “Everyone makes mistakes.”
This one had been a doozy. Although in a weird and twisted way, it had brought her and Sam together, with Joe happy about it.
“Maybe I should email James again. See what he says. He might have nothing to do with this.”
Sam’s grunt wasn’t happy, and he squeezed her lightly. “Turn it off, Tans. We don’t need to figure out anything today. Howard is in jail and you need to recover. We’ll figure it out.”
“We meaning you guys while I sit and do nothing? I don’t think so.”
She watched them share a look and poked Sam. “You’re going to include me in all plans or else I’ll make some of my own without including you.”
Sam kissed her hair. “Fine. But your recovery and safety come first. Non-negotiable.”
Joe nodded his agreement from the front seat as they drove through the town of Phail. Almost home.