“Hunt. It’s fine. I’ll have Bill drop me off at home. It’s all good.”
Hunter stared me down while Sarah stood a step behind him, her inquisitive sea-green eyes wide.
“You got Angelina to go home to. Relax. I’m fine. Been beat up way worse than this and gone home.”
Sarah’s eyebrows furrowed, and her mouth opened as if to ask something, but she didn’t. Yeah, she didn’t know me, either. Thankfully. The amount of shitty baggage I carried around—I was better off on my own.
“Okay, kid.” Bill stomped into the room. “Let’s go.”
“Already?” I asked, slowly walking around the foot of my bed. Damn morphine was tripping me out. “You flexed some muscle, didn’t you?”
“You could say that.” He eyed Hunter. “I got this.”
Sarah followed close behind, still silent. I would have paid good money, if I’d had it, to be able to read her mind.
Hunter mumbled as he followed us out. I loved the guy. He was my club brother, but he didn’t know shit. He had money growing from trees planted in a rich soil I’d never know. Yeah, he had some demons to battle with him putting his psycho father in jail after almost killing his mom, but…it might be time to tell him a little about me. He wouldn’t judge.
But not now.
“Here’s how it’s going to go,” Bill said as he led us out of the ER. “Drey. You’re coming home with me for the night. I got instructions from one of those docs. I—”
“No. I’m going home,” I said.
Sarah took in a sharp breath. Yeah, no one contradicted Bill’s “Here’s how it’s going to go” statements—except me.
“You can’t stay alone.” Bill pulled open the passenger door of his SUV and none-too-gently shoved me in. “You’re too weak and stoned to fight me. So, that’s how it’s going to go.”
“Bill—”
“I’ll stay with him,” Sarah said.
Chapter Four
Sarah
“Yousureyougotthis?” Bill asked, towering over me. “You…good?”
“I’m fine.” I actually rolled my eyes at him. He really was a father type, wasn’t he? “You know I can take care of him.”
“But…you won’t be drinking, will you?”
“No. I can handle a night off.”Hopefully. “Go. We’ll be in for our shift tomorrow night. Or, at least I will be. I’ll let you know how he’s doing.”
Bill scrutinized me a little longer, then nodded and huffed down the first of two flights of stairs. Once I couldn’t see his big body, I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
No drinking tonight meant nasty nightmares if I fell asleep. Hopefully Drey had some Mountain Dew or something more potent to keep me awake. First: I couldn’t have a nightmare in front of Drey, it would be too much to explain. Second: I didn’t want to see Nicco’s face. He haunted enough of my waking hours.
I shivered through the chill that always accompanied Nicco’s memory and turned back into Drey’s apartment. Though I really wouldn’t call it an apartment. Evenmytiny efficiency was nicer than this.
I closed the door and engaged the dead bolt then leaned against the door. The bed in the far corner of the room was disheveled. I doubted it’d ever been made, and it sagged way too much beneath Drey’s weight. I checked my phone and my timer indicated he had about another thirty minutes left to sleep. Wonder what he’d be like when I woke him up?
Was he of the cranky persuasion? I pictured him as cranky, but with non-medicated injuries…he might be a little on the agitated side. I couldn’t blame him, though. In my case, I would have loved the meds. No memories or nightmares when you’re zoning out on pain pills.
Off to the right lay a small kitchenette with a tiny, dorm-room-sized fridge. I’d always imagined what it’d be like to live in the dorms. Go to classes. Have midnight snacks with friends.
Then again I’d have to have friends and go to school. Hell, have a life. Nicco ruined that for me…forever.
Another door off the kitchenette was a tiny bathroom. Four long strides took me across the place. Talk about small. And dirty.