“Man card.”
“Shut it. You surrendered yours about twenty minutes back during your story.”
I might have dozed off a few times, but sooner than later we were parked in front of the hotel where he and Angelina lived on the penthouse level.
“Here, man.” He reached in the back seat. “Put this coat on, it’s long and will cover the blood.”
After a few funny looks, trudging through the bright lobby, Hunter led me to the apartment beside his. “This was mine and Mom’s. I can’t have you in ours. Angelina’s still a little skittish when it comes to guys in her—er—our space.”
“I get it.” I followed him into the apartment. “Where’s your mom, then?”
“Off with Marshal on an assignment. She can work from anywhere, and he was stationed somewhere for a few months. Scheduled to come back to town soon, but not here.”
“Yeah?”
“Those crazy kids got hitched on a cruise last month. So they’ll stay at his house.” Hunter pushed me into a room I suspected had been his, considering the bare walls. The rest of the house was decorated, still, just…empty. “Get settled. I’ll crank the heat and get some supplies. Extra clothes in the dresser.”
“Never fully moved in next door?”
“Naw. I got what I need over there. This is extra for guests. Lucky you. Think of this as our guesthouse. But don’t get too comfy, Lizzie’s working to get here.”
“I’ll just stay overnight if that’s okay, it’s so shitty out.”
“No problem, man.”
I sagged onto the bed. “Wait. Lizzie. She’s out of her house?” I pulled the bloodied makeshift gauze from my leg. Damn thing stung like acid.
“Hey, don’t get blood everywhere. Get in the shower. I’ll be back in five minutes. And yeah, Lizzie’s coming here. If everything goes right, next week, actually.”
“Well, no shit.” That was pretty impressive considering she’d been a shut-in for more than three years.
I stumbled to the bathroom and stripped down, then hopped into a warm shower. Hopefully Sarah was okay. I wouldn’t put it past her to never speak to me again. I couldn’t let that happen. I had to figure out a way to show her what happened didn’t change things.
Nothing ever could.
“Don’t take too long, that heat will make you bleed more. Clean up and get out here. Let’s see if I need to sew you up.” Hunter’s voice ricocheted off the bathroom walls. Man, this bathroom was bigger than my whole apartment.
Must be nice.
I dried off and stepped out to find fresh clothing on the counter. Wrapped in my towel, I sat on the bed. Shifting enough for him to see the wound, he pressed on it.
“Please, poke at it some more, asshole.” I batted his hand away. “Told you it’s fine. And how the hell do you know how to sew people up?”
“Had to with my mom a couple of times, believe it or not.” His eyes darkened. “Couldn’t go to the hospital every time Dad roughed her up. Just made him madder.”
“Shit, man.” I pulled a blanket over me. I so wasn’t getting up again. Screw the clothes sitting in the bathroom. “Your old man’s in jail, right? For, like, a really long time?”
“Yep. Military threw the book at him, big time.” Hunter stood. “Because if he does and he comes after me or mine, there will be bloodshed.”
I actually understood now, exactly, what he was saying. Because if Nicco ever came for Sarah, I’d do the same thing.
She was mine.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sarah
“Idon’tthinkit’sletting up anytime soon,” Angelina said, staring out the window.