My temper roared and blood burned hot. That piece of shit was already fucking with my girl. “Come again?”
“Yeah. I suspended him for a week, but he’s a friend of the owner’s kid. And the owner said I couldn’t fire him. I’ve tried scheduling them at different times, but Katie works a lot. When they do work together, I try to keep him with the other cashiers and away from Katie. But like right now, it wasn’t working out.”
That little motherfucker. “I’ll handle it.”
“I’m sure you will, and yeah, she needs to go home for a few days.”
Furious, I nodded at the woman. Turning back to Katie, she was working through her line and glaring at me. The red-eyed glare wasn’t the best look for her, but it was cute she tried.
“Do these and then close your lane. I need to get a few things.”
Her brow lifted. “So, you order me to go home, talk to my boss, then come and tell me you have shopping to do?”
A chuckle left me. She did have a sharp tongue at times. I’d missed it and honest as hell loved it. That sarcasm was what drew me to her in the first place.
“Need to grab you a few things before we go.”
She quirked her brow and went back to scanning Ms. Hodges groceries. Damn, I needed to know how she listened to that sound all day.
The little asshole was down helping another cashier, and I went directly to him. I heard Katie call my name, but I didn’t listen.
The asshole stood his ground, probably thinking that his connections to the owner would get him out of anything. The Ravage MC didn’t work that way, and neither did I.
I got in his face and had to look down at him. “Watch your back, motherfucker. You've messed with the wrong woman. Stay the fuck away from her.”
“Like you can do anything to me,” he replied. Yeah, he was a fucking idiot.
“That’s your only warning.” I took off through the aisles, grabbing a basket on the way. I had shit to get for Katie.
“Sick…” I murmured to myself, looking up at the signs that hung above. Locating the medicine aisle, I moved quickly down it. Years of Marine training was instilled in my brain, and medical supplies were at the top of the list.
NyQuil nighttime. NyQuil daytime. Those were always good options. I grabbed a few other meds for decongestant, cough, which she didn’t have at the moment, but who knew. I grabbed Vicks and cough drops as well. Motrin, it solved everything; at least that was what the Navy Corpsman who served alongside us always said. And a bottle of Lysol, had to kill the germs somehow.
Those should help.
I moved swiftly to the canned soup, grabbed chicken and noodle along with a few others and then tossed them into the basket. Not knowing how this was going to go, I grabbed a few frozen pizzas for me while I stayed with her because I had every intention to.
Adding chocolate ice cream, I made my way to the checkout. Katie had put up the closed sign but waved me over. I set the basket on the belt.
“You plan on curing the world with all of this?” she asked drowsily, pulling out the items in the basket.
“No, just you. Hurry up, we’ve gotta get you home.”
She rolled her eyes but finished scanning the items, and I paid. “Now go get your stuff, and I’ll drive your car to your house.”
“No. You ride your bike to your home, and I’ll go to mine.”
I shook my head. She had no idea the protective streak I had in my soul. She got in there? and now, there was no way I wanted her out.
“Go,” I ordered as she rolled her sick eyes and moved. This seemed to be a thing with her.
I pulled out my cell and dialed Micah, who answered on the second ring. “Yeah,” he answered.
“Need you to come to the Quickie Stock and pick up my bike. Gotta take Katie home.”
“Your bike?” he asked, then continued, “What’s wrong?”
He knew it had to be something important, or I wouldn’t give up my bike.
“Katie’s sicker than a dog, and I’m takin’ her ass home.”
Micah chuckled. “Great opportunity for ya.”
“Damn right, and she really is sick.”
“I’m on it,” Micah replied.
“Thanks.” We both hung up just as Katie came through a side door and directly to me. “Let’s go.”
My hands were full, so there was no way for me to take her hand. Instead, I guided her with my arm, and she went but a bit reluctantly. “We’re gonna talk about that fuckin’ bagger when you’re better.”
“Ms. Brashers told you?”
“Yeah. You should’ve, or at least told Micah if you didn’t want to tell me.” As much as I hated throwing that out as an option, it would’ve been better than having her out there alone. That was gonna stop.
Her car had seen better days, but it was reliable. She brought it into Banner Automotive, the repair shop that Ravage owned to get checked out often. I made it my job to take care of it.
“Unlock it.”
I could still tell this was under protest, but she unlocked the car and opened the back door for me. The groceries went in, and surprisingly Katie went to the passenger seat without protest.
Getting in, Katie rested her head on the seat and closed her eyes.
No words were spoken as we drove to her apartment, and when I stopped and she hadn’t moved, I knew she was asleep. Out like a damn light.
I parked the car, got out, and went over to her side. Opening the door, she still didn’t stir, so I unbuckled her and carried her to the apartment door.
Keys in hand, I opened the door and took sleeping beauty to her bed and laid her down.
While I wanted to remove her clothes so she’d be more comfortable, I only took off her shoes, then covered her up. She didn’t even make the slightest move. Yeah, she was absolutely sick.
Going back for the groceries, I put them away and got out the medicine. Yes, she needed to sleep, but she also needed meds. I figured I’d let her sleep for an hour or two, then wake her up for the meds.
NyQuil nighttime looked like the winner as I read the directions. I hadn’t taken care of anyone like this in years, but it all came back to me. NyQuil was the end all be all. It killed all the germs.
Going to her, I felt her forehead. She was burning up, yet she was shivering.
“Alright, so meds first before rest,” I told her as I moved back to the kitchen and grabbed the medicine, pouring it into the little cup. Setting it down on her side table, I gave her a little shake. “Katie, I need you to wake up and take some meds.”
She groaned, and it took a few more tries to get her eyes to flutter open. “What…” she croaked.
“Shhh…” I whispered. “Need to set you up and take this medicine, then you can sleep.”
“I’m cold.”
“This will help.”
I lifted her gently, reached around, grabbed the medicine and put it to her lips. A bit of it dribbled down her chin, but she was able to get most of it down even though I swear she was still sleeping.
Laying her back down, I covered her up, wiped the dribble off her face, and then put a cold rag on her head.
My cell rang in my pocket, and I answered it quickly, not wanting to wake up Katie. I looked down at her and she didn’t move, so I took the call.