“Stop doing that. I’m getting fucking seasick,” Bennett grunted. “You heard what they said. She’s going into surgery, she’s going to be fine.”
My feet stopped moving.
Not because I was worried about making Bennett sick, but because he was being so casual. And yes, I knew he didn’t do drama, his resting heart rate rarely getting elevated except when he worked out. It was one of the reason’s I’d hired him in the first place. He was clinical, precise, solution orientated, and basically unflappable.
But Hayden had been shot by my ex-boyfriend.
“You don’t know she’s going to be fine. She could code on the table, she could die from sepsis, she could—”
“And monkeys could fly out of my ass.” He folded his arms across his chest and pointed to the empty chair behind my desk. “Sit down. You don’t want to believe me, believe Smoke Alarm. You think he’d lie to you?”
“You know his goddamn name,” I groaned, giving up my commitment to wear a hole in the floor and sitting in the stupid chair.
Bennett laughed, not concerned in the slightest that tonight might be the time I actually followed through with firing him. “It’s more fun my way. And you didn’t answer my question. Do you think—”
“Jared. Jared or Leighton, say it,” I spat out, frustrated.
“Jar-ed,” he elongated his name unnecessarily, “would lie to you?”
His eyes were on mine, forcing them to connect with his, and I cursed under my breath because he was right.
“No, no he wouldn’t lie.”
Jared had assured me she was still breathing when Hayden had left in the ambulance. And that she was going to get the best medical care. And that he loved me and would be there soon.
Bennett was right.
I needed to trust him.
My head fell into my hands, the weight of my skull feeling too heavy for my own neck. “If anything happens to her—” I couldn’t finish the thought.
Hayden might have once been related to the guy, but he was in the parking lot because of me. He was there for money. My money.
“Then the asshole who did it will wear the blame. Not you.”
The sound of his voice snapped my head up, Jared standing in my doorway flanked by my brother. “This isn’t your fault.”
I didn’t bother answering, out of my chair so fast that I didn’t even realize I’d ran until my arms were around his neck. “If—”
He didn’t let me finish, kissing me in front of Bennett and Tibbs and pulling me closer to his body. And I was kissing him back before I realized that, while Bennett might’ve known we were together, my brother sure as hell didn’t.
“Oh my God,” I pulled back, my mouth struggling for words. “Tibbs.”
He rolled his eyes, not wearing the same shock I was as he smiled. “I know you two are together. Leighton told me.”
I didn’t even care about the circumstances; glad he didn’t seem angry and that I could go back to kissing Jared.
My lips found his again, my emotions bubbling to the surface as I sought out more of him. His hands wrapped around my body while my fingers yanked at his shirt, both of us lost in each other as his kiss said everything he needed to say without uttering a word.
Tibbs cleared his throat. “Hey, I said I knew you guys were together. Not sure I want to see you make out. You guys want to save that for later? Like when I’m not around and when we don’t have to get to the hospital.”
“The hospital,” I nodded feeling like a selfish bitch making out with my hot boyfriend while Hayden was in hospital. “We need to go now.”
I had never left the club before closing.
Even when I’d been sick, half dead and tired, I dragged my animated corpse to work and limited my contact with everyone else so I didn’t give them the plague.
But I was always there.
“B, can you close for me?” The words I’d never said before fell from my lips easily. “I’ll handle all the reports in the morning, just get everyone out and lock up.”
His brows popped in surprise but recovered quickly. “Sure thing, Boss. You need anything else before you leave?”
“Nothing, and thanks.” I let go of Jared briefly, heading to my desk and collecting my handbag. “We should go.”
“Okay, let’s go.” Jared nodded, looping my fingers through his as I joined him at the doorway.
There was no hesitation, walking through Diablo—that was still filled with bodies—and leaving, like it was the most natural thing to do. I knew it would be okay, and my presence was required somewhere more important.
Jared’s Mustang was parked in the same lot Lewis had taken Hayden, a shiver running through my body as we walked toward the car. Tibbs offered to sit in the back, the idea of him folding himself into the tiny space so ridiculous I just shook my head. I popped the passenger seat, sliding into the back bench seat before Jared and Tibbs both climbed in.
The engine roared to life, Jared flying out of the parking lot and into the street, before I’d even done up my seatbelt. He’d been patient in Diablo, not rushing me, but I understood the need to get to the hospital. God, Mack must be a mess.
“Is someone with Mack?” I asked from the backseat.
“North,” Tibbs offered over his shoulder. “Leighton called him and he met us at Target, he drove Chief to the hospital.”
The tightness in my chest eased knowing Riley was with him. I hated to think he was alone, and could only imagine what he must be feeling.
The trip to the hospital was made in silence. Tibbs giving Cap a status report while trading text messages with North who was with Chief, both Jared and I listening as he relayed information. My hands were knotted in my lap, watching traffic pass in a blur until we reached New York-Presbyterian Allen.
We were ushered into a waiting room. Hayden’s brother and sister-in-law, along with a blond I didn’t recognize, were already waiting with North and Mack. Chief looked terrible, like he hadn’t slept in a month, his hair ruffled at weird angles from having his hands run through it too many times.
Like I was on autopilot, I walked up to Mack and offered him a hug. He gave me a weak smile, circling me with his big arms as I told him I was sorry again.
“It’s not your fault, Presley.” He dropped a soft kiss on the top of my head. “So stop apologizing.”
It was hard to agree, my nodding more to placate everyone than because I actually believed it. I took a seat, feeling useless as I waited like everyone else.
Jared slung his arm around me, pulling me closer as he kissed my forehead. I needed to be touched, wondering if it would raise too many eyebrows if I crawled into his lap and snuggled against his chest.
I’d never been that girl.
Never needed a man to be my anchor, happy to fill that role for myself.
But it was different with Jared, it just felt less like an emotional dependency and instead, a partnership of support. And at that moment, it was support that I needed.
When the doctor finally came to tell us Hayden was out of surgery, I almost wept in relief. Her vitals were strong, but she was still in recovery, the doctor letting Mack know he’d be able to see her soon.
I’d never seen Mack so grateful, shaking the doctor’s hand like he was going to dislocate the poor guy’s shoulder.