Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“And he’s a doctor.” I had to give Luke credit. The kid didn’t back down. He was demanding when it came to the people around his family. Kid was an alpha male in the making. “Named Bullet? Isn’t that like an oxymoron or something?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t give him the name. You’ll have to ask him.”
“Ask me what?” Bullet stepped into the room, a grin on his face.
“How’d you get the name Bullet?”
He shrugged. “Lots of reasons a person gets a name. It was the military.” He focused on Evelyn. “Now. I get why you don’t want to stay. I also happen to know Knox here has some medical supplies at his disposal, including oxygen if you need it. So, if you agree to let him stay with you, I’ll let you go home. Otherwise, you’ll stay here.”
“You can’t force me to stay. I’ll sign out against advice. Isn’t that what people do?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but I have the feeling I can get through to your son, and he’ll persuade you to stay.”
“You’d use my kids against me.” It wasn’t a question, and I wasn’t sure I liked how she teared up.
“Honey, I’m a doctor. I’ll do everything in my power to help someone who needs it. And you need it. So, if you won’t let Knox stay with you, I’ll have to get Luke here to guilt you into staying.” He shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “No one wants that, Evelyn.”
“Knox probably has other things to do.” She gripped Luke’s hand harder, and the young man, bless his heart, gripped her hands in both of his.
“Sure. I’ve got to spend time with my father. Fortunately, you’re staying with my father, too. Win-win.” I tried to give her an encouraging smile but wasn’t sure I managed it. Mostly because I was way happier about that particular situation than I should be. It was a very uncomfortable feeling.
“Good,” my dad said, rubbing his hands together. “We can take our Evie home and be sure she has everything she needs.”
Bullet gave a crisp nod. “Good. I’ll go get her discharge instructions and scripts ready. Knox, you need anything, you let me know. I’ll make sure you have it.”
“I’ll need another oxygen tank. Used most of what I had in the trailer. Albuterol and Atrovent too. Or anything else you think she needs.”
“No problem. I’ll text the guys. They helpin’ get you relocated?”
“Haven’t asked yet, but that’s the plan.”
“I’ll give ‘em a heads-up. Give me the address and someone’ll be there soon.”
I held out my hand to Bullet. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”
Bullet jerked his head toward Evelyn and the kids. “Take care of them. That’s payment enough.”
A few minutes later and four hours after we first got to the hospital, after the nurse had given me a packet of papers for everyone, we started out of the ER. I carried Evelyn while the kids and my father walked with us.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking,” Evelyn protested as we left the room. She didn’t struggle to get down, though. Which told me everything I needed to know. She was still weak. Probably exhausted. She smelled like smoke and old burning building, but underneath that was a sweetness I tried hard to ignore. She was my brother’s woman. I’d thought it earlier, but I had to keep reminding myself just how the fuck off-limits she was.
Just before we rounded the corner Aneshya sucked in a breath before running ahead. “Daddy!” Sure enough, in the room in front of us Danny sat at the bedside of a very pregnant woman. She scowled as Aneshya threw herself into Danny’s arms, hugging him tightly. “We were so worried! Mommy made us leave the building, but she tried to find you. Grandpa and Mr. Knox pulled her out, but the smoke made her sick.”
Danny didn’t push her away, but he didn’t hug the child either. When he looked up and saw me, his eyes widened. He did push his daughter away this time, his gaze taking in the rest of us. His gaze rested on Evelyn before returning to me again.
“Denver. Holy shit.”
“Knox,” I corrected. “I go by Knox now.”
“Where you been, man? We thought you were dead.”
“Long story.” I nodded to the woman in the bed. “Guessing you’ve got a long story as well.”
“Who are these people, Danny?”
“No one, honey. Don’t worry about them. We need to make sure you and the baby are OK.” Did he honestly think he was going to get anyone to just ignore this whole thing? His woman would ignore all of us? And that his kids weren’t going to understand what was happening? Hell. Did he even care about any of us, especially his kids?
Luke tugged at his sister’s hand, pulling her away from my brother. “Come on, Aneshya.” He gave Danny a disgusted look. “We’re leaving.”