“Darien,” he interrupted with a chuckle.
“What? It would take me a while to trust again, but you’ve ruined me for anyone else, so I’d have my own personalized dildo to tide me over.”
“Stop talking,” he demanded, and covered my mouth with his.
I smiled against his lips and slipped my tongue into his mouth. Things were just getting interesting when the sound of someone clearing their throat had us breaking apart like guilty teenagers.
“Sorry,” Macey said without moving further into the room. “I can come back.”
I giggled. “No, it’s fine.”
“I just want to check your bandages and vitals.”
Mack kissed me one last time and then slid from the bed. “I’ll be right back,” he said, and walked out of the room.
“How’s Dallas?” I asked Macey.
She smiled. “He’s fine. They’re all fine, actually. They were in the back when the bomb went off, so they heard it, but it didn’t touch the conference room.”
“I’m so glad.”
Macey took my pulse and then grabbed the blood pressure cuff. “This is all going to be over soon... or so Dallas assures me.”
I grimaced. “I hope so, because I’m kind of afraid of Mack doing something really stupid if it’s not.”
“Been there, honey. But I know Booker, and he won’t let Mack do anything without him, so he’ll keep everything calm.”
“God, I hope so,” I whispered. “Is there any news on Millie?”
She shook her head. “But you didn’t hear that from me. Her parents are here, so I can ask them if you’d like me to.”
“I would, Macey. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Mack walked back into the room and sat on the bench by the window, watching Macey as she worked. “Everything looks great, Darien. Doc thinks you can go home tomorrow, so we’ll plan for that.”
“Thank you,” I said at the same time Mack did.
Macey left the room and I patted the bed. “Join me?”
He smiled and slid onto the mattress, pulling me gently against his chest again.
“Can we go home tomorrow?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Mack admitted. “I’ve got a couple recruits watching the house, so far, it’s safe.”
“The alarm would ping anyway, right?”
“Yeah, but I’m not taking any chances. If we have to stay at a hotel for a couple days we will.”
“I go where you go, honey.”
He kissed my temple. “Good.”
“Knock knock,” Pauley sang as she pushed open my door. “I’m smuggling illegal goods into your room... shhh,” she whispered.
I raised the bed and giggled when Pauley scooped Barney out of the oversized purse she carried. She settled him gently on the bed between me and Mack and I forced back the tears. “He’s all bandaged up! Is he okay?” I stroked his head gently, and he laid his chin on my leg. He was a lot mellower than normal.
“He had a few lacerations and bruises, but nothing was broken and nothing needed to be stitched. He’s on some pain stuff which the vet said will make him sleepy. They’re a little concerned about his hearing, but I have a sheet on what to look for,” Pauley said, and leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” I grabbed her hand. “Thanks for taking care of him.”
“I just picked him up, sissy. Him getting to the vet was all Mack.” She smiled at Logan. “As was you getting here safely was as well. Thank you.”
Mack smiled, but didn’t comment.
Pauley pulled a laptop out of her bag and set it on the table next to the bed. “This is your old laptop until we can find your other one. At least you can get email and write if you want to.”
“Good thought, Pauley,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Shorty with you?” Mack asked.
Pauley nodded. “Yeah, he’s on Pauley watch.”
Mack pulled out his phone and slid from the bed, grabbing the remote.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Booker texted to turn on the news.” He flicked on the television and turned to channel six before sliding back on the bed with me.
Pauley rounded the bed and sat in the chair and we watched the screen as video of the club came into view, then switching to the Kozlovs in handcuffs (along with a dozen or so other people) being loaded into squad cars and police vans.
“A large-scale FBI raid ended today in the arrest of Nika and Katya Kozlov, the figure heads of the Kozlov crime family, along with sixteen of their top soldiers, advisors, and conspirators,” the anchor reported. “They will be held in an undisclosed location as the FBI sort out who was involved in the bombing of Big Ernie’s Body Shop today. No deaths reported, but several severe injuries. We’ll keep you updated as we get information.”
“Wait, I thought you said Flick died,” I challenged.
Mack was already on his phone, effectively ignoring me. “What the hell happened to Flick? Yeah? You’re shittin’ me.” He chuckled. “That’s fuckin’ great, brother. Yeah, I’ll see what I can do. Okay, ’bye.” He slid his cell phone back in his jeans pocket with a smile. “Flick had a heart attack apparently. Jaxon started CPR on him and got a pulse. He’s here somewhere, so I’m gonna find him.”
I gasped. “That’s awesome. You find out where he is and then we’ll smuggle Barney in with him.”
Mack chuckled. “Sounds good. I’ll be back.”
He left the room and I smiled at my sister. “I’m so glad you weren’t there today.”
She sighed and I could tell she was trying not to cry. “If you’d died, Dare, I don’t know what I would have done.”
I patted the mattress and she climbed up next to me. “Everyone’s okay, Pauley.”
“I know.” She sobbed against my shoulder. “I love you, sissy.”
“I love you back.”
“How’s it going with Shorty?”
She giggled with a sniff. “Really well.”
“How well?”
“Like I can’t imagine life without him well.”
I smiled. “He’s super hot.”
“I know and he’s super skilled... well, we’ll leave that there.”
I giggled. “Thank you.”
“He dropped me off and then went to the club. I hope he’s okay. He hasn’t texted me yet.”
“I’m sure he’s fine, sissy. The place is crawling with people, so there’s safety in numbers... plus, I’m realizing they’re hard to kill.”
She sighed. “I hope so.”
We held each other for a while before Mack walked back in and shook his head. “You stole my spot.”
Pauley giggled. “I sure did.”
He grinned. “Flick’s still in ICU, but he’s resting comfortably, and Millie’s out of surgery. She’s doing really well.”
“Oh, thank God,” I breathed out.
“Shorty’s outside, Pauley. I think he wants to take you home.”
She pushed herself up with a grin. “Tell him he can wait.”
“No, babe, I’m not a messenger.”
“Chicken,” she retorted, and climbed off the bed, walking out of the room.
Mack took her place, shifting so he didn’t crush Barney. He pulled me close and I raised my head for a kiss. “We keep doing this,” he said between kisses, “I’m gonna fuck you right here, right now.”
“I’m okay with that.”
“Really?” he challenged. “In front of Barney.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Um, yeah, no, that’s just gross.”
He chuckled. “We’ll make up for lost time when I get you home.”
“Can’t wait.”
I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes open, so I let myself drift off to sleep. I was safe, I was warm, and my dog was close. At some point during the night, Barney whimpered, but Mack whispered, “I’ve got him, go back to sleep,” so I did.
I didn’t wake again until the sun was risi
ng. I found Mack beside me, the dog hidden under a blanket, and Macey pulling things quietly from the cabinet.
Mack smiled, raising his finger to his lips. I bit my lip to keep from giggling, and nodded. Peeking under the covers, I saw Barney sleeping quietly, which was rare when a stranger was around. I chalked it up to the pain meds he was on.
“Shouldn’t you be done with your shift already?” I asked.
Macey turned with a smile. “One more hour, but I figured I’d wait until you were released. Doc’ll be in to check you out in about ten minutes.” She raised an eyebrow. “I suggest you get rid of the dog before then,” she added in a whisper.
I blushed. “Sorry.”
She raised her hands. “Don’t sweat it. I get it.”
“I’ll take care of him, baby,” Mack offered.
“Thanks.”
Mack bundled Barney in the bag Pauley had left behind and left the room just before Dr. Stone arrived. The doctor was tall with dark blond hair, sea green eyes, and a rather sexy mouth. Of course, I didn’t notice he had a sexy mouth because it would just be wrong (the thought jumped through my mind and I found myself licking my lips as he approached).
“Good morning, Darien, I’m Dr. Stone.” He reached out his hand and I shook it. “You were a little out of it when you got here last night. How are you feeling?”
“I feel great, actually.”
Macey handed him an iPad and he scrolled through the information. “Well, everything looks good. We’ll give you a script for some painkillers and then you’re free to leave.”
“Thank you.”
“Mase, I’ll have everything ready in a few minutes.”
“Thanks, Dr. Stone,” she said, and the doctor left.
“So, what’s it like working with your brother-in-law?”
Macey grinned. “He’s actually really cool, but he was cool before I married Dallas. He’s a lot less of an asshole than the majority of the doctors here, plus if he gets out of hand, my hubby can beat him up, or threaten to arrest him.”
“Bonus.”
“Definitely. Okay, I’m going to get your paperwork and then you can get out of here.”
“Thanks.”
Once Macey left the room, I climbed out of bed, and went looking for my clothes. I had bandages on my right arm and leg, and they stung a bit, but nothing unmanageable.
“What the hell are you doing out of bed?” Mack snapped as he walked back in the room.
“Getting dressed so we can go home. Where’s my stuff?”
“In here.” He raised the bag with the dog in it. “Will you please sit down, Darien and I’ll get you what you need.”
“Yes, butthead.”
One side of his mouth lifted as I took a seat by the window. He set the bag down beside me and helped me find yoga pants, a T-shirt, and underwear. Barney appeared to be much more alert, but still calm, which helped with the subterfuge.
I dressed quickly, Macey returned with paperwork for me to sign and handed me the prescriptions, then a volunteer came in and wheeled me out to Mack’s car, and we went home. It was a highly anticlimactic event following an incredibly chaotic one.
Mack planted me on our sofa (I refused to go to bed), and went about getting us something to eat. “Once we eat, baby, I’ll help you shower, then you have to rest.”
“I can rest, honey, but I’m gonna do it with you next to me and a movie on the television. Maybe a little heavy petting, but none of this sleeping crap.”
He chuckled, but let me have my way. Mack put together some pretty impressive sandwiches and we ate in silence. By the time I’d finished half my lunch, my jaw was on fire with the chewing motion, so Mack forced me to take pain meds and I was relegated to the sofa again.
Booker stopped by about an hour later, kissed me on the cheek, and then he and Mack sequestered themselves in the office. They finished their conversation a half hour later, and Booker left. He looked pissed, which didn’t make me feel any kind of reassurance, even when Mack tried to feed me the line, “Everything’s taken care of.”
“I have something for you,” Mack said.
“Oh? More bullshit?” I snapped, ungraciously.
He raised an eyebrow, but let me have my little ’tude without comment. He took my hand and kissed the palm as he slid my ring back on my finger. “You found it!” I exclaimed, my mood lightening considerably.
“Yeah, baby. Booker snuck in and retrieved it. He also grabbed your laptop. It’s busted up pretty bad, but if anyone can fix it, he can. He took it home to work on it.”
“That was nice of him.”
“Yeah. It was.” Mack wrapped an arm around me and pulled me gently against him. “You done?”
I shrugged.
“You’re safe, baby, but it’s club business, so I’m not givin’ you details.”
“Fine.” I sighed. “I don’t really care anyway, but if you try to leave anytime soon to take care of said club business before I’m fully healed, I’ll show you what ‘not fine’ looks like.”
He laughed. “I can live with that.”
I snuggled closer to my man and we dug in for a quiet night. As I fell asleep against his rock hard body, the last thing I thought was how much I loved him and how grateful I was for the love he gave me.
Life was good... no, it was perfect.
ABOUT PIPER
Piper Davenport writes from a place of passion and intrigue, combining elements of romance and suspense with strong modern day heroes and heroines.
She currently resides in pseudonymia under the dutiful watch of the Writers Protection Agency.
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Road to Passion Page 19