“There’s a hospital stay of up to seven days after a kidney surgery.”
“I know. We’ll get registered nurses to stay at the house to help you both. You will be safe with us. With me.”
“Not that I mind the idea of not being in a hospital, but wouldn’t it be easier for you to catch Jessup if Ruby and I are here?”
“There’s nothing easy about you being in danger.” He took her hand in his big one, linked her fingers with his long ones and led her downstairs. “Besides, at home we have better control over the people in and out of your rooms.”
“You seem confident this is all going to work out.” His outlook was appealing and something she normally would have led with. “I would’ve pegged you for a glass half empty kind of guy.”
“And I had you pegged as a glass half full gal.” He opened the stairwell door, scanning the area before he opened it wide enough for her to pass. He was on high alert as they walked purposefully through the lobby.
“I used to be.” Grey worked at keeping her chin up and meeting the eyes of anyone she saw looking at her.
“You still are. This just matters more than anything else.”
Grey thought about this and all the ways he could mean it as they turned down a hall that led through the back of the hospital. They were well away from the main entrance as he opened another stairwell door.
He never hesitated to read a sign, but instead moved like he knew exactly where he was going and belonged everywhere. “When did you study the layout of this place, Liam?”
“When I was watching Ruby sleep and waiting for you to arrive.”
“Did you know then we’d need these back paths?”
He shrugged. “It’s never bad to be prepared. And Tyler makes it easy for us.”
At the door to the third floor, he held up a finger for her to wait. She stepped away from the door, pressed her back to the wall. He opened the door and looked up and down the hall. He muttered a curse, but offered a hand.
Whatever he’d seen it wasn’t something to hide her from. When she cleared the door, she understood. Marshal Micah Carpenter stood a few doors down talking to two suited men.
Micah looked up and his gaze bored directly into Grey as if the large man at her side was invisible. Or didn’t exist. Knowing Micah, he’d prefer the non-existence angle.
“Greycen.” Micah’s tone was brusque as he cut through the two men he’d been talking to and headed her way. He moved like he spoke, always focused on the target. In five years she’d never seen him laugh or even smile a smile that reached his eyes. And though she’d trusted him, she’d never really liked him.
“Micah.”
“You haven’t checked in. We need to talk.” He reached for her elbow, something else she noticed he always did. He never gave her the chance to argue.
“No.” She shifted her shoulder back, pulling just out of his reach. “I need to see Ruby.”
“Your sister is fine. She’s going to be entering the program.”
Grey lifted her eyebrows and, taking Liam’s advice, met Micah’s gaze directly. “Has she signed your contracts?”
He narrowed his eyes, a move more telling than his head shake. He hadn’t won yet. Stepping around him, empowered by Liam’s presence, she moved toward Ruby’s room. “You can’t go in there,” Micah said.
Grey turned. Liam stepped in front of her and stopped Micah. “Neither Grey nor Ruby are your jurisdiction, but they are under my protection. You’re going to want to back off.”
“It’s only a matter of time, Agent Burgess, before you lose her again.”
Liam vibrated. Visibly. Grey rested her hand on his back and left it there as she stepped up to stand beside him. “What are you saying, Micah?”
He looked stunned, but recovered quickly. “Karl Jessup is dangerous.”
“So are you, Liam and his team. I’m safe.”
The only time she’d disagreed or argued with Micah had been when she left Vegas to see Ruby. She’d done that over the phone, because she’d known she would bow to the force of his convictions if she faced him. She’d learned something since leaving, though, mainly from Kami and Lori. Life could kick her teeth down her throat, but she could get through it with the right support system.
“Liam and I are going in to see Ruby. I’ll let you know if I want to discuss an offer of protection.”
Micah pointed at Liam, but didn’t look away from Grey. “Did he tell you about Jessup?”
“That he’s escaped? Yes. That he’s gunning for me?” Her fingers went to the scratches on her face. “I’m well aware.”
“His hired gun is in this hospital, and there’s likely more than one.”
“His hired gun, as you call the guy, is in a hospital bed under guard.” She rested a hand on Liam’s arm and smiled. “Mine isn’t.”
She said nothing else as she turned and closed the distance to Ruby’s room. Like Micah had cut through the two men standing nearby, so did she. The whole way, Liam was silent at her back.
Grey had waited long enough to see her sister again. Despite the worry about the tension between them when she left, she pushed the room door open and went in without delay.
The head of Ruby’s bed had been raised so she was sitting up. Simon sat on the edge of the narrow mattress, saying something that had Ruby smiling. He stopped when she turned her head on the pillow and looked at Grey. Her smile wobbled but then widened.
A welcome rain after a draught, tears fell from Grey’s eyes as she crossed the room in a rush. Simon stood and backed away. Grey, careful not to bump a bruise or cast, wrapped her arms around her sister and hugged her.
Ruby’s good arm came around her and squeezed her close. They didn’t speak. There was a lot to be said, but for the moment words were less important than the confirmation of their connection.
Two years older, Ruby had been seventeen when their parents had walked away. She’d been awarded emancipation and then had fought for custody of Grey. Every meal had been a struggle, but they’d had each other. When Grey hit rock bottom, unable to cope, Ruby had been there. When she sank a second time, Ruby had still been there.
“I’m sorry, Ruby. I’m sorry about everything.” She’d left thinking she was protecting Ruby for a change. She’d thought wrong. “I was screwed up, but I shouldn’t have left.”
“It’s okay.” Ruby brushed her hand down the length of Grey’s hair, the wig, the way she had so many times before. “I’m pretty well caught up. You did the right thing when you left, which makes me prouder than you can know, but I’m glad you’re back.”
Grey eased back and took Ruby’s uninjured hand in hers. “They want to take me back into WitSec.”
“I know. They offered me protection.”
Grey looked behind her to where Liam and Simon leaned against the wall. Both men had their arms crossed as they watched her and Ruby in silence. Grey considered asking them to leave her and Ruby alone. She was pretty sure Liam would honor her request, but then she met his gaze.
He would leave the room and let her talk to Ruby privately. He’d do anything she asked. Knowing that, she needed no other reason to trust him. She’d called him her hired gun, but he was so much more.
Certain she was making the right decision, Grey turned back to Ruby. “You may have noticed you’ve been sleeping with round-the-clock guard dogs.”
“And an apparent fiancé.” Ruby looked past her and smiled at Simon. “Yeah.”
“If it’s okay with you,” Grey spoke to Ruby, but she turned and met Liam’s gaze, “I’d like to leave things in their hands.”
Liam’s mouth lifted into one of his rare smiles. He tilted his head with the tiniest acknowledgement. They were nowhere close to having things settled between them, but with him and Simon—Ruby’s undercover fiancé it seemed—and everyone else at her back she only needed the U.S. Marshals to track Jessup.
Ruby nodded toward Liam and asked, “You trust him?”
“I do. So, if you’re okay with keeping yo
ur own identity and life, I say we reject Marshal Carpenter’s offer.” Grey’s answer was automatic and without a shred of doubt. She’d trusted Micah to keep her safe, but her loyalty ended there. With Liam… Given enough time she could trust him with everything.
Liam uncrossed his arms and stepped forward. He didn’t cross all the way to her, though, and his eyes held an uncertainty she wouldn’t have thought him capable of. “Are you sure, Grey?”
“If Ruby’s on board, yes.”
“I’ve been asleep the entire time they’ve been in my life,” Ruby said. “If you trust them I see no reason I shouldn’t.”
More tears burned Grey's eyes. Ruby’s easy acceptance and faith was more than she deserved. She would do everything to make sure it was the right choice. “Then we’re staying.”
Liam sighed an exhalation that carried the cloud of doubt from his eyes. He’d been willing to give up his life, but was clearly relieved it wouldn’t come to that. Having spent the last five years without her sister, Grey knew exactly what misery he was avoiding. Glad she could do something for him for a change, she smiled. Maybe it would help make up for walking out on him.
A knock on the door broke off any more conversation. Simon checked it and when he opened it all the way it was to admit Dr. Keiths. Silver hair and wrinkly eyes were the main signs of age. The doctor was tall and fit and carried himself with the confidence of a successful surgeon.
“Ms. Donovan.” He smiled at Ruby. “It’s great to see you awake.” He turned his smile on Grey. It was more of a practiced smile than a genuine one, but she’d seen worse when she’d met with him for the donor screening appointments. “Grey?” The doctor hesitated only briefly over her new look. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I heard she was awake and couldn’t stay away.” Grey tried to smile, but couldn’t pull it off. Her stomach rolled with the possibilities of news he could be bringing. If she wasn’t a match or if they couldn’t find a donor or if there were other complications that only showed up after Ruby woke… The list was endless and increasingly torturous.
“Dr. Keiths.” Liam saved her from her thoughts. “How’s Ruby doing?”
“Her vitals are strong.” Dr. Keiths moved to the side of the bed opposite of Grey and looked at Ruby’s chart he’d carried in. “Aside from needing a new kidney she’s healing.”
“Any news on a transplant?” Simon asked, playing the part of devoted fiancé.
“Ms. Craig here has applied to be a living donor,” Dr. Keiths said with a nod toward Grey. “We’re waiting for the results on one last test, but so far everything looks good.”
Grey’s heart fluttered. “You mean I should be able to donate?”
“We’ll know for certain by end of day, but it’s looking that way.”
“When would we be able to do the surgery?” Grey asked.
“Once we get the final approval we’ll have some paperwork to process and then should be able to move forward.” Dr. Keiths patted her bicep. “With any luck, tomorrow or the next day.”
“Seriously?” she squeaked. She hadn’t squeaked in… She couldn’t remember the last time she’d squeaked. Giddy with happiness, Grey turned to Ruby. “This is awesome. You could have a new kidney and be out of here in just over a week.”
Ruby wasn’t smiling at the news. She still wasn’t smiling when Dr. Keiths left the room a few minutes later. He was thrilled to see Ruby awake and talking, but he was concerned by her color—she was too pale. And her energy—she could only turn her head on the pillow.
“Don’t you want out of here, Ruby? Don’t you want to be better?”
“Of course. I just don’t want you to be my donor. You have enough to deal with.”
“If you were really listening while in your coma, you’d know you’re the reason I’m back.” Grey lifted her sister’s hand and squeezed it gently. “The surgery isn’t a big deal.”
“You can’t protect yourself during a surgery or recovery.”
“You’re right,” Liam said, stepping forward. “And you can’t take care of yourself until you get a new kidney.” He pointed between Simon and himself. “Protection is why we’re here. And why the rest of my team will be here when we can’t be.”
“If she risks herself and things go wrong—”
“That’s not going to happen,” Liam cut in harshly.
“—she wouldn’t be able to testify.”
The line in Liam’s forehead cratered, his mouth hardened. “She will testify, because nothing is happening to her.”
“She’s right here,” Grey stated. “Ruby, you sacrificed so much for me when we were younger.” A college education. A relationship. “Let me do this for you.”
Ruby argued, but it didn’t hold much fire. “You were always too impetuous.”
“I assure you I’ve considered the angles.” Even if something did go wrong in the surgery, not that she wanted to think it would, Liam and his team were gathering enough evidence to put Jessup away when he was caught again. And if she needed to, she would do a video statement. A good defense attorney could get it dismissed, probably, but if a jury got to see it they’d be hard pressed to forget what she’d have to say.
“Ruby.” Simon circled Ruby’s bed and sat on the edge of it. “I’ve seen a lot of families torn apart by life. Some are lucky enough to find each other again. Others die before getting the chance.”
“Cheery thought,” Ruby muttered.
“You’re in a hospital with an amazing success rate. You have one of the FBI’s top teams and the U.S. Marshals Service at your back. This thing Grey wants to do for you, it’s such a small thing when you consider the likely reward.”
Ruby turned to Simon. “What do you think that would be?”
He smiled a quiet smile that spoke of simplicity. His answer, one whispered word, moved through Grey like a promise and brought tears to her eyes. “Life.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes and scowled. “You’re really good at that guilt game.”
“Guilt would be telling you I’d like you to live long enough to get to know you.” Simon bent down and kissed her temple. “If you’re going to deny Grey’s offer, make sure you have a reason other than fear.”
Grey didn’t argue her case further. Nothing she added would be more convincing than Simon. At least she hoped he was convincing, because she suddenly felt more lost than Mulan in a man’s army. Ruby was her Shang, the one person she needed to convince but the one who wouldn’t listen because of whom she was. Or whom she’d been.
Chapter Fifteen
Exhaustion grew nearer with every mile closer to home, but Liam forced his mind to stay sharp. He watched for any sign of a tail, but found none. He scanned the area around his neighborhood for indications of danger, but saw none.
When he pulled into his garage and lowered the door, he finally relaxed. Resting his head against the seat, he turned and looked at Grey. Her eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Her face muscles twitched too much for her to be completely relaxed in sleep though.
“You’re awfully quiet, Grey.” And it was awful, because unlike the other silences they’d shared her fear and worry moved through this one. And him. The more concerned she became the more energy it took for him to fight it.
She didn’t open her eyes, but her face stilled. Her throat moved in a swallow and her fragility had Liam gripping the steering wheel to keep from pulling her to him. He hadn’t kissed her yet today, except the brief teaser after hearing Jessup escaped, and the idea of pulling her into his lap had the temptation snapping to the forefront.
Flowing a little quicker and smoother through his veins, his blood heated.
“Just thinking.” As if it had been hours since she’d spoken, her voice was thick and raspy. It hadn’t been hours, though, so it had to be a product of emotion.
“Are you having doubts about tomorrow?”
Her head rolled from side to side on the seat. “Not a one. I know I’m doing the rig
ht thing with the donation.”
Needing to touch her, to reassure himself if not her, he took her hand in his. Rubbing his thumb over her fingers he studied the contrast of her softness against his calloused fingers. In the big picture of life they barely knew each other, but he knew everything about her he needed to know.
He’d seen the depths of her kindness and loyalty. She made him feel stronger just by being near. He was miserable without her. He’d even painted his walls gray because the color made him think of her—not that he was admitting that to anyone.
“Wanna tell me what you’re thinking about?”
With her face toward him, she breathed deep and opened her eyes. Quiet certainty penetrated the shield of her contacts. The same certainty whispered in her one word answer. “You.”
Hearts shouldn’t stop and chests shouldn’t collapse, but his did. A beat later his heart kicked into action with a new life and his chest opened up to make room. It was a struggle, but he kept his voice light. “Really?”
“Since walking into Ruby’s room and finding you in that chair, I’ve been waiting for you to turn into an impatient asshole, but you haven’t.”
“That almost sounded like a compliment.”
She smiled softly and the look seemed to be reflected deep in her soul. “You had every reason to hate me, but you’ve been supporting me since before I got back.”
He shrugged and continued playing with her fingers.
“You sat with my sister and protected her. You’ve kept me safe even when I didn’t want you to.”
“I care about you, Grey.”
“I’ve given you multiple reasons to want to yell at me, but you haven’t.”
“Yelling would only make you feel bad, which would then make me feel bad for making you feel bad.”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure that’s what has me falling for you.”
He grinned, raised his gaze to hers. His heart swelled. His eyes burned, but he refused to allow tears to fall. “I’m not going to apologize for that.”
“I’m pretty sure that when I fall in love with you, and I’m thinking that’s seriously possible, it will be forever.”
Taste Me Deadly (Sensory Ops) Page 13