The man stepped forward and shook his hand, but didn’t say anything.
“Is Mercer here yet?” Striker asked.
“Negative. Should be soon, though. I’m sure Quinn is champing at the bit to see Penelope and Tara.”
Striker nodded. “Is our meeting still on?”
“Sure is.” Razor looked at the plumber. “Don’t want to be rude, but today is a work day for us.”
“Not a problem.”
Striker watched Stu head up the stairs, and followed Razor into the office. “What the hell is going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe it was my imagination.”
“Oh, you mean the conversation taking place upstairs?”
“Crickets when I walked in.”
Razor laughed. “That’s because you were the hot topic when I rescued Stuart and brought him down here.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, there aren’t that many of us who are still single, and you’re one of the only bachelors here this weekend.”
Striker scrubbed his face. “Fuck.”
“Sorry, dude.”
“Maybe I should skip Thanksgiving this year.”
“No way,” said Razor, surprising him with his tone of voice.
“It isn’t a problem. I’m not big on holidays anyway.”
“No, and that’s final.”
“What the hell?”
“You’re not spending Thanksgiving alone, Ellis.”
“Not a big deal.”
“It is to me. I’ll feel like shit, and if I feel like shit, Avarie will too, and if she feels like shit, everyone else here will know it.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble.”
“Don’t let Tara crawl into your bed, and there won’t be any.”
“Jesus. Seriously?”
“Yep, that’s what they were talking about when Stuart and I left the room.”
No wonder Aine looked so tense when he walked in. Was her friend really that insensitive? Didn’t women have some kind of code about not hooking up with someone’s ex-boyfriend? He looked over at the doorway and saw Aine standing in the hallway.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but is Stuart down here?”
“Nope, he went back upstairs a minute ago,” Razor answered.
“Oh. I didn’t see him.”
“Are you okay?” Striker asked.
“Yeah…um…can I talk to you for a minute?”
Striker nodded. “What’s up?” he asked, leading her into the workout room and closing the office door behind them.
“I’m really sorry,” she said.
“For?”
“What happened when you came in. We were…”
“I know. Razor told me what you were talking about.”
“Like I said, I’m so sorry.”
Striker wanted to put his arms around her, pull her into him, and tell her she had no reason to be sorry, but that would only perpetuate the tension that remained between them.
If only he could talk Razor into working in Harmony rather than here, but each time he brought it up, his teammate had refused, saying that the equipment they had here was far superior to what was in the other house. Striker wasn’t sure if it was far superior enough to offset the drama he was causing by being here.
He put both hands on Aine’s shoulders. “I need you to be honest with me about something.”
She nodded.
“Would you like me to leave?”
When her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head, Striker couldn’t hold back.
“Come here,” he said, drawing her into his arms. “Please don’t cry over me. I’m not worth it.”
That only seemed to make her cry harder.
“I hate that I’m the one who makes you sad.” He drew back and wiped her tears. “I don’t want to make you cry, Aine.”
She shook her head. “It isn’t you. I’m the one who shouldn’t be here. Just because my sister is married to Tabon, doesn’t mean I have to be around all the time.”
“Not just your sister; your best friend is married to Mercer, and your half-sister is married to Gunner. Seems to me that you’ve got an awful lot of ties to this group.”
“I’m sorry,” she said for the third or fourth time. He’d lost track of the number of her apologies.
“Stop this.” He looked into her eyes. “After Thanksgiving, when things have calmed down, you and I will talk. Really talk. I haven’t been completely honest with you, and I see now how unfair that is. You deserve to know the truth.”
“I see, I guess that means…” Aine cried harder than she had before, pulled back, and put her hands over her face.
“Means what?”
“You said you weren’t completely honest with me. Does that mean there is someone else?”
Striker smiled and pulled her back in his embrace. “No, Aine. There isn’t anyone else, and there never will be.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Let’s not get into this now. I promise, next week, when there aren’t so many people here, we’ll talk.”
When she rested her head against his chest, he wove his fingers into her hair. “Sweet, sweet Aine,” he murmured, wishing so much that things were different.
“Am I interrupting?”
When Striker looked up, Stuart was standing in the doorway.
Aine pulled away from him as though they’d been caught doing something wrong. Striker wished she hadn’t, because they weren’t. “Stuart…”
“Would you excuse us?” the plumber asked.
“I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Aine and I are friends. That’s it.”
“I’d like to talk to Aine alone if you wouldn’t mind.”
“It’s okay, Striker.”
He walked out of the workout room, but didn’t go upstairs. Instead, he went into the office and left the door open. If things went too far south between Aine and her boyfriend, he wanted to be close enough to intervene.
17
“I guess I shouldn’t have assumed it was okay for me to surprise you.”
“What Striker said is the truth, Stuart. He and I are just friends. He was comforting me over something that happened with Tara and Pen. It was nothing more than that.”
“Aine, please. I know what I saw, and that wasn’t a friend comforting another friend. I don’t know what happened between you two, but it’s obvious you still have strong feelings for each other.”
She shook her head, but she couldn’t say he was wrong. She’d already lied to him enough each time she told him that Striker was just someone who worked with Tabon.
“I’m sorry, Stuart.”
“Walk me upstairs so I can say goodbye?”
She nodded and went in front of him. As difficult as this was, it was for the best. She’d planned to break up with him anyway, before he showed up unexpectedly. He was right that he shouldn’t have assumed it was okay to surprise her, but that didn’t make Aine feel any better about how things were ending between them.
“Stuart needs to get back,” she said to Ava when they got to the top of the stairs.
“But you just got here.”
“Something came up,” he said, looking between Aine and her sister.
“I’ll be back after I take Stuart to the airport.”
“I can call a cab.”
“In Cambria? I don’t think so,” said Ava. “Wait,” she added, looking at Aine. “Are you okay? You’re pale again. Go sit down.”
“What’s happening?” asked Tabon, coming upstairs.
“Stuart needs to go back to Yachats, but I don’t think Aine should take him to the airport. Look at her.”
She had to admit, her stomach hurt worse than it had any time before. She gripped the back of the sofa.
“Lie down!” Ava shouted at her.
She didn’t argue. She felt as though she might pass out.
“I’ll give you a lift to the airport,” Tabon offered.
“
Thank you. I’m so sorry, Stuart.”
The look of concern on Stuart’s face mirrored her sister’s. Did she really look that bad?
Pen and Tara came inside too.
“What’s wrong?” Tara asked.
“Nothing. I have a stomach ache. Why is everyone making such a big deal of it?”
Tara walked over and felt her forehead. Aine tried to move out of her reach, but there wasn’t any place she could go.
“You’re warm. Maybe you should rest.”
Sure, Tara wanted her to rest, probably so she could sink her hooks into Striker without Aine’s interference. Although he had said that there wasn’t anyone else, and then he’d added that there never would be.
The pain intensified, and Aine rested her head against one of the throw pillows. Obviously, she was right about the stress giving her an ulcer. Every time she thought about Striker, it hurt worse.
Stuart came over to the sofa, and Tara moved out of his way.
“I’m sorry,” she said again when he knelt beside her.
“I’m worried about you.” He ran his fingertip down her cheek. “I don’t want to leave if there’s something wrong.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure it’s just a stomach bug or something like that. Better you go so you don’t catch it.”
He nodded, leaned forward, and kissed her forehead. The hurt look he’d had on his face when she saw him standing in the doorway, witnessing Striker comforting her, was back.
“I’m sorry,” she said again.
“I’ll see you when you get back?” he asked.
“Yes. Definitely.”
“Thanks for including me even though I showed up unexpectedly,” he said to Ava.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry you have to leave, Stuart.”
“Wait. What? He’s leaving?” asked Tara.
“Something came up,” he said a second time. “Bye, everyone.”
“What was that all about?” Ava asked as soon as the door closed behind him and Tabon.
Aine shut her eyes, wishing she didn’t have to explain, especially in front of their two friends.
“He came downstairs and saw me talking to Striker.”
“So he left? That’s a little extreme,” said Penelope, sitting down and putting Aine’s legs over her lap. “What can I do to make you feel better?” her friend asked.
“I should probably go next door and see if I can sleep. I don’t want to get everyone sick if this turns out to be a virus. Especially Sam.”
“I’ll check on you in a little while.”
“Thanks, Ava. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll try meditating.” Aine winked at her sister.
“You should,” she said, walking her to the front door. “When I come over later, you can tell me what Stuart’s leaving was really about,” she whispered.
Aine was feeling worse by the minute. Just walking out of one door and into the other sapped her energy.
She tried to sit up when she heard Ava’s voice, but the pain had gotten a lot worse.
“Oh my God, you look even more terrible,” cried Ava. “I’m getting Tabon.”
Aine didn’t argue. Maybe she should go to the emergency room. “Is he back from the airport?”
Ava nodded.
“Where are you?” she heard Tabon call out.
“In here,” her sister answered.
“What’s going on?” he asked, walking into the room.
“Something’s wrong with Aine.”
“Aine, look at me.” Tabon put his hand on her forehead. “You’re burning up. Are you in pain?”
“My stomach.” The pain got worse, and she clutched the pillow.
“We need to get you to a hospital.”
When Tabon tried to pick her up, she pushed his hand away, but he grabbed her wrist.
“Your heart rate is too high, you’re clammy, pale, and you have a fever. I don’t want you to try to walk.”
When the stabbing pains started again, Aine gave in. “Okay.”
“You stay here with Sam,” he said to Ava, who was following behind them.
Ava ran ahead and opened the door of the SUV so Tabon could set her inside.
“What’s going on?” she heard either Pen or Tara shout. She didn’t feel like opening her eyes to find out which one.
“I’m taking Aine to the hospital,” Tabon answered. “Tara, please go grab a blanket and a pillow.”
Penelope walked over to the SUV. “We’ll follow you there.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be okay.”
“What’s going on?” she heard Striker yell. Penelope stepped aside when he ran up to the SUV. “Ava said Razor is taking you to the emergency room.” He put his hand on her head. “Jesus, you’re burning up.”
“You wanna ride along?” Tabon asked.
Striker nodded.
“Why don’t you get in the back seat with her?”
He went around to the other side of the SUV, got in, and put the pillow Tara handed him on his lap. “Try to lie down if you can.”
“You don’t have to go to all this trouble. You can stay here.”
Striker didn’t answer, but she didn’t care. His fingers in her hair felt too good.
“I thought you were at the airport?” she heard Striker ask as Tabon pulled out of the driveway.
“I’d just gotten back when Ava texted that there was something wrong with Aine.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Striker murmured, his fingers still stroking her hair.
“I thought maybe I had an ulcer.”
“Sweet girl,” he whispered. “We’ll get you to the hospital as quickly as we can.”
“You should call and let them know we’re on the way,” Tabon said from the front seat.
“Good idea.”
Aine didn’t know how much time had passed when she felt the SUV come to a stop.
“I’ll be right back,” Tabon told them and got out.
Within seconds it seemed, Striker was lifting her out of the vehicle and onto a gurney while Tabon was telling one of the people who came back outside with him what her symptoms were.
“How long have you had this pain?” a woman asked.
“I don’t know. It comes and goes. Maybe a few days.”
“Any change in appetite? Weight loss?”
“She’s lost at least twenty pounds,” Tabon told her.
“Are you her husband?” the woman asked.
“No, I’m her brother-in-law. My wife is her twin sister.”
“Aine!” she heard Quinn shout, running up when they wheeled her inside. “Are you okay? What’s going on? We got here as soon as we could.”
“You’ll need to wait outside, miss,” said the woman who had been asking questions. “I’ll let you know when the doctor has finished examining her.”
“I’m not leaving her here alone,” said Quinn. “She’s my oldest and dearest friend.”
“Ours too,” she heard Pen and Tara add. They must’ve just gotten there.
The woman looked at Striker. “Who are you?”
“My name is Griffin Ellis, and if it’s okay with these three ladies, I’ll stay with her.”
Aine watched the woman take her glasses off and look straight at him. “Okay, you can stay for now, but once the doctor gets here, you’ll have to step outside.”
“I’ll keep you posted,” he told them, still holding her hand as they wheeled her into a room. He pulled a chair closer to the bed and took her hand in his again.
“We’re going to start an IV,” said a different woman who came in and introduced herself as Jenny. “We need to get you into a gown first.”
“I’ll help,” Striker told her.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.”
Aine tried to sit up, but the pain was too intense.
“I’ll do it.” Striker gently pushed her shirt up and over her head. He removed each of her arms, taking care not to jar her too much. If she wasn’t in so much pain, she’d thank him, bu
t even talking hurt.
Once he unfastened and took off her bra, he held the hospital gown up. “Put your arms through here,” he said, and then fastened it behind her.
Next, he unbuttoned her jeans and slid them off her body.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
He kissed her forehead, folded her clothes, and then sat back down in the chair.
“Knock, knock,” said Jenny, pulling the curtain back. “Let’s get your IV started so we can get some pain meds in you as soon as the doctor gets here.”
Striker stood and moved out of her way.
“A little pinch,” said the nurse as she poked her with a needle. “Allergies?” she asked, fussing with the tubes.
“I don’t think so,” Aine answered.
“Here’s the doctor now,” Jenny said when a man pulled the curtain back.
“I’m Dr. Stevens,” he told her, holding out his hand to shake Aine’s.
She tried to move but flinched, so he patted her hand instead.
“Let’s take a look and see what’s causing you all this pain.”
He pulled up the gown and pressed against different areas on her abdomen. When he touched on the lower right, Aine cried out.
“Let’s start a morphine drip, and then we’ll get you in for an MRI. I don’t think it’s appendicitis, your pain is too low, but it will tell us for sure.”
Jenny came back a few minutes later with a syringe.
“This will help ease the pain while we find out what’s causing it. It might burn a little.”
Aine let her eyes drift closed as the pain medicine flowed into her body. She was so, so tired. The last thing she saw before she drifted off, was Striker leaning down to kiss her forehead.
“Hi,” her sister said.
Aine fluttered her eyes, trying to get them to open fully. “What’s going on?” she asked, raising her head.
“You had surgery. You’re in the recovery room.”
“For what?”
“There was a reason your stomach hurt, sweetie. Although it wasn’t really in your stomach.”
“What wasn’t?”
“You had a mass on your right ovary that needed to be removed immediately. It was so big that if it had burst, it might’ve killed you.”
“What time is it?”
“A little after four in the afternoon.”
Striker (K19 Security Solutions Book 6) Page 12