Page 44 of Be My Ruin
He shrugged. “I don’t get it, so don’t look at me like that.”
Food came, and there was a wave of silence for a solid ten minutes while everyone stuffed their faces.
Through the window I could see several SUVs, all belonging to Gideon’s security. Danny, Alex, and Toni were with us while the others watched the street. Gid wasn’t taking any chances. If you didn’t know, it would just seem like cars parked on the side of the road, but I knew.
“Hey, Penny?” Owen nudged my arm from my other side.
“Yeah, bud.”
“Do you think the ocean is salty because the land never waves back?”
I opened my mouth to answer but quickly realized it was a joke. I chuckled, and he started giggling so hard he almost choked on his milkshake.
“Where’d you hear that?”
“A kid at school. He sat at the table across from me and was telling someone else. I thought it was silly.”
“I like it. Tell everyone.”
He nodded seriously as if I’d given him a mission, and I was positive that by the end of the day everyone was going to hear his joke.
When we left, Gideon, me, Matteo, and Owen went with Danny and Alex. Toni drove the other SUV that had the rest of the security guys that were inside the diner scattered about. Owen sat beside me and Matteo next to Gideon in the row in front of us.
I looked up and out the window at the same moment Danny pulled away from the curb and saw a white sedan barreling toward us.
“Get down!” I shouted and covered Owen with my body just in time, because the car slammed into the side.
“Are you okay?” I still had Owen in my arms. He didn’t speak, but he did nod. “How is everyone?”
“Matteo,” Gideon was calling his nephew’s name. “Matteo, open your eyes.”
I released Owen, who was shaken but all right, and moved forward to see what was wrong with Matteo. There was blood dripping from his head, and he was out cold.
“Check his pulse,” I said to Gideon.
“It’s there. I don’t know if it’s strong or not; I’m not a doctor.”
“I called 9-1-1.” Toni handed Gideon a wad of napkins. “Try and stop the bleeding. He probably hit his head and got knocked out.”
“I’m sure he’s okay, Gid.” I tried to reassure him but until Matteo woke up, nothing was going appease him.
Cops, fire trucks, and ambulances converged on us, and I watched as Matteo was pushed into an ambulance, Gideon hopping in with him.
I stayed with Owen, and we’d meet them at Northchester General. I wasn’t sure what Gid had told Rita and Dean, but he said he’d let them know, and I was glad I didn’t have to make that call.
“Just a Band-Aid.” The EMT smiled at Owen and glanced at me. “And how about you? Do you have pain anywhere? You look fine.”
“I’m okay.” I was sure Gideon would demand I get an MRI, but I’d deal with that later. Right now, I had to get to the hospital.
I scooped Owen in my arms and faced Alex. “Let’s go.”
When we entered the hospital, Dean, Gideon, and Olivia were there with Danny and Toni. Olivia jumped off her chair and ran to us.
“Owen!”
Even though I didn’t want to let him go, knowing he was safest in my arms, I released him so Livy could gently hug him.
“I’m okay, Livy. Look, I got a cool Band-Aid…Grogu.”
