Page 26 of Reese’s Protection

“Knox,” I whined, but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate and his name came out as a jumble.

He smiled, and my stomach went all melty, but I didn’t know if it was from the drugs or because of how hot he was when he looked at me like that. Yeah, maybe the painkillers were doing some funny shit to me.

“Rest.” He stroked his thumb across my temple and down my cheek, and his warm skin felt good against mine. “I promise, I’ll explain everything when you wake up.”

I trusted him, and the medication was beginning to chip away at my consciousness again. I gave him a smile as I drifted off.

In and out.

In and out.

Until finally, I stayed awake. The fatigue slowly began to disappear, and I was able to keep my eyes open.

Layton and Knox were here when the world stabilized. They fell into conversation about work, as though it was any other day and I wasn’t stuck in a hospital bed after being shot. My lungs burned, but Knox had already told me I’d been shot in the chest and the bullet nicked one of them. Now it was about recovery and letting my body heal.

“You didn’t really answer the last time I was awake,” I said, when their conversation lulled. Knox was in the bed beside me, his arm around my shoulders and my cheek against his chest. He was careful not to bump me too much, and it was nice to have him hug me. I tilted my chin up so I could look at him. “Jeremy? You said he can’t hurt me anymore. Did the cops get him?”

I caught Layton’s wince out of the corner of my eye and the dots began to connect. Knox wasn’t a law-abiding citizen. He’d been in fights in the past that landed him in jail, and he was protective of the people he loved. He wasn’t a good person, as far as the authorities were concerned, but he was the perfect man for me, even though I knew, deep down, what he was capable of. He never hurt guys who didn’t deserve it.

“How did you remember that?” He quirked a grin at me.

“Stop changing the subject.” I smiled anyway because he wasn’t subtle. “Where is he?”

“The less you know, the better. You’re innocent as far as anything that may, but never will, come of it.” He shrugged and jostled me, which earned me an apologetic kiss on the forehead.

He’d said enough. He’d ended Jeremy’s threats for good. It made sense, especially since the Kings had been there. I’d never had much to do with them, except for Bullet’s visits to the flower shop, but they had a reputation. You never messed with the club or they’d bury you so deep no one would find you.

Someone cleared their throat at the door, and I glanced in that direction, my attention landing on the blond man I’d seen as I’d come in and out of consciousness. He wore the same green scrubs and a pair of white sneakers that looked very comfortable.

He crossed the room, an electronic tablet clutched in his hand. “You’re awake.”

I nodded and swallowed around the dryness in my throat. Knox gave me a cup of water, and I took a small sip.

“I’m Grant Arthur, a physician assistant here at the hospital. I’m also the fiancé of the King who brought you in. The guys call him Reaper.” He gave me a concerned smile that reached his brown eyes. “I hope you don’t mind me coming in to talk, but the police want to interview you, so I don’t have much time.”

I straightened and winced at the sharp pain that sliced through my chest. Since they’d lowered the meds, I was feeling more of my injury and it wasn’t the most pleasant sensation.

“Obviously, we can’t admit that your ex was the one who shot you. I held off reporting a gunshot wound for as long as I could and had a couple of my coworkers, who aren’t the biggest fans of the law, play the system with me.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “I talked to my fiancé and the Kings, and we believe it’s best if you tell the cops you were messing around with a gun at Knox’s home and it went off. Kai was driving past when he heard the gunshot. Worried, he came to knock on the door, and you shouted for help. He came in and found you, bleeding and hurt, and rushed you to the hospital. You don’t have the best health insurance, so it makes sense you asked him to take you to the ER rather than call an ambulance. The cops have already been given a decoy gun that doesn’t have any crimes associated with it and the bullet that was in you is long gone. You had surgery the night you arrived.”

“What about gunshot residue?” I asked.

“A fan of those whodunnit shows, huh?” He grinned. “We’re well past the window for that. You’ve been moved around too much and cleaned up. It’s not an exact science, either.”

I processed the flood of information as Knox squeezed my hand. When everything settled in my brain, I looked back at Grant. “That sounds perfect. Thank the Kings for me. If they hadn’t been there, I’d be dead.”

Grant smiled. “I will. No one should have to deal with an abuser.” He came to the other side of the bed and touched my arm. “We reduced your pain meds, which I’m sure you’ve realized. The bullet grazed your lung but didn’t puncture it. The injury could’ve been a lot worse. You’ll need to stay here for a few more days so we can keep an eye on you, but then you can go home with meds you’ll slowly wean off as your wound heals.”

“Thank you,” I murmured.

Another knock on the door interrupted us, and I groaned when I caught sight of the familiar cops. They were the same guys who’d come around asking about the attack on Jeremy’s house.

Officer Paxton shifted inside the room, his thumbs hooked on his belt. His golden blond hair gleamed and he looked larger than before, but maybe it seemed that way because I was lying on a bed. His uniform strained over his broad shoulders.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Heagney.” His English accent was gentle, but so were his words, as though he didn’t want to frighten me.

Knox shot to his feet, which had me grunting in pain, and his upper lip curled. “Why are you here? Reese only just woke up.”

I touched Knox’s wrist, tugging. “It’s fine. The sooner I get this over with, the better.” I took another sip of the water in the plastic cup.