Page 50 of Sleeping with the Dark (The Righteous 3)
“Oh, and Cody,” he called out just as Cody was about to walk out the door. The other man stared back at him, hand on the door. “I’m happy he felt comfortable enough to open up to you.” He looked away before Cody could see the tears forming in his eyes.
“Don’t you dare die on me, brother. You’re right. I need you—I’ve always needed you, and I’m sorry I can be such a prick.” He squeezed Trev’s hand in his own.
* * *
Cody stood just inside the door to the same room that the torture had taken place not long ago. A makeshift surgery area was now in place, plastic hanging from the ceiling, a silver slab table in the middle of the floor, the scent of antiseptic strong in his nose. He tried his best to be a fly on the wall as the doctor spoke to Arek. The two men blurred behind the plastic but were easily distinguishable. He couldn’t help the guilt as the doctor mentioned Trev had been pushing himself too fast and was overexerting himself. Some of the internal stitching had come undone. The doctor had to go back in and fix what Trev had torn, and Cody pictured all that had happened since Trev had first woken. It would be too much for anyone, even if they were a superhero.
“He should be fine now, but he has to rest in bed for at least a week, preferably two, he shouldn’t be up other than to eat and use the bathroom. I don’t care what you have to do to keep him quiet, tie him down if you have to, but it’s a must, or he’s going to do even more damage. We were lucky this time,” the doctor said, pushing the plastic wall aside to step out—the clear rattling material reminded him of the show Dexter. The older man pulled off his mask and ripped off the gloves he’d been wearing. Arek was right on his heels, doing the same thing. The doc wandered over to the large case he’d brought with him and dug around in one of the front compartments. “Here, he is going to need to take two of these, twice a day.” He handed over a small labelless bottle. On the streets, he wouldn’t have dared to take anything that he didn’t know the exact contents of, but Arek took the bottle from the doc and shoved it in his pocket, no questions asked.
“Can we move him upstairs?” Arek asked as he slipped out of the matching blue booties and gowns they were all wearing.
“If you think you are going to have any more incidents here, then no. Move him somewhere quiet and safe. I brought a collapsible stretcher you can use to move him around. It’s out in the truck.”
“Can you stay with him?” Arek asked Cody as he followed the doc.
“You don’t even have to ask.” Cody wandered over to the plastic, his heart hammering in his chest as he reached for the clear wall. Like a veil to another world, he pushed the screen aside and swallowed as he stared at the man on the table. He looked dead. The heart monitor showed he was indeed alive, but his normally tanned skin was pale, and his chest barely moved.
He perched his ass on the edge of the table, unable to take his eyes off of Trev’s face. He wondered if he was dreaming again and who it would be of this time. He felt shitty for even thinking it but really hoped that at some point, he’d enter his subconscious. Picking up Trev’s cool hand, he held it between his own and closed his eyes.
“Dear God, I promised I wouldn’t ask any more favors, but honestly, I didn’t think I’d be in this position again. Please look out for Trev, help him heal, and let him live. I don’t need to tell you this, but he has been through a lot, and he loves his family and takes care of others. I—just please help him. If you need to take me in return, then do it, but don’t take Trev away yet. He has too much left to do. Amen.”
The plastic rattled, and he looked over at Arek, they didn’t say anything, but Cody knew he’d heard every word.
“Come on. We’re going to take him to the penthouse. I’ve arranged to take him up the back way.” Arek held out the stretcher he was carrying for Cody to take. “For what it’s worth, I hope that God is listening and if not him, then Mel, because if anyone can make God listen, it would be that woman.” Arek gave him a small smile.
Cody may not be able to help Trev right now, but there was something he could do.
Cody jogged up the concrete steps of the rundown apartment building. The small group of guys crowded out front parted like the red sea when they caught sight of him. He ignored them. If they believed he was still the Ice Man, that worked in his favor. The Ice Man wouldn’t bother giving them a second glance. The stench of garbage permeated the air as he pulled open the glass door that might as well be metal with the grating on either side. He jumped back as a cat hissed at him and darted out the door. Even the strays don’t want to stay here. That didn’t say much for the hospitality.
It wasn’t a huge building, only six floors, but of course, Ray’s apartment was on the top. He said it was less likely that a stray bullet accidentally killed his sister up here. Sadly, he had a point. Cody didn’t bother trying the elevator. It hadn’t worked since some jackass started a fire in it two years ago. He sprinted up the stairs, the stale air doing nothing good for the mold and piss smell—if he weren’t used to worse, it would’ve made him gag.
Cody could clearly hear the television blaring inside the apartment as he closed the distance and raised his hand to knock.
“Who the fuck is there?” Came the barking reply.
“Is that any way to talk to your best friend?”
The heavy lock clicked, and the chain was next as Ray opened the door. Ray’s greeting was beaten to the punch when his little sister ran straight to Cody.
“Cody,” Little Spice shrieked and ran at him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed tight. She grinned ridiculously up at him, pink braces, which were a new addition, flashing as she did. Her hair was in her usual pigtails, but they now had this little bun with bobbles that was all the rage.
“Hey, Little Spice.” He hugged her back and then held her at arms’ length and pretended to look her over like he hadn’t seen her a few months ago. “When did you get so big and so darn pretty?” Her cheeks flushed at the compliment, her eyes batting up at him.
“Alright, that’s enough flirting with my sister. Get your ass in here.”
“Actually, this is a convo we need to have in private. Can you spare a minute?” Cody asked.
Ray crossed his arms giving her his best brotherly stare, and she rolled her eyes and walked away. “Yeah, yeah, I’m always on a need-to-know basis,” she sassed.
Ray stepped out into the hall, the door closing behind him. “I fear for the man that marries her. So what’s up?” They looked up and down the hall to make sure there were no unwanted ears.
“I have a job and an opportunity to make a lot of money and to get us both out of this neighborhood, but to do it, I need to gather the remaining Crimson Vipers together.”
“I thought you were staying out of the game?” Ray leaned against the wall as he gave him a pointed look.
“I’m not really getting back into the game, I’m just pretending to, but I need it to look convincing. Can you help me?” Cody held out his hand with the small wad of cash in it.
Ray took the cash, his eyes going wide as he counted out the money. “This is enough to pay for a month of meds, man. Where did you get this?”
