Page 215 of Malice and Surrender
“Hey, are you okay,” Avro asked as he stepped outside and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I leaned into his warm body and shook my head no.
“I’m scared. I expected the anger, but it was like he was talking to someone else part of the time or multiple people…shit Avro, what if something is really wrong with him? I just found him. I can’t lose him all over again. I know you two don’t like him, but….”
“Shhh, stop. First, you’re not going to lose him. Kai is a tough SOB. Second I don’t hate him. We actually got along well until the proposal, but that’s beside the point.” He sighed as he kissed the top of my head. “There is no point stressing or worrying until we know more.”
I wished I could be as optimistic as Avro, so many strange and terrible things had happened already. For Kai to come back into my life and, then something might be wrong with him…I couldn’t even let myself go there. I wanted to fall to my knees and beg whoever would listen to help him.
“I hope you’re right,” I said as a black truck pulled into the back lane and parked in the driveway. Two men got out. The driver I recognized, but I didn’t know the second man. Roach opened the back door and then walked over.
“Hi, thanks for coming,” I said. “I just didn’t know who else to call.”
“You did the right thing. We have a club doctor who has all the best equipment needed to make sure Snake is okay,” the man I didn’t know said. He held out his hand, which was as large as my face. “Nice to meet you finally, Raine. My name is Mannix. I have heard a lot about you.” I shook his outstretched hand.
“I’m sure not all of it has been nice,” I said, and he smirked but didn’t confirm or deny it.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Avro.” Avro held out his hand for Mannix to shake next.
“So what happened,” Roach asked, crossing his arms over his chest. I didn’t like the way he was staring at me. It felt like he was blaming me for this happening to Kai. I already held enough blame in my heart. I didn’t need this.
“I don’t know. One minute he seemed fine but angry. The next, he was arguing, but it felt like he wasn’t really talking to us, and then he slowly collapsed to the ground. His pulse was racing, and he was clammy to touch. We got him to the couch and covered him up, then I called you immediately. He’s breathing, and his pulse has slowed, but he hasn’t woken up.”
“Where is he,” Mannix asked, and I tore my eyes away from Roach’s hard stare.
“He’s just inside in the living room,” I pulled open the door and led the way to where Kai was lying on the couch, murmuring something while Jace sat in a chair watching him.
“Well shit, you’re Jace Everly,” Mannix said and smiled. “Nice to meet you.” Jace stood, and the pleasantries started all over again.
I stood by the door out of the way, and Roach leaned down and whispered. “You had to know something like this would happen,” he said.
I looked up at him. “Excuse me?”
“The very public proposal and you accepting. You had to know that it would send Kai into a tailspin. Why would you do that to him?”
Crossing my arms, I glared at Roach. “You have no right to ask me that. You also have no idea what’s going on or why.”
“You’re right, I don’t, but that man is my brother, blood or not, and this shit you have going on, making him play house with you and two other guys, is bullshit.”
Roach walked away before I could say anything else, but I was seething mad. Why was it that he thought he got a say in our relationship?
I watched as Mannix and Roach picked Kai up, and my stomach churned to see him like this. Kai was so strong. I expected the anger and to see him fired up, but this was different. Had I pushed him too far? It wasn’t like I set out to hurt him. I loved him with every fiber of my being.
“I want to come with you,” I said as they approached the living room door.
“Not a chance,” Roach said, and I was ready to punch him.
Mannix glared over his shoulder at Roach before turning his eyes on me. Mannix had a calming personality that reminded me a bit of Avro, but where Avro wasn’t commanding or liked to be in charge, Mannix’s entire aura screamed that he was the man to talk to, and everyone listened.
“Even though Roach has terrible bedside manners, he is right. It’s better if we take him to the club doctor alone, but I will personally call you the moment we know anything.”
Avro placed his hands on my shoulders as if silently telling me to let it go. I nodded even though I wanted to argue until I was blue in the face. But this wasn’t about me. This was about Kai and a doctor seeing him as quickly as possible.
“Thank you,” I said, and Roach rolled his eyes.
“Don’t do that,” I growled at him.
“I said what I said, and I stand by every word. The reason Kai is like this is because of you,” Roach said.
“Roach, knock it off,” Mannix ordered. “I will call you, but we need to get going.” They walked out the back door, and we watched as Kai was loaded into the truck, and they drove away.
