Page 111 of Vengeful Guard

I hang up, letting out a long breath.

It might be a good thing that there’s not been a change for the worst, but I want to get to the hospital before the doctor gets there.

Declan will be relieving Lara this morning, so maybe I can ride there with him and back with her.

I pad into the kitchen, and Marisol is making breakfast.

“Don’t mind me. I’m just getting a banana, gotta go to the hospital.”

She bites her lip. “Any change?”

“Not yet.” I put my hand on her shoulder. “I promise that you’ll know as soon as I know.”

“Thank you, Paige,” she whispers, and I smile at her.

I know that she has feelings for my father—a blind man could see that. And I know it’s hard for her not to ask every day about how he’s doing. So, I plan to keep her updated. After all, I’ve been hoping her and Da get together for years.

I grab a banana and peel it, eating it quickly, waiting for Declan to come downstairs. Eventually, he does, around seven, and I’ve been up since around five. I should be tired, but I feel oddly energetic.

“What are you doing up so early?” He grabs himself an orange from the kitchen and returns to the dining room.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I mutter, not wanting to tell him about the nightmare. I’d thought the nightmares resulting from the attack were bad, but this was next level. “I wanted to be there when the doctor sees Da. In the waiting room, at least.”

Declan nods. “I’ll give you a ride.”

“Should I wake Kael?” I hope he says no.

As much as I love being around Kael sometimes, right now that’s not what I need. After last night, I feel somewhat awkward being around him. Besides, I need to focus on family. And I can’t focus on anything but him when he’s around.

He shakes his head. “I’ll be with you. Let him sleep.”

I let out a relieved breath, and Declan raises an eyebrow.

“Don’t tell me the two of you still aren’t getting along?”

“We get along fine.”

“Doesn’t really seem like it. You two are always sniping at each other.”

“It’s just our vibe.” I shrug before running upstairs to get dressed.

I’m halfway through putting on my jeans, jumping to get them over my ample butt, when Kael clears his throat.

I turn, still topless and with my jeans only half-buttoned.

My heart races. I’d almost forgotten he was sleeping in here.

“Gotta go to the hospital,” I tell him. “The doctor is coming by, and I want to talk to him.”

Kael nods, standing up and slipping on a pair of gray sweats. I try my best not to look at his pecs, his abdomen. “I’ll go with you.”

“No need,” I blurt out. “I’m riding with Declan.”

Kael frowns. “It’s my job to watch out for you.”

“Maybe so, but you also need a break. You have been stuck with for too long. Declan can protect me.”

Kael continues to frown, but he leaves the room, picking up his shirt on the way out.

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