Page 98 of Cook

The way he looked at me, it seemed like he was disappointed. Tears burned my eyes, and I clamped my jaw shut. I wouldn’t argue with him, ever, but he didn’t care until Roni did.

He looked backward. “Sorry.”

I dressed behind the blanket, not wanting to leave Daddy’s side. I didn’t want him to apologize for me either, but it seemed too late for that.

The scrub bottoms were loose enough around the waist, but they hit me three inches above the ankles. When I unfolded the sweatshirt, there was material for days. It had to belong to Celt. I peeked at Cook, who nodded his approval.

As I tugged it over my head, I heard Roni’s voice again, whispering, “She didn’t care she was naked.”

“She was wearing a blanket,” offered up Cook, and Celt scoffed.

“That’s not the same thing,” said Roni. “I think it’s a trauma response.”

Did she think the blanket created a soundproof barrier?

Roni continued, but I only caught part of it. “...of what the Gambinos did to her. She should talk to—”

I batted down the blanket. “I don’t want to talk to anyone. I’ll try to do better next time.”

That shut them up. Hopefully for good.

Until it didn’t. “I understand you’re doing all you can, Cook,” Roni said in a normal tone now, “but what happened to her—what you just saw and what she’s definitely not telling you—is gonna continue.”

She made me sound like I was defective.

“I’m not a delicate flower.” I stared her down, and she finally relented.

After everything that had happened to me, people would expect me to be shattered pieces of glass put back together to create a human. But I was strong like steel. I wouldn’t falter again. I hadn’t in front ofCook.

Cook folded the blanket and draped it on the arm of the couch before sitting. He shifted over, making room for me. “Truly, Roni, she’s better free from hospitals. It was just a really long day.”

I shot him a grateful smile, but instead of sitting beside him, I knelt at his feet. My knees dug into the rug, and I stared down. The silence stretched out as I waited for Cook to do something.

“Um,” said Roni in a low voice at the same time Celt barked, “Cook.”

He raised his hand as if to silence them and said to me, “Maddie, sit beside me on the couch.”

Seated, my knee touched his, and he pressed his hand down on me again. The pressure was good. Grounding.

At length, Celt broke the silence. “Did you and Angel make the schedule yet for the extra border patrols?”

“He’s still getting his list of prospects together,” explained Cook.

“Then they aren’t loyal, or they’d be here by now,” said Celt. “Wilde should cut them loose.”

“They have families in LA,” said Cook in a calm, fatherly tone. Warmth spread through me. “The Ridge isn’t built for families. That’ll take time.”

Celt frowned. “Our guys need to be on duty, pronto.”

“I’ve got it covered,” said Cook. “The guns are probably only a start to the things they wanna run across our border.”

Guns? My heartbeat quickened, and my stomach twisted. Though nothing was in my stomach, I was going to be sick. Why was Cook involved in all this danger?

He saved me. Wasn’t that enough?

Was he trying to save others? I didn’t know what was happening, but he shouldn’t tangle with that kind of shit. It was too dangerous. If I lost Cook...

I couldn’t lose my daddy after I had just found him. I needed him.

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