Page 21 of Dash

And I was gonna find the fucker and kill him with my own two hands.

“One more dose, and absent of emergency treatment, you’d be dead,” the doctor said.

Thena locked stares with me. “You were right about… everything.”

I squeezed her hand. I wasn’t happy about being right. I was fuming. Given Richard Astor’s letter, I assumed I’d been ahead of the game. But assumptions killed, and from now on, I would make no more assumptions. Richard Astor’s assassin was moving so fast that I’d almost lost Thena to his wiles.

“Thanks, Doctor.” Thena held herself together impressively well. “For saving my life.”

“You should thank him.” The doctor gestured toward me. “Without Mr. Dagger’s intervention, I would’ve been at a loss for answers.”

Her gaze collided with mine, dazzling me with the restored brilliance I remembered. Her stare granted me leave to dream again, provided I could keep her alive, find her sisters, and persuade her that I had not betrayed her and that we deserved another chance to be together.

***

Thena

The doctor left, leaving me reeling. He’d given me some answers, but I had even more questions. The nurses took over. When asked, Dash stepped out of the room, and the nurses helped me get up, use the restroom, brush my teeth, and wash up. Feeling clean and painless did wonders to clear my head. Wearing a fresh hospital gown, I returned to the bed and asked for Dash. Since he showed up as soon as the door opened, he must’ve been standing right outside the room.

The nurse in charge set a tray with a small milk carton, a plate of mashed potatoes, and a tiny bowl of gelatin on the tray table before me.

“I’m not hungry.” I pushed the tray away, causing a stir with the nurse.

“Eat,” Dash ordered with his characteristic brevity even as he gave instructions to someone over the cell. When I gave him “the look,” he put his hand over his cell’s speaker, and softened his voice. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be short, but you need to eat, darling. It’ll help with your recovery. Please?”

I’d never been able to resist a plea from Dash, especially when he called me “darling.” I should resist it now. Instead, I worked on the food tray. I managed to down the mashed potatoes and finish the milk. The small effort was exhausting. When I was done, the nurse took away the tray and left us alone.

“You look tired,” Dash said.

“So do you.”

“It’s been a rough few days.” He flashed a smile that would’ve melted my panties had I been wearing any under my hospital gown. “You scared me.”

“I scared myself, too.”

“You should get some rest.”

“I will, later.” His concern felt sincere, but my mind was churning with worries. “We need to talk. I can’t believe someone wants to kill me.” I forced myself to focus on the essentials. “Who’s doing this and why?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’m gonna find out.”

“Is it the same murderer who killed my father?”

“Most likely,” Dash admitted. “We’re working on it.”

“Who’swe?” I asked. “The people you work with at Battle Brothers?”

“Yes,” he inclined his head. “I’ve been greenlighted to use BB’s resources in this matter.”

“Why?” I wondered aloud. “I’m an Astor. I can pay.”

“True, but this is right up Tracker Team’s alley. Besides, if there are any extraordinary expenses above and beyond our mission budget, I’ll personally handle them.”

There it was. The pride of a self-made man. Dash had always been touchy about the class and economic differences between us. He sounded as if he still was.

“If you refuse to charge me for protection services, I’ll go around you and make a significant donation to BB’s wounded warrior program.”

“Sounds like you.” He allowed for a small smile that made me long for more of his kisses. “The folks I work with are my friends and now yours, as well,” he explained, although I didn’t really get it. In the world I’d been immersed in for the last few years, money ruled and you paid a high price for favors. “One of them knows you quite well.”

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