Page 77 of Wildest Dreams

“Leant it to you,” I raise my brows, “don't get it twisted Kelcie.”

He laughs, tipping his head back and I have never wanted to punch someone in the throat as much as I do this dickhead.

“We will see what happens when you're back on your feet, aye Rivera,” he leans in and snarls, his hand on my shoulder as he pushes his thumb into my bullet hole wound, and I scream out.

“Get the fuck off him,” my brother’s voice bellows around the room and Kelcie shrinks back into his seat, but Riggs is fuming. His temper is short, and I can see in his eyes he has lost it. Grabbing Kelcie by the scruff of his shirt, he drags him out of the room and tosses him down the hallway of the hospital.

“I'll have you charged for that Rivera!”

“Try it, where are your witnesses?” and Kelcie stands from the floor, and I watch as he looks up and down the hallway. “Exactly, now fuck off Kelcie, don't come anywhere near my family again,” and Kelcie knows better than to not listen to Riggs.

He steps back inside the room and grunts when he sees blood trickling down my chest. Reaching for the call button, he presses it over and over until someone comes in, but I have no idea what happens after because I black out.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DIXIE

Tucked into an armchair, I have Aspen's latest book on my lap but I'm not reading. My mind is with Tripp. My mind is on the stupid threat Lucian has now hung around my neck like a noose, and as the hours go on, I can feel it getting tighter.

Orla walks into the room and hands me a cup of cocoa, and I feel like a fraud. Both of her sons are in hospital and she is the one waiting on me. Make that make sense.

“Orla,” I sigh, taking the cup from her, “please, sit down, let me fix you some food,” I offer, a small smile pulling on my lips.

“Don't be silly,” she waves me away, shaking her head from side to side.

I lift my eyes to watch her as she potters around an already pristine living room. She hasn't slept for more than a couple of hours a night, and once she is up, she is constantly busying herself. The ranch, the house, Lainey... we've tried to step in but she shoos us away. It's her coping mechanism, I guess.

“Can I do anything?” I offer like always, but she just spins to look at me, tilting her head and giving me a lopsided smile.

“No darlin', you just enjoy your book,” she gives me a wink and then disappears out the room.

Sighing, I close the book on my lap and let my head rest onto the back of the armchair.

A moment or two passes and I roll my head around to see a tired Jorge walking through the door, kicking his boots off and reaching for the door frame as he holds himself up. He looks dishevelled and exhausted.

I push up from the sofa, stepping towards where he is standing and wrapping my fingers softly around the top of his arm, rubbing gently.

“You okay Jorge?” I ask, concern lacing my voice.

“Yes sweet girl,” he stands a little taller and gives me a smile.

“Sure?” my lip twitches at the corner.

“Sure,” he nods his head as he lifts his cowboy hat and walks across the hall to hang it up.

“I'll go down the hospital and do the night shift,” I speak a little louder, heart thrumming in my chest.

“You don't need to do that,” he sighs.

“I know I don't need to, but I want to.”

“Riggs can go with you.”

“Riggs was on last night, he is exhausted. Conrad?”

Jorge rubs his chin like he is thinking.

“Take Hudson down with you. Don't want to get Conrad mixed up in this anymore than he already is.”

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