Page 68 of High Density

As expected, she waves me off. “Eat and rest. I’ll check up on you in the morning.”

When she tries to pass JD on her way to the door, he wraps her in a hug.

“Love you, Ma.”

She lifts her head to look at her son and places a hand on his cheek.

“You’d better,” she returns in a suspiciously unsteady voice before darting out the door.

Maybe it’s the drugs they gave me, but the brief mother-and-son moment has me a little choked up.

Chapter Twenty-One

JD

“Wait a minute…youjust passed my turnoff.”

I haven’t told her yet, I have no intention of taking her back to her place. Not only is it still swarming with law enforcement, but it may not be safe for her. Sure, Mackey is in custody, but it’s clear he wasn’t operating in a vacuum. Janey may still be at risk.

“We’re going to my place.”

“Why?”

I can feel her eyes on me and glance over.

“I talked to Jackson this morning. He mentioned your place is overrun by agents at the moment, you won’t get any rest.”

“But what about the animals?”

I reach for her hand and bring it to my lips.

“Jackson’s looking after them. He offered to drop Ginger off once we get you settled in, if you want.”

“I want.”

She drops her head back and closes her eyes. I think she’s in more pain than she’s willing to let on, otherwise I’m pretty sure she would’ve put up more of a fight.

I’d gone to grab a coffee and something to eat at the sandwich shop when it opened at seven this morning, and by the time I got back to the room, nursing staff already had her out of bed and moving. It must’ve hurt like a son of a bitch walking on that leg, but Janey pushed through with steel determination. She even convinced the nurse to wrap her leg in plastic so she could clean up in the shower. The exercise wiped her out, but she said she couldn’t stand the rodeo stench clinging to her.

I’m pretty ripe myself. I never even changed into the clothes Ma dropped off last night. I’ll grab a shower at home as soon as I get Janey tucked into bed.

The moment I walk into my place, I know my mother was here. A bowl of fresh fruit is sitting on the small kitchen table, and there’s a hint of cleaner in the air. Even though she usually respects my space, I’m not surprised, Ma has a way of finding things out. She probably talked to Jackson.

“Wow, nice view,” Janey observes when I guide her to my couch.

“Yeah. It’s why I bought this piece of land.”

She flashes me a tired smile.

“You’re tired.”

She nods. “A little.”

I drop a kiss on top of her head. “I’ll be right back.”

Before I tuck her into bed, I’ll need to change the sheets, but when I walk into the small bedroom, I see Ma beat me to it. The bed is turned down and the sheets are clean.

Janey’s eyes are closed when I return. “I don’t know why I’m this exhausted,” she mumbles without opening them.

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