Page 57 of Dangerous Lies

Ginger sighed as he sat in the plastic chair in the corner. “Good to know you actually take your meds...you just ignore everything else.”

Casanova reached for the nurse button.

“Don’t bother. I had Lucas disable it.”

“What the fuck, man?” Casanova pushed up in the bed, so he was sitting. His hair was shaggy, and he had a full beard. “I said I didn’t want to see anyone.”

“And I don’t give a shit.” Ginger crossed his arms over his chest. “Now, let’s talk.”

“What is there to talk about? I’m a fucking failure and always will be,” he said. “One job, protect Rose, and I couldn’t even do that. Like I didn’t protect….”

“Protect who?”

Casanova shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Shit is in the past. Military issued my medical discharge papers because I might not be able to walk again.”

“So sitting in a room alone and cutting out the world will fix that?” Ginger knew what it was like to blame himself. “While you feel sorry for yourself. There is bigger shit going on, like the fact Sarah disappeared and Grim’s spinning out of control. I think she needs someone to save her.”

“I can’t save myself,” Casanova said quietly. “The thoughts in my head are too loud.”

“Let people in and call Grim. You think you’re worthless, except she needs you,” Ginger said. “I need you to get better so you can be my best man. I’m not getting married until you get out of here.”

Casanova hesitated, then reached out and squeezed Ginger’s hand.

*** Nurse Ester

Nurse Ester walked into his room every shift for the past month, and he hadn’t recognized her, but she knew exactly who he was: Jared Dawson. They’d told her he’d died years ago, her best money maker. The teen had a long list of clients who asked to spend nights with him.

It was his striking eyes she’d caught all those years ago in the group home.

He hadn’t allowed a single person into his hospital room, but now a man had snuck in. She stood outside the door and listened to see if he talked about his past.She wondered if he thought about her at night.

Her cell phone buzzed in her scrub pocket, and she pulled it out to see her partner’s name across the screen. She stepped away from the door, but she would check in on Jared later.She couldn’t stay away.

“Did you find him?” she barked into the receiver, not bothering to say hello.

“Yes, he’s at the apartment. Claims the same story he told us all those years ago.”

She would either get what she wanted out of him or kill him, maybe both. Because Jared wasn’t dead and losing him years ago had torn her operation apart. Someone was finally going to pay for what had happened, and she had a plan for Jared as well. He still owed her for the money she’d lost.

21

EPILOGUE - ROSE

Six months later

“Where is Tyler?” Ginger asked as he placed a hand on her hip and kissed the side of her neck.

His touch still gave her goosebumps.

Ginger had taken the job with Richy and left once a month for DC. When he wasn’t helping Richy, he assisted in her business. He’d just gotten home from his trip, and she wanted him to herself for the night.

“The soccer team is sleeping over at Rice’s house tonight,” she said as he pulled her closer to his body.

His hands drifted to her ass.

“So, I have you all to myself for the night?” he asked.

“Yes, but first, we have something to celebrate.” She wiggled out of his arms and jogged to the fridge. “Grab a plate, two forks, and a knife.”

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