Page 16 of Sinful Deception

“Organ transplant?”

She exhales in a long huff. “I imagine that’ll come soon once the more immediate issues are dealt with. She’s tachycardic and, so far, unable to settle down despite the meds they have her on.”

“For fuck’s sake.” I bring my hand up and run it through my hair. “So we risk MI, too. Which is another organ to be sourced.”

“But she’s an addict,” Fifi finally inserts. “They won’t put her on any lists if she has a history of drug dependency, right?”

“Unlikely,” Aubree answers. “If her body can’t heal from this, then she’s in a world of trouble not even Fletch will be able to save her from.”

“And in the meantime,” I add. “He’s ready to set the world on fire. He’s hurting, and though Archer will paint a target on his own back and take the brunt of his temper, I’m not sure Fletch has it in him to get through to the other side of this.”

“What if she dies?” Aubree’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, her voice lowering to ensure Fletch can’t hear. But I feel the tremor in her words. Her worry. “If she dies, half of him goes into the ground with her.”

“Aubree?” Tim steps out of the room and tilts his head to the side when we turn. “I’m gonna get coffee for everyone. Wanna come for a walk?”

“Yeah.” Her breath comes out in an achy shudder. She brings her eyes back around to meet mine, but there’s not much else left to say. So she sighs and turns away. “There’s a machine on the fourth floor.” She takes his hand, wrapping herself around his arm and leaning against his side. “We’ll get them something to eat, too. Especially Fletch.”

“Do you think I should leave?” Fifi drags her bottom lip between her teeth and warms when I bring my gaze back around. “He’s not in a good space for extra stress, and if I’m making this w?—”

“I think tonight will be the worst he’s ever had, or ever will have, for the rest of his life. And I think he’s terrified of making things worse with you. He’s too tired to watch what he says, and too broken not to give in to his temper. But…” I add, as each of my words weighs her down just a little more. “I think beneath all the pain and worry is a man who needs a hug. He wears his heart on his sleeve and carries more loyalty than any one person should.”

“Minka—”

“I think he’ll always find comfort knowing you’re here. Despite the drama and the pain he’s caused you in the past, I think it will be good for him to know you came. So if you can thicken your skin for a few hours, or close your ears and justbehere, then I think it would go a long way in healing a heart that bleeds tonight.”

“That was…” Frowning, she clears her throat. “Introspective and romantic of you, Chief.”

I snort and start back toward the room. “Shut up. Did the mayor fire you yet? I heard he’s an awful man to work for.”

“Oh sure. He’s a monster. And yet, not once has he called me by the wrong name, taunted me for simply existing, forced me to listen to med talk I don’t need to hear, or ignored the instructions I’ve fed him since my presence in his life is literally what I’m paid to do. Additionally,” she lowers her voice as we approach the door, “he takes his calls, and no one ever shouts at me on the phone because he’s ignoring them.”

“That’s the honeymoon period. It’ll end soon.” I grin and pause at the door to collect myself. I flick my hair back and draw a breath big enough to fill my lungs. Then I lower my hands to nervously pat my pants down—they weren’t messy to begin with—and enter the room to be hit, first, with Archer’s fiery stare. “Hey.” I’m not here for Jada, and though it makes me aware of a fundamental flaw in my very being, I don’t feel sympathy for her current predicament. But I feel for Fletch, and I want to save Fifi from having to sit too close, so I wander to his side of the bed and perch on the arm of his chair. “Aubree’s getting coffee for everyone, and Tim’s obsessively dogging her every step.” I set my hand on the back of Fletch’s head and scratch.

Archer likes it, so… “Can we set the bad attitudes aside and just be here for you for a bit? No fighting. No mean words. Just comfort.”

“Yeah.” Sniffling, he drops his chin to his hands, his elbows to his knees. “I’m sorry for everything I say and do between now and…” he sighs. “Forever.”

“No need to be sorry,” I counter with a gentle smile, though I know he can’t see it. “Just be aware. That we’re here and that we love you. And that Fifi is here too,” I tease. “Even though she didn’t have time to do her makeup or hair, which, to her, is a punishment way worse than any tantrum you might throw.”

He drags his eyes up and stops on the woman who lingers on Archer’s side of the room. She wouldn’t dare sit on the arm of his chair—I wouldn’t let her, even if she thought to do it. She leansagainst the wall, her arms folded and her foot quietly tapping the floor.

But she looks at him, at least. For the first time in too long, she meets Fletch’s honeycomb stare without slapping him down with her words or a harsh scowl.

“Thanks for coming.” He lowers his head again, too tired to do much else. “You don’t have to be here. I’d understand if you want to go.”

She clears her throat, soft and gravelly. “Do youwantme to leave?”

He squishes his cheeks, but wordlessly turns his face to show her a definitiveno. “I don’t want you to go.”

“Then I’ll stay.” She slides against the wall, lowering until she’s on her butt and her knees are drawn high. Then, she drapes her hands over her knees and allows her fingers to dangle. “For you. Until you ask me to leave.”

ARCHER

Hours pass, and nurses come and go. Coffee is provided and consumed. Cups are disposed of and food is delivered. Our crowd of too many is scolded and told to thin out, but too many of us have badges, and none of us care enough to listen to the orders handed down.

But we listen to every word spoken when doctors do their rounds. When nurses come to check on their patient and reports are torn from the machines parked on each side of the bed.

Cerebral edemais muttered between white coats.Basilar skull fracture, too.

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