Page 74 of Decoding Morse

“Rabbit is on the way to provide backup,” Tap said before I could hang up. “He left as soon as you crossed into city limits and should be there shortly.”

Providing backup was a solid excuse, and I was grateful he was on the way, but Rabbit couldn’t hide his true motivation.Not with the handful of texts he’d already sent me, demanding updates I refused to give. His nosey ass wanted to know what was going on between me and Amelia. I thanked Tap for the warning and disconnected.

Amelia hadn’t complained about the ride, but I caught the gasp she didn’t quite stifle when she climbed off the bike. Stashing my gun in a locked, hidden compartment, I joined her. She removed her helmet, and the dark smudges beneath her eyes and the nervous way her gaze flitted around the garage made me want to throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the safety of the club. We were so exposed in this garage, and anyone could be hiding between the vehicles. Determined to get to safety, we grabbed our helmets and headed in.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said as we walked. “I mean, thank you for your concern, but I know my limits. I haven’t reached them yet.”

“Got it. But it would still be safer if you let me and my brothers make a plan to get you here tomorrow. I’m only asking for a day. Less than twenty-four hours.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d pitched that particular path, so it didn’t surprise me when she shook her head.

“What if Carol doesn’t have twenty-four hours? Look, I don’t want to put you in danger even more than I already have, so you should go back to the club. I know what I’m doing is stupid, but I have to do it. She’s dying, Morse, and she’s all alone. I promised her I would never let that happen.”

“I’m not leaving you alone.” Even if her life wasn’t in danger, I would be by her side. Not because of the promise I’d made Ted but because I understood Amelia and admired her loyalty. In her place, I’d make the same choice.

Well, with better preparations….

We passed through the metal detector, and the main desk receptionist directed us to the fifth floor. We took the elevatorsup and followed the signs to the correct wing at the back of the building. Once there, we checked in at the nurses’ station. A doctor was in with Carol, but the nurse assured us we’d be able to see her soon. Pushing away from the desk, Amelia eyed the flattened upholstered chairs of the small waiting room and wandered over to stand in the corner. I followed, keeping both the entrance and the middle-aged man across the room in my peripheral.

“How you holding up?” I asked.

She folded her arms, running her hands up and down them, her attention fixed on the patient room doors as if willing them to open. “I’ll feel better after I see her.”

I set my hands on top of hers and squeezed. “How’s your leg? Can I get you anything?”

Her big hazel eyes flickered to me, and the affection staring back at me snatched the breath from my lungs. “You’re wonderful, you know that?” she asked.

Guilt kicked me in the teeth. I did not deserve this woman’s affection and needed to come clean about why. Not now, and definitely not here, but soon.

Boots thudded down the hall, coming closer, then Rabbit rounded the corner with a shit-eating grin stretched across his face. My self-appointed backup had arrived.

“There you two are,” he said as he approached. “And don’t you look chummy? See? Told you you had nothing to worry about, brother. I knew she’d forgive you for the cameras. It’s not weird. He just likes to watch you garden.”

Amelia’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “What cameras?”

“You didn’t tell her?”

She looked from Rabbit to me, growing increasingly anxious. “Is this about the break-in at my house?”

Realization darkened Rabbit’s carefree mood. He stabbed an accusatory finger in my direction. “You fuckin’ promised, man.”

Irritated that he would walk up and throw me under the bus like that, I swatted his hand away. “I tried, okay? A lot of shit has gone down since we left.”

“What’s going on?” Amelia asked.

Rabbit opened his mouth to verbally back the bus over me a few times, but I shot him a glare that threatened his life.

He threw his hands in the air and took a seat nearby. “I’m just sayin’, you gotta be on the same team, brother. Share the damn playbook.”

“What’s he talking about?” Amelia asked.

The stranger across the room was paying us entirely too much attention, as was the nurse behind the desk. Rabbit leaned against the chair’s arm, listening in. I didn’t want to have this fucking conversation here, but now I had no choice. Resigned, I lowered my voice.

“The cameras I spotted the intruders on… the night they broke into your house… they’ve been up for a while.”

Her brow furrowed in thought, then comprehension dawned on her beautiful face. Plump lips fashioned into an “o” that gave me hope this whole thing might blow over until she asked, “How long’s a while?”

I’d been hoping she wouldn’t go there, but I had to answer honestly. “Since Ted died.”

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