Page 53 of Barrett

“That could have done it, but there’s no way to know for sure unless you keep a food diary. What have you taken?”

Marshall told him.

“I’m going to make a call. Try to stay still and keep the ice packs there.” Reghan stood and walked to the door, pulling me along with him so he could take the handle and close it almost all the way.

When we were in the living room, I asked, “How?”

“One sec.” He lifted his phone from his pocket, tapped the screen, and put it to his ear. It was so quiet in the apartment that I could hear the person answer.

“What’s wrong?” a man asked.

“Nothing to get worked up over. Are you done for the day? I need help with a friend.”

There was a sigh on the other end of the phone. “What kind of damage?”

“Not like that. He’s got a severe migraine and is out of medication, no refills.”

“You’re lucky you caught me when you did. I’m supposed to be heading into the other side of the city for dinner.”

“Thank you.”

“Text me the address.” The call disconnected.

“Who was that?” I asked. “And are they a doctor or just pretending to be one?” There was no way I wanted one of Jordan’s guys treating Marshall with random pills.

“Alton. He’s a doctor and a damn good one. He treats my migraines and is the doctor for Jordan’s guards.”

“You just call him, and he comes? This isn’t for Jordan.” I didn’t know why I said that. I was grateful someone was on their way here to help my brother. Usually, when his pain was bad, he’d take his medication, and it would at least usually take the worse part of the edge off. I had no way to help him now except home remedies, which weren’t great. The majority of them didn’t work.

“If it was for Jordan, he would have fucking run. Alton knows we don’t call him unless it’s urgent, and I wouldn’t have done so had I been able to help. I don’t know your brother’s medical history, what he can and can’t take, and didn’t want to give him one of my own pills. I could have gone home to get them, but what if he’s allergic? I’d rather play it safe and call Alton.”

“You could have asked me.”

“You’re a doctor now?”

“No, but he’s my brother.” My hands tucked into my pockets then I pulled them out. I started worrying my thumb, hating my brother was in pain and there was nothing I could do. Did I know Marshall’s medical history? I didn’t go into the room with him to his appointments. He didn’t have drug allergies. That I knew for certain. “You have migraines?”

“For years, but I’m better thanks to Alton and the medication he prescribes.”

“I bet Jordan has a hell of an insurance plan.”

“He does but even if he didn’t, he’d pay for whatever we needed. Most people will never see the other side of him, the one he hides except to a select few, but he does take care of those who work for him, especially the ones guarding him and his family.”

“You don’t have to defend him. I’ve seen how much he cares about Vail and Hartley. I just didn’t know you had migraines.” In fact, I didn’t know a whole lot about him.

Reghan brought his hand to the back of my neck and pressed our foreheads together. “Wipe that look from your face. We have plenty of time to discover everything about each other. I’ll even tell you all about my medical history, if you want. I’m in this, Bear. I have nothing to hide.”

“Maybe some bodies,” I mumbled, wanting to lighten the mood and remove the pit of worry from my stomach.

He chuckled. “Sure. Bodies. Why don’t you sit with your brother and tell him the doctor’s on his way.”

“Tell him I’ll pay him. I really appreciate him coming out here.” I’d have to dip into my savings account because there was no way a doctor of Jordan’s making a house call was going to be the same as Marshall paying a twenty-dollar co-pay to see his regular physician.

“Go.”

I sat on the floor in Marshall’s room and told him about Alton and that he was on his way. I hadn’t met the man before, but I boiled it down to the fact he probably only showed up when someone was gravely hurt. Had he been there for some of Reghan’s injuries? Did he stitch him up?

It wasn’t long before I heard the apartment door open. Reghan must have gone down to meet him, so he didn’t buzz the door. They entered the room, Reghan first, his eyes meeting mine before he moved out of the way for Alton to see Marshall, as I stood and made room.

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