Page 149 of Delicate Escape

One of the most beautiful arrangements had come from the most surprising sender. Mara. With a note that read:I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. Get well soon.

Rumblings of my ordeal had made the rounds in town, and Rhodes had assured me that it had given Mara a wake-up call. As had hearing about Shep putting his life on the line for me.

Shep shifted me on the couch as he checked his phone. The timer app had a minute to go, but Shep didn’t need it. He had radarthat bypassed the damn thing. “It’s time for your next dose of pain meds.”

I moved so I was sitting up fully, the quilt still over my lap. “I think maybe we could wait a little longer.”

Shep frowned at me. “I don’t want to chance you being in pain.”

My body was stiff and more than a little sore, but given everything I’d been through, I’d gotten off lucky. I had stitches in my head and in several places on my torso, bruised ribs, and a mild concussion. But not a single broken bone or serious injury.

“Shep is right,” Nora said, bringing over a tray that held a bowl of soup, some rolls, and a glass of lemonade. “You need to stay ahead of the pain right now. In a few days, we can talk about tapering you off.”

Lolli held up a wand that had feathers at the end for Moose to bat at. “Or you could let me make you some of my poppy tea. That’s all natural, and it’ll cure what ails you.”

“Lolli,” Trace growled as he strode into the living room. “It’s an opiate.”

She just smirked at her grandson. “Not selling it, Mr. Po-Po. You can’t lock me up.”

“Jesus,” Kye muttered from his spot on the chair in the corner. “Just remember, your bail is too expensive for my blood.”

Lolli huffed. “You and your fancy tattoo studio could cover it.”

“Not at the rate you’re going,” Fallon argued with a shake of her head.

“You’re all just a bunch of prudes. No fun at all,” Lolli complained.

“I’m with you,” Cope agreed. “They need to live a little.”

Trace’s gaze moved to his brother. “You mean breaking every speed limit known to man in their two-hundred-grand SUV?”

Cope slowly turned on his stool, a devilish grin on his face. “I’d never.”

Trace’s eyes narrowed on him. “According to three deputies in the past twenty-four hours, you’ve been doing exactly that. I told them to arrest your ass next time. You and Lolli can share a cell.”

Lolli held up her hand for a high five, letting out a hoot. “We’re living now!”

Cope slapped her palm. “Damn straight.”

I watched as lines carved into Trace’s face. His words had held humor, but there was more than a hint of frustration behind them, too.

A phone rang, and Cope stood, sliding off his stool. The moment he pulled the cell out of his pocket, his expression changed. Gone was the devilish amusement, leaving nothing but storm clouds in its place. “Gotta take this,” he muttered, heading for the back door.

Trace’s worried gaze followed him until the door slammed shut.

Rhodes pushed the tray that Nora had left me across the coffee table. “You need to eat so you can take your meds.”

The warmth of her concern, that of all the Colsons, was like a balm. They were all up in my business because they cared.

Anson cleared his throat, glancing at Trace from his spot next to Rho on the floor. “You have any updates?”

I stiffened, my hands tightening around the bowl. Trace had been scarce these past few days, working around the clock on both the Raina and Brendan fronts.

Raina wasn’t saying much of anything, but Trace had worked his magic, getting her placed in the locked ward of a psychiatric facility several towns over instead of the jail. Fallon had jumped in to help, making sure that we found a lawyer who’d take the case pro-bono. I loved them both for that. They could see through Raina’s actions to the pain beneath. She didn’t need punishment, she needed help.

It had been harder for Shep to be at peace with that. Because he’d had to watch me go over that cliff. Had to pull me up, bloodied and broken, worried he’d lost me for good.

I set the bowl down again and burrowed into Shep’s hold. His arm gently went around me, but I could feel the tense muscles beneath his shirt.

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