Page 72 of Dubious Match
The slight buzz of the bed moving allows me to lay like a bump on a log as the bed rises.
“Regal even when beaten to hell,” Cian mutters, sitting next to me. “Are you sure you don’t want a career change?”
“I’d probably continue to stick my nose into things I shouldn’t and get myself killed,” I sigh.
“Could we stop talking about you dying?!” Brice yells.
“Sorry,” I say immediately. “I call for a change of subject. What’s going on with Aster?”
“Hayes interrogated her, helped her find her sister, and then told her to get the fuck out of Minneapolis,” Cian says. “He said that he wouldn’t be able to not kill them both the next time he saw them because all he’d see is how Aster misled you.”
“Not to mention he described every single bruise and broken bone you have and made her cry,” Caleb adds. “I’ve been texting him for updates. I think Aster got off too easy.”
“What else was he supposed to do?” Remy asks.
“Shoot her between the eyes and feed her to the pigs,” Lars grunts. “I like that idea.”
“Lars, you’re starting to sound like a mafia man,” I tease him.
“Gross, no thank you, Hollis,” he says.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Cian says. Pack Ledger looks very confused, which is funny. Unfortunately, I can’t laugh because it hurts too much. “Aster and her sister are taken care of, your event ended well and they filled out what they needed to so you can do your follow up. Aisling says that they all are worried about you.”
“I’ll send out an email saying I’m fine,” I say. “I have a feeling I’ll be saying that a lot.”
“Alive doesn’t mean fine. We need to find you a new adjective, baby,” Brice grunts.
Nurse Rose walks in with my medication, and I drink it down with some water with Malcolm’s help.
“Take it easy,” she says. “You’re going to be here through the night at least. The doctor isn’t very happy with the sound of your lungs, and he’ll be by soon. Try to keep it down, gentlemen.”
The “gentlemen” don’t give a shit, but I keep my lips sealed as she leaves.
“It’s late, though. I doubt you’ll see the doctor until tomorrow morning,” Cian says. “I’m not impressed with the hospital or this standard of care. Next time, I’ll just use my own physician.”
“That was very elitist,” Caleb says from the door. “You heard the nurse. They’re watching her lungs. Simmer down.”
“I’ve killed people for telling me shit like that,” Cian grunts. “I will be back tomorrow, but you can’t stay at your apartment,Hollis. After what Emilia did, I expect that she’ll be recording all about how dangerous it is to cross her.”
“The woman is bold,” I say. “Uppity bitch wanted Forever Yours to fail.”
“It didn’t though,” Cian says gently. “That event was amazing. Everyone had a fantastic time despite Emilia.”
I can’t make a face at that, but I really want to. My medication is helping, and there’s a cushion now between my pain level and my brain.
“I listened to some of the conversations happening, and really enjoyed being a fly on the wall. This is why I wanted to do this mixer,” I say. “Okay, is that everything? Nothing else?”
“Hollis Anne Edwards,” Cian warns. “Don’t you ignore me. Your ears work just fine. You can’t go back to your fucking apartment.”
“She’s moving in with us,” Malcolm says. “We spoke about it earlier.”
Letting my head flop to the side, I gaze at him. He’s stretching the truth a smidge.
“Is that true?” Remy asks. He sounds so excited, I groan in my head. Malcolm knows exactly what he’s doing.
The issue is that he’s right. Living alone when I’m so sore that walking is going to be a hard sell means that’s out of the question.
“You don’t play fair,” I rasp.
