Page 20 of Covert
"I broke in," he says, his face going from concerned to relaxed.
I sag back in relief. Beckett had done exactly what I'd asked. I look down at the couch and see that they'd placed my head on a pillow and laid a blanket over me, too. I hope he didn't have to touch me, and that one of the other guys helped.
Water floods my mouth, and I know I'm going to be sick. I push Diesel aside and run to the toilet, heaving up yellow-green liquid. My stomach cramps as wave after wave of vomit is squeezed out of it. Each wave makes the piercing pain in my brain increase.
When I'm confident my body's done rejecting what I put it through last night, I fall back onto my ass and close my eyes, resting against the far wall.
Something nudges my knee, and I crack one eyelid open to find Diesel, nudging me with a bottle of water. I take it gratefully. He flushes the toilet and wets some paper towels in the sink before crouching in front of me. He places one blessedly cool towel on my forehead and one on the back of my neck gently.
I'm embarrassed but also confused.
"Thank you, but why are you here?"
He smiles. "One of the guys texted me a video of you sexy dancing from his phone. I could tell you'd been drinking and got worried when you didn't answer any of my texts. I don't know where you live, but the video was clearly here, so I came by this morning and saw your feet on the couch from the back door's window. I got worried." His eyes grow stormy again. "I can't believe those fuckers just left you here."
I wave him off.
"I told them to. It's not a big deal."
"What the fuck do you mean, you told them to, Nik? You could have had alcohol poisoning or choked on your own vomit."
I blanch.
"Is that a thing?"
He throws his hands up in frustration. "Yes, that's a thing!" He stands and starts to pace. "Have you been living under a rock? People drown on their own vomit all the time." He runs his hands through his long hair.
He stops pacing long enough to stand in front of me, glaring down like an unapproving father. I grab the hem of his jeans and tug twice.
He sighs and sits next to me on the bathroom floor.
"I'm sorry I scared you. I don't drink, but I was trying to thrive and not just survive for Leana and prove to Beckett that I trust him."
Diesel's head hits the wall like mine, but he turns it slightly so he can look at me.
I cover my mouth and turn away. "I have vomit breath," I complain.
He gently removes my hand by the wrist. "Do you have to work today?"
I nod sadly. I have to work every day the shop is open, and they only close on Mondays.
Just then, I hear the voices of the other three.
"Oh God, what time is it?"
Diesel checks his phone. "Almost noon."
My head slumps back on the wall, and I groan. "Kill me now."
"Nik?" Axel's voice calls out, I'm assuming when he sees that the couch is empty.
"In here," I groan out, groggily. Causing my head to split again.
Maddox is the first to the bathroom door. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He barks at Diesel. He's vibrating with barely contained rage, and I'm too hungover for this.
"Just takin' care of my girl." He kisses my temple. "I'll see you soon," he whispers before standing and brushing past Maddox, bumping his shoulder. Halfway to the back door, he calls out over his shoulder, "You need to work on your security. The back door's too easy to jimmy open."
A moment later, the door closes, and an engine roars as he leaves.
