Page 100 of Wine & Whiskey
“It’s taken care of. I’ve got all my available guys searching for him and two PIs running down his background. You can’t do anything I’m not already doing. We’ll find him, and then it’ll be over.”
Forget the police or a trial. They appoint themselves judge and executioner in their lawless world. Spencer almost killed Nick, and now they’re the ones who decide his fate. She shakes her head, unable to focus on that right now. “You’re still really sick. Please don’t get out of bed.”
“She’s right. Let me handle it.”
Before Nick can respond, the door swings open, and Nathan strides in with a nurse following behind him. “I heard you were awake…” Nathan glances at the clothing on the floor before shaking his head. “And causing trouble.”
Nick yanks at the taped gauze on the back of his hand. “I need to get the fuck out of here.”
“You need to be examined.” Irritation tinges Nathan’s voice. “You collapsed because of swelling on your brain. Don’t think you can just walk out of here. You’re not invincible.”
The nurse puts her hand on top of Nick’s. “You’re going to hurt yourself. Please let me help you.”
She reaches up and unhooks his IV bag and slides the sleeve of a hospital-issued t-shirt over the tubing and up to Nick’s head. “I hate those gowns too, so I thought you might find this more comfortable.”
His scowl softens at her kindness, and he allows her to help him pull it over his head and down his body. “Thank you.”
She’s the United Nations of nursing, bringing neutrality to the room and defusing the tension so they can focus on Nick’s health. Her yellow scrubs and gentle smile create the desired calming effect. “You’re welcome.” She turns to Shae and winks. “Now it’s time for you two to wait out in the hall for a bit. Give me a chance to get this guy settled, so he can be examined and get some rest.”
Nick sits down and reaches for her again. Shae squeezes his outstretched hand. “I’ll be right outside the door. As soon as they’re done, I’ll come back in.”
Max nods at him and guides her out of the room by her elbow. They sit in the chairs facing the windowed door. His shoulder knocks against hers. “Are you okay? You seemed a little shaken up earlier.”
Their bond over junk food now extends to the secret they keep from Nick. Neither of them wants to be the one to devastate him with the truth.
“I hated being scared of him. It wasn’t his fault.”
“I know, but it’s going to take a while for everyone to get over what happened. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
The nurse smiles at them, but keeps walking after she and Nathan leave Nick’s room. Nathan stops in front of them. “Nick’s doing better than I ever expected. There doesn’t seem to be any lasting side effects, except for weakness, which should resolve itself in about a week.”
“Thank God, he’s going to be all right.” Her voice shakes as much as her hands, but she has to know. “What about his mental state? He remembers us and won’t…?”
“Yes, he should be back to his normal self.” Nathan gestures to her. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
Max’s mouth tightens before he walks inside Nick’s room, keeping the door propped open, continuing to protect them even in his irritation.
Nathan rolls his eyes at Max’s back. “You’ve got to get away from him, Shae. I know the attack was drug-induced, but it’s just another instance of you being hurt from the fucked-up world he lives in.”
Heat flames her cheeks. Nick doesn’t deserve their blame. “It’s not his fault.”
“What if he had really injured you? Or, worse yet, what if you had been drugged? It could have killed you.”
Her small circle of friends reduces to one. She’s lost Jason and now Nathan, who barely tolerated Nick to begin with. No amount of defending him can change Nathan’s mind. She shakes her head. “I can’t do this now. I have to get back to him.”
“What if it had been Carrie?”
She pauses at the door, the ache in her chest growing. She had been trying not to think about what could have happened. There’s no argument she can offer. Carrie could just as easily have been the victim of Nick’s fury. “I don’t—”
“It’s over. She’s moving out. I can’t take her living in his house anymore. It’s been one thing after another, and no one can seem to stop it.”
She refuses to come between her best friend and the man she loves. A good person like Nathan, who only wants what’s best for his fiancée. “Okay. I understand.”
“Come with her. She’s going to stay at her parents’ until the wedding, and Sheila said you’re welcome too.” He nods toward the men standing near the door before lowering his voice. “We’ll hire our own security until all of this dies down. Maybe Eugene can come until everything’s back to normal.”
“I can’t walk away from him. He needs me.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “And I love him.”
“Fine. You have to live with your own decisions, but leave Carrie out of it. I don’t want her over there or anywhere near him. You see her alone or not at all.”
