Page 84 of Don't Break My Heart
“Thanks, Doc, can you look them over as well?”
That earns me glares from the other boys too, but they look fresh out of a horror movie, so I don’t care if they are pissed at me about it. I move closer to Orlando as Ricky looks them over, taking his hand in my good one. “You never filed for divorce.”
He drops his head. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” His eyes lock with mine. “If you still want it, though, I will.”
I look him over, not sure what I really want. While we were in Italy, I got used to the idea, but it’s also never been something I wanted for my life, right up there with babies and a long-term boyfriend. But now, apparently, I have four of those, so maybe I just have to accept my life is going to be different to what I pictured, and the truth is, I’m so glad it is. I have more now than I ever could have imagined.
“Maybe today isn’t the time to make any life-changing decisions.” I squeeze his hand a little tighter.
He leans into my neck. “Just so you know, whatever you decide, I’m never letting you go again,” he whispers just for me.
“Yeah, I figured.” I can’t help but smirk back at him.
His lips brush my cheek. “You’re mine, and I hope I’m still yours.”
I touch the side of his face gently. “You’re mine,” I whisper, feeling teary all of a sudden.
He doesn’t give a shit if we’re in Ricky’s doctor’s office or if the other boys are here. He pulls me toward him, kissing me.
“I’m just going to get the referrals for X-rays and CT scans, along with some stronger painkillers for you all, then you can take your girl home. She needs to sleep.”
“Thanks, Ricky.”
He leaves the room, but as he does, Harley shoves past him. She waddles toward me, her face a mask of terror when she sees me. “What the fuck, girl?”
“I’m okay,” I tell her, not needing another person to worry about me.
She hugs me to her gently, her eyes locking with mine. “I wanted to check on you, but I pushed my way in because I needed to tell you Commissioner Sedgwick is outside waiting to talk with you. I couldn’t keep her out, and I wanted you to be prepared.”
Reef stands. “I’ll get rid of her,” he snips, sounding frustrated.
I push up off the bed to standing, my legs wobblier than I want them to be right now. “No, it’s okay, I can handle her.” I move through the room cautiously, still feeling lightheaded. Reef is by my side and places a hand at my waist to steady me as we walk out into the hall.
She’s leaning into the wall, looking every bit the woman of power she is in a navy-blue pant suit, her long dark hair hanging down her back in a low ponytail, with an extra sharp part. “Sloane,” she whispers my name like she’s about to burst into tears. Her reaction toward me catches me off guard.
“Commissioner.” I smile tightly, still not sure how to take her.
She moves toward me. Taking my elbow, she looks me over with motherly concern, in a way that makes me feel odd because I hardly know the woman. “When Jagger said you had been hurt, I had to come right away. Whoever did this to you will pay dearly.”
“I’m sure they will,” I mutter.
She searches my face, her perfectly manicured brow raising in question. “They already have, haven’t they?”
“Not sure, I took a pretty nasty knock to the head. I can’t remember the last twenty-four hours at all,” I snip like the smartass I am, not sure what she’s going to make of it. Right now, I don’t care. Good luck if she wants to prove any of it. Valentine’s body, along with all the men he brought with him, are lying in chunks at the bottom of the ocean just out front of Orlando’s island home. The boat they took me to the island on went kaboom after the boys hooked it up with some pretty full-on explosives and sent it out to sea. It was quite a sight, and I have to say, I’m glad they let me stay for it. Very satisfying to know that piece of shit won’t be back to haunt me.
Her lips quirk up at the side ever so slightly, and she takes my hand in hers. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
I glance at Reef, and he looks just as surprised by her kindness as I am.
She points at him. “And you I expect to see at the office first thing Monday morning. We have work to do. I have sent you the file of a new case I want you working on.” She looks me over.
“I’ll leave you guys to talk work,” I say, feeling awkward all of a sudden. I walk back toward Ricky’s room, so ready to get out of here and back home to sleep off this thumping pain in my head.
“I can start today,” Reef says. “What’s the case?”
“A missing Italian girl, goes by the nickname Daisy. Her parents think she might be in Ravens Hollow,” she says.
My body goes all goosebumpy. I glance back over my shoulder to see Reef’s reaction. His face says it all.
