Page 25 of Call Sign: King
Ryder ran his hand through his hair, frustrated they were having this discussion in front of four members of his BSO crew.
“Baby, I’m not going to apologize for that. When you slide into the darkness of your eating disorder, I’m going to do what you need to keep you safe and healthy. And while today’s scenario feels similar, the truth is I’m not prepared to force you if you truly are against being chipped.”
“So, you’ll let me say no?” she tested him.
“No.” He paused before reminding her. “I’ll let you sayred. Just know if you do, I’m going to keep adding more layers of protection between you and the rest of the world.”
“The paparazzi will give up eventually. They just smell blood in the water right now,” she reasoned.
“I don’t give a shit about the paparazzi. Not really,” he said truthfully. “It’s the scum that will come out of the woodwork when they realize how important you are to me that keep me up at night.”
“Fine.”
“So that’s a yes?” he prompted.
“That’s a ‘I trust you to know what’s best and will go along with whatever that is,’” she said with a sigh.
“It won’t hurt much at all,” Hawkeye said, trying to allay any fears she might have. “The injection site might itch a bit for a few days, but the technology has come a long way. You’ll forget it’s even there.”
Khloe raised her chin defiantly, looking up into the medic’s eyes to answer. “No. I won’t. I may not feel it, but it will still be a constant reminder of the danger I’m in.”
“No offense,” Hawkeye added, glancing at Ryder nervously before finishing his thought. “But if I were in your shoes, I’d look at it as a constant reminder of how much you’re loved. That chip could help a global team of protectors keep you safe from unimaginable pain and suffering.”
The medic’s words were uncharacteristically stern, and Ryder felt Khloe stiffen in his arms. His first instinct was to comfort her and kick Hawkeye’s ass for making her worry, but Hawkeye was doing him a favor. He was saying the things Khloe needed to hear, even if they did scare her.
She nodded in his direction, her only acknowledgement that she’d received his message loud and clear.
“Let’s get this over, then,” she said, wiggling until Ryder released her. After pushing to her feet, she reached out to her husband, helping to pull him to his feet. “The sooner you get your tracker on me, the sooner you’ll relax enough to stop scowling.”
Ryder was relieved she wasn’t fighting him. Grabbing the small box, he slapped her ass before retorting, “This isn’t scowling. Just wait until you see my face if you keep pressing your luck.”
Chapter Eight
KHLOE
“Stop sulking. You’ll see him again in four days,” Trevor prompted as Khloe settled into the back seat of the limo next to him.
“I know that, but I don’t understand why he couldn’t just stay and fly home with us on Sunday.”
“You know why. Stop being obtuse.”
“I’m not obtuse,” she groused, tacking on her own math analogy. “I’m a circle. Round and fat.”
“Geometry? Really?” Trevor teased. “And you’re perfect.”
“I weighed myself this morning. I’ve gained another three pounds,” she complained glancing around at the other guards riding in the limo with them. “I’m with Ricky. You guys and your huge meals and junk food are a bad influence.”
“You still look thin to me,” Tank said, before teasing. “But then again, I like my girls to have a bit more junk in their trunk, if you know what I mean.”
MacGyver shot back. “That’s not saying much. You’ll nail anything with a pulse.”
“I resent that. I haven’t nailed anyone since I got to Toronto.”
“That’s just because I told you to keep it in your pants, we’re here to work,” Reaper reminded him.
“Still, I could have had some fun with that cute little in-room dining server last night, but I passed.”
Khloe had noticed Tank eyeing the young woman up the night before. “Yeah, but she had a wedding ring on.”
