Page 123 of Vicious Kitten

“Sit down, honey. I’ll tell her.” My dad offers, and my mum nods again, letting him steer her to a chair.

Sighing, my dad rakes his hand through his hair and turns to face me.

“He’s ok, Rhys. There were some complications during surgery, but they managed to get things under control, and he’s resting in the recovery ward.”

A strangled cry leaps from my throat before I can stop it, and I slap my hand over my mouth as tears spill from my eyes.

“That’s good news.” Shaun beams, his own eyes wet as he looks between my dad and me.

I nod, now impersonating my mum with uncontrollable blubbering that makes no sense.

My mum scrambles off her chair and stumbles to me, Garrett moving out of the way just in time to avoid being bowled down by her, and she throws her arms around my neck in a fierce mum hug. The best I’ve ever had.

When I’m finally able to form words again, I pull back from my mum and hope she’s not going to give me hell for what I’m about to ask.

“I need to see him.”

She nods as if she expected me to ask and glances over her shoulder at Will, who gives her a shrug.

“You can, but it will have to wait until he’s transferred to the ward,” She leans in closer, dropping her voice to a whisper, “and Dad and I will have to head home to grab you some clothes. You know, because we can’t actually allow you to have a personal relationship with him.” She gives me a pointed look, and I get her meaning. They will turn a blind eye and pretend like they have no idea.

I beam at her and nod, happy for the massive olive branch, and sink back into Simon’s hold as a tap sounds at the door.

My dad moves to answer the door while Mum hugs me again, and I let my eyes fall shut as immense relief over Ty washes over me.

It’s the click of heels and the voice that oozes authority that has me pulling back from my mum. Glancing towards the door, I watch as two blonde women stroll into the room. Their confident aura screams power, and I realise I am in the presence of two very successful women.

Hellooo, lady boner!

“Mr and Mrs Rogan. Lovely to see you again.” The tallest blonde smiles, giving my parents a nod, while the other blonde nods at my guys.

Do they know these women?

“Ms Angel.” My dad does this awkward head nod bow type of thing to the both of them like royalty is before him.

“No need to be so formal. Bec and Amanda is fine.” The shorter but no less authoritative woman smiles, and my dad gives her a nod. Then she turns her eyes to me. “Rhys.” She moves past my dad and makes her way to my bedside, where my mum slips out of the way, joining my dad at the back of the room. “I’m Bec, and this is Amanda. And we are the founders and CEOs of Angel Org. I believe one of our volunteers in the local division told you about our organisation?”

I nod slowly, feeling weirdly Starstruck by the two women before me. “Yes. Evie Prattle.”

They both smile.

“Yes. Evie is a very loyal and fierce supporter of what we do.” Amanda moves up next to Bec, and all I can do is nod.

Why are they here?

“Cherry, these badass chicks were the ones that came to the cops with info that led us to where you were.” Simon rasps quietly in my ear, and I turn to him with my brows tugged together, still confused.

“Ah, sorry. We haven’t had a chance to fill Rhys in on everything that happened yet.” My dad speaks from the back of the room, and Bec turns a warm smile in his direction, nodding.

“Let me fill you in.” Amanda smiles and lowers herself to sit on the edge of the bed. “One of our consultants was able to get their hands on some information the police hadn’t yet stumbled across. We were already up in the air on our way to Fox Pines when she sent it to us.”

“Up in the air?” I frown.

“In our helicopter,” Bec adds with another warm smile and my brows hitch.

Fucking hell. They have a helicopter?

“Anyway, we went straight to your house where the investigation was running from. The information we had helped the local law enforcement to find you.” Amanda tilts her head as she speaks to me, her eyes not wavering from my battered face.

---