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When they pull up, both men take one look at me holding her, and I know they recognize her. Not for her relationship with my brother, but who she is to this town and her brother.
“Rika, come on, wake up,” one of the paramedics says as they get her settled on the gurney.
“Trevor, what are you doing here?” Her voice cracks. “Oh shit, it’s coming.” She immediately turns her head and pukes on the other paramedic’s shoes. I know both of these men from running backgrounds on all of the men around Jas. “Sorry, JD.” He hands her a cloth to wipe her face, and that’s when she looks over and sees me standing here still. I need to clear this up. I can’t have her thinking my brother cheated on her. That I’m the other woman. I almost yack at that thought myself.
“We are going to transport you now, Rika,” Trevor says as he monitors her.
“No, I’m okay. I’ve just been battling a bug and shouldn’t have been running.” She tries to get up, but her body sways. “What the fuck?”
The paramedics take off with her, pushing the gurney toward the back of the ambulance.
“Call her brother,” one of them says, and I turn from them and look at her.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“No, I don’t want her.” She waves her hand at me.
I’m not going to listen to her. I have to fix this. Plus, I have to keep an eye on her. She’s family now.
“Don’t call Leif. He’ll worry.” She argues with one of the paramedics, and I take the dogs back to my car and head out to beat them to the hospital.
* * *
An hour later, I step through the curtain. I’m only here because Ryan let me. I’m not supposed to be, but I have to clear this up. I smile softly at Erika and start with my name. Knowing my brother, she knows it.
“I’m Ridley,” I tell her and see the recognition on her face. Yep, he did.
“What are you doing here? Did he send you?”
“I live here.” I tip my head to the side and pull my lip between my teeth. “I had to meet you. He’s worried about you. If I tell him about this, he’ll be here in a flash.”
I defend my brother, but he should have come for her already. It sucks that he hasn’t.
“Gray is a good man. He has his issues. He’s a workaholic. He used to gamble a lot, but now it’s his casino that has taken over as his addiction. Until you.” I move closer to check out all of the monitors attached to her. My time in the hospital taught me a lot. I don’t want her to freak out and cause the alarms to go off. “My brothers are devoted men. They don’t throw their hearts out there for nothing. Gray cares.” I don’t reach out for her hand, but I hold on to the rail of the bed.
“I doubt it. We only had a couple of days. How is Riggs?” I like that she isn’t going to give my brother any leeway, but I love it more that she’s concerned about Riggs.
I laugh at her comment. “He’s good. I had to tether him so the paramedics could get to you. He’s as hung up on you as Gray is. He wasn’t eating very well, that’s why Gray sent him to me. He thought Murtaugh would cheer him up.”
“Riggs and Murtaugh. I joked with Grayson about that when I heard his name.” She chuckles softly.
“It was my favorite movie series growing up,” I say. I’ve always wanted a sister.
“Why are you really here? Did he ask you to keep an eye on me?”
I pause and take a deep breath before I answer her. “I told you I had to meet you. I might not show it, but I am protective of my brothers. I just can’t be where our father is or his men. He’s upset that I won’t act like the perfect little Bratva printsessa.” I hate being the Bratva printsessa. “He will not force me to marry for his betterment. I’m my own woman. I’ve worked hard and had to overcome a lot.”
“Okay. Can you not tell him about this?” She waves her hand around us, and I get it.
“I can if you’ll have dinner with me.”
“If they let me out of here.”
“Where is she?” is yelled, and I watch as she sinks into the bed further.
I drop my head because I know that voice. I can’t hide the flush that works over my body. We’ve been together for months now every other Friday, and after what happened this last session, I’m not sure where we are headed next.
Leif bursts through the curtains. I don’t know if he sees me, but when I see his feet move to the bed, I step back so I’m not noticed.
