Taryn started to speak, but I squeezed her waist. “Sounds like a plan.”
I turned and headed for the stairs.
“So, you agree?” Nash yelled after me.
“Yep. We’ll get showers and some shut-eye, then head back down in a few hours.” I kept walking.
“Hell yeah!” Nash reached behind the bar and turned on the radio.
Bring in your sick. We have meds and can help. Go to the location nearest you.
Bring in your sick. We?—
We reached my room, and I shut the door.
“You can’t be serious?” Taryn put her hands on her hips. “Money isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on if you don’t have anywhere to spend it.”
“I know that Fox.” I opened my drawer and pulled out a T-shirt, an old pair of warm-ups from when I was much younger, and a clean pair of socks. “But that idiot won’t listen to reason.”
Her eyes lit up. “What’s the plan?”
I smiled, then winced when the pain in my head pulsed.
“Are you okay?” Taryn walked over and put her hand on my forehead.
I shook it off. “I’m fine.” I handed her the clothes. “Here, I’ll walk you to the bathroom and stand outside until you're finished cleaning up.”
She looked at me with concern for a minute, but then nodded.
I walked over and grabbed her hand, brought it to my mouth, and kissed it. “Let’s get you clean and fed.”
The bathroom was directly across from my room.
“You’d better take some ibuprofen. Your head felt a little warm.” Taryn whispered before closing the door.
My sweet girl was worried about me. I loved that about her.
Most people considered her a bitch, but I knew better. We’d both grown up with less-than-stellar dads, so she’d learned to protect herself from getting hurt. The fact that she trusted me enough to let her guard down melted my heart.
I coughed.
Fuck.
I hung my head. If I were getting what everyone else had, I’d blow my brains out before I hurt Taryn.
I laughed in disgust before lowering my chin to my chest. That was about right. I finally found something precious, only to lose it.
“Fuck that,” I murmured, raising my head.
I’d fight this shit to my last breath. This girl had claimed me, and I refused to let her down.
I heard the shower cut off.
My Fox would help me come up with a plan, and we’d get the hell out of here.
Neither God nor the Devil would take me from her. I’d make sure of it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
