Looking toward Slade, she frowned. “Can you excuse us for a minute, Slade?”
“Sure.” He nodded, setting the tubes down for her bloodwork before heading out the door and shutting it behind him.
Once he was gone, she looked up at Sloan. “I will not come between you and your men, Sloan.”
“What?” He looked taken aback by her statement, his eyes narrowing.
“You heard me.” Becky hoped to hell her voice sounded strong.
“Becky, I would walk away from all of this for you,” Sloan growled, and she knew he was trying his best to keep the anger from his voice.
“And that’s exactly what I don’t want.” Becky sighed, then shook her head. “People get sick, Sloan. I know being a vampire for so long you’ve forgotten that, but I’m human. I’m going to get sick.”
“That’s not what this is about,” Sloan said, his voice dropping.
“That’s exactly what it’s about.” Becky held his stare for a heartbeat before sighing and looking away. “What I need is for you to help me figure out what the hell happened to me at that surgical center. You can’t do that if you’re tied to me twenty-four-seven.”
In truth, Becky did want Sloan tied to her twenty-four-seven because she was terrified. But there was something she needed to do, and she couldn’t do it with Sloan watching her every move.
“I’m not leaving you alone, Becky,” Sloan’s voice brought her out of her thoughts.
His phone rang, but he continued to stare at her without answering.
“You need to get that.” Becky wanted his attention directed anywhere but on her at the moment. She didn’t want him looking too deeply.
Pulling out his phone, he put it to his ear. “Yeah?” His frown deepened. “Get the information from them and then get back with me.”
She couldn’t hear whoever was on the other end, but she could guess. “You need to talk to them, Sloan. Go on. I’ll text Katrina and see if she can take me home and stay until you get there. Or she can bring me back here.”
“No,” Sloan said without hesitation, then started for the door. “Slade is going to draw your blood, and then I’m taking you home.”
“You are the only one I trust to find out what’s happening,” Becky said, and her words stopped him in his tracks.
Slowly, he turned to face her, but remained silent.
“I know you have faith in your men, but I need you to do this.” Her throat tightened, but she forced the words out. “For me.”
Okay, so she’d thrown that out there, and it was true. She did trust him more than anyone, but it wasn’t because she didn’t have faith in the rest of the Warriors. She knew they cared for her. Hell, she knew they’d protect her with their lives. But right now, as much as she wanted Sloan with her, she needed him gone long enough to do what she had to do.
“No.” Sloan didn’t budge, damn him. “Until I know this doctor had no intention of going through you to get to me, you will not be left alone or unguarded. You can be mad at me all you want, but that is my final say in the matter.”
He moved back toward her, cupping her face in his hand and forcing her to look up at him. Becky stared into his eyes andhated the worried look reflecting back at her from their golden depths.
“I’m not mad,” she whispered. “I heard you tell Duncan he was in charge. I just don’t want to take you away from what’s important, Sloan.”
“I’m looking at what is more important to me.” Sloan’s voice was more serious than she had ever heard it, and she had heard the many voices of Sloan Murphy. “I know you had to deal with things alone in your past, but that was your past. I’m here, Becky, and I will never let you deal with anything alone.”
A tear slipped down her face as she stared up at him. “I know.” Becky gave him a wobbly smile. “Still not used to it.”
“I know.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “I love you.”
More tears fell as she held him just as tight. She just prayed she was wrong about the feeling eating away at her, but something deep down said she wasn’t, and it terrified her.
“Let me get Slade so I can get you home where you can rest.” Sloan kissed the top of her head, then pulled away.
She watched as he went and opened the door. “Hey, she’s ready.”
Slade walked in, grabbed the tubes, and headed toward her. “I’ll put a rush on these,” he told her as he started to prep her arm for the blood draw. “And I’ll let you know as soon as I get the results. I also want to do an examination, but we can wait until tomorrow for that. I’ll schedule a room at the hospital where I can have a nurse assist. Is that okay with you?”
