Page 111 of Her Defiant Warrior

Mateo’s head was killing him. He was trying to keep up with Braxton, but it was difficult. Just how hard of a hit had he taken? He struggled to hold back a yawn as he asked, “Recruitment?”

Braxton gave him a funny look. “I don’t understand.”

“Remember when Ryker told us about the Kraken killing his brother’s friend’s parents? That was after the guy tried to quit the Kraken Elite. Then they said they’d kill his wife and kids. Maybe this was their way of making us fall into line so we’d do what they’d say.”

“There is no way that would happen. No way,” Braxton shook his head vehemently.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Mateo, you’ve been out of it for the last couple of days. The team’s rage is palpable. Kostya is having a damn hard time keeping everybody under control. There’s no way any of us would turn.”

“Okay, it was a stupid idea,” Mateo agreed as he tried to rub the back of his neck but found his hand trapped since he was tethered to an IV pole. He grunted in frustration and used his other hand.

“Maybe it’s not. I haven’t had much sleep since Gideon’s house blew up, but you have. Maybe you’re on to something. I’ll bring it up to the rest of the team. Now that you’re awake, expect visitors. Bonnie’s been chomping at the bit to see you, but Jase is even worse.”

Mateo frowned. “What’s up with that?”

“You’re a hero.”

“Shit, I was just the guy who showed up at the right place at the right time. Any one of us would have made the same moves, and you know it.”

Braxton tilted his head and gave him a long look. “I’d like to think so, but I’m not so sure. Your instincts have always been on point. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but when you talk, the Lieutenant pays special attention.”

“Humph. Are you sure you weren’t hit in the head?”

Braxton shrugged. “Whatever. Just glad to see you awake. You were out for twenty-four hours. We were getting worried. I’ll let the team know you’re awake now.”

“Why were you here?”

“Bonnie told me that all the way into the ambulance, you kept calling for me. Well, me and the dog,” Braxton grinned. “They wouldn’t let me bring Lucy in, but I figured that seeing my ugly mug when you woke up would be a good thing.” Braxton smirked.

“Ahhhh, you love me. Admit it.”

“It’s true. I’ve been lusting after you since you were transferred from Blue Cascade four years ago. And here I’ve thought I’ve kept it under wraps.”

Mateo let out a whoop of laughter. “Hmm, hmm, I believe that. But seriously, Brax, thanks for sticking around. I was sure the bomb got you.”

“It’s going to take more than a few pounds of C-4 to take me out,” Braxton winked at him. “Now I’m going home. That recliner,” he pointed to a chair in the corner in the room, “leaves a lot to be desired. I’ll let the nurse on duty know that you’re awake.”

“Don’t. I’d like to sleep instead of being poked and prodded, okay?”

Braxton gave him a chin lift. “You’ve got it.”

The day after he’d woken up, Mateo had assured the doctors that he’d have someone at home to stay with him and monitor him if he could be discharged, so they’d released him after having his prescriptions filled at the hospital pharmacy.

It was the Uber driver who had signed the release paper and wheeled him out to his car. Mateo had tipped him huge. Brax had clued him in that Bonnie was going to want to say thank you, and the last thing he wanted was for her to be hovering over him while he was lying in a hospital bed, looking all helpless and shit.

He’d been right, too, because that night after he’d checked himself out, there was a knock on his door. When he opened it up, it wasn’t Bonnie and Jase, though. It was his Lieutenant.

“Are you out of your fucking mind or just stupid?” Kostya roared and Mateo winced. “Oh, did my yelling hurt your tiny little brain? Perhaps if you’d stayed in the hospital where you belonged, I wouldn’t be yelling at your sorry ass.”

“Kostya, you promised you wouldn’t do this,” a woman’s voice said. Mateo looked past one of the two men on his team who was his size, and saw Kostya’s beautiful blonde wife, Lark.

“That was before I saw what pathetic shape he was in.” Kostya scowled at his wife. “We saw him in the hospital when he was unconscious. I had a hope and a half that he might be looking a little better if he’d checked himself out. Instead, he looks worse. Look at the bruises on his face and the road rash on his chin. He looks like he was hit by a ton of bricks!”

“Will you at least keep your voice down? Every time you yell, he winces. The man has a concussion and you’re not helping.” Lark shoved Kostya to the side and pushed past Mateo to get into his home.

“Mateo, we need to open a window in here. All I can smell is pizza.”