AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do need them unless you want to spend the next few weeks in agony. You’ve got a fever too, which means more pills. Antibiotics, so you may as well get used to the idea of doing what I tell you.”
I groaned and shook my head.
Doc gave me a stern look. “All right then. I’ll get the IV kit from the van.” He looked at Bou and Kimmers. “Think you ladies can help me hold him?”
“Bedroom,” I muttered and stood. The zing shot up my leg; I gasped. Deep breath, a second, and it eased. “I’ll go. Shoulda flushed the fuckers.”
Doc gave me another pointed look and glanced down at the cast. “Not using the crutch either, I see. Do you want to heal, or is this fun for you?”
“Funny, asshole,” I growled.
“You sit, young man.” Kimmers pointed at me then danced over to Doc. “Stay with your patient. Bou and I will go.”
11
Bou
Kim pushed through the swinging door, and I took another glance at the men. Doc had been right; Wilde looked pale and moist. I was more than happy not to have to play catcher for a man who had probably a hundred pounds on me.
Doc stood with one leg forward almost between Wilde’s legs—a good position if the man did conk out. “Go on.” Doc tilted his head. “This is nothing new for me.”
When I made it into the shop, Kim was struggling with something in the van. I rushed over to help, and together we freed the rolling bag.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Doc said you needed another bed. I am assuming you two aren’t sleeping in the same bed yet.” She arched a brow.
“Of course not,” I said, noting her use of the word ‘yet.’ I pulled the bag toward my apartment. “I’m glad you guys came out.”
“Why’s that, doll?” Kim chewed a piece of gum, the mint scenting the air. “Figured you’d relish being here with him. Especially now I’ve met him. He’s smokin’!”
“You’re reading that all wrong.” I propped the bag by the door. “Help me push the couch out of the way.”
She hesitated. “I’m not so sure I’m the one who’s reading the situation wrong.”
With two of us, we made room for the mattress in short order. I unzipped the bag. “Nice one. Thanks for bringing it over.”
We each pulled the frame until the mattress was flat. She plugged it in, flipped on the compressor, and stood with her hands on her hips.
I grabbed a set of sheets from the cabinet in the bedroom and returned to find Kim still staring me down. I sighed and threw one corner to her. “Didn’t Doc tell you about the shit-ton of baggage Wilde rode in with?”
“Listen, doll. There’s nothing in the Yuma desert triangle that’s safe. Or pure or lawful if that’s what you wanna call it. You should know that by now.” She stretched the sheet over one corner as I did the other.
“Yeah. I just want someone as good as Pops.”
“Gawd knows we all loved Ronan. Miss having him at the house too.” The air compressor finished, and Kim unplugged it from the wall. “But you know right... he had his fair share of lawlessness too. Just like your brother. No one in The Ridge would be called a fine upstanding citizen anywhere else in the good old US of A.”
I shrugged. “Maybe it’s the devil I know rather than the devil I don’t.”
Kim blew a bubble, popped it, and chewed some more. “Well, I don’t know anything about Wilde’s history, but neither do you. And if you shut yourself down before finding out, that’s on you. Now, let’s grab those pills.”
Back in the kitchen, Doc and Wilde each had a half-drunk longneck sitting in front of them.
I held the bag in the air over the counter.
Wilde looked into my eyes and gave me a brief smile and nod. He reached for the pills but engulfed my entire hand before sliding the bag gently away.
“Well now...” Kim clasped her hands. Her eyes twinkled as she traced from where our hands were clasped to meet my gaze. Then, abruptly, she turned to the oven. “Lasagna smells done.”
