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“Max.” His voice is stern, struggling to hold on to his patience. “You need to stop freaking out and just relax.” His voice lowers as he stares at me intently, trying to break through my panic. “You are no good to Irelynn like this.”
His words cut through me, making me pause. I heave in a deep breath, trying to get myself under control. “But she could be in danger. He threatened to—”
Darin holds up a hand. “Listen, I’m going to sit down, and we are going to go over what happened. Let’s press the button for the nurse to come in, though. I’m worried about you getting yourself worked up like this.” Before I can do anything, he hits the call button on the remote. Turning, he grabs the chair behind him, dragging it closer to my bed. “Dude, you could have died. I barely got to you in time.”
My head falls back on the pillow, the fight with Damian swirling through my head. I wince as I relive the pain from the bullet that grazed my shoulder, knocking me back. Absently, my hand gingerly goes to the bandage covering the wound, expelling a hiss. No matter how delicately I touch it, it fucking hurts.
I remember lunging at Damian and the bullet penetrating my skin when he fired the gun. The momentum knocking us both to the concrete floor. My hand slides from my shoulder and I look down, but I can’t see anything because of the hospital gown covering me. I lightly rub over my upper chest, feeling for the wound, knowing where the bullet hit as soon as I feel the large bandage covering it.
“You got lucky as hell, Max. The first bullet grazed your shoulder. The second one hit you in the upper chest, toward your shoulder.” Darin’s green eyes stare at me, his eyes full of his suffering. “You had a fucking guardian angel watching over you, that’s for sure.”
Scanning his rumpled clothing and unwashed hair, and the dark circles beneath his eyes, a pang goes through me. I hate to see him hurting like this. But there’s nowhere else he’d be but right here, with me, just as I would if the situation was reversed.
“Thanks for being here, man.” I run a hand through my hair, wincing as I touch the gash on my forehead. “I’m sorry I went off on my own like that. I know it was stupid.”
Darin’s head lowers, his elbows on his knees, his fingers clasped together in front of him. “That was too close for comfort. I got to you right before the warehouse exploded. Adrenaline was the only way I was able to drag your bleeding, unconscious body across the parking lot. That and Vanessa, who was right behind me. She helped me drag you out of there.”
I cringe, hating I nearly killed the three of us. “Is she okay?”
He lets out a sigh, nodding. “Yeah, just some cuts and bruises from the debris that hit us.”
Scanning over him, I see multiple scrapes and contusions on him. “And you?”
He shrugs. “They checked me over.” Giving me a weak smile, he pats my arm. “I’m okay. Still better looking than you.” He winks and I chuckle.
“We both know that’s a lie. I may look like shit right now, but I still look better than you.”
Vanessa knocks on the partially open door to my room, a smile on her face as she walks inside, carrying a duffel bag that she hands to Darin. “Look who’s awake. Welcome back, Max.”
“Thanks. How long have I been out?”
“Two days. I think you tried waking up yesterday because you groaned and twitched several times. But you didn’t fully regain consciousness.” Darin answers as he unzips the bag, looking inside. “I had Vanessa pick you up some clean clothes, in case they release you soon.”
“When am I getting the hell outta here?”
Darin looks up at me. “Whenever the doctor thinks you are ready to be discharged. But you need to take it easy.”
I glower at him, my eyebrows lowered. “Take it easy?” My voice rises from my frustration. My jaw clenches as I give him an exasperated look. “Darin… seriously?”
He leans forward, putting a comforting hand on my forearm. Rising from his chair, he says, “You need to listen to the doctor’s advice.” Leaning closer, he says, “We’ll discuss this later.” His voice so low only I can hear it.
Giving him a slight nod, I watch as he rounds my bed, heading to the bathroom in my room. “I’m going to clean up and change.” He looks at Vanessa. “Keep an eye on him.”
The nurse steps into the room. “Oh, you can bet we will.” She gives me a smile, but there’s a no-nonsense air about her. I suspect she doesn’t tolerate any bullshit. “How are you doing, Max?” She comes over to my bed, her shrewd gaze studying me intently. “And don’t try to lie to me. There’s nothing I dislike more.” She looks at my bandages, then the equipment hooked to me, and finally at her laptop screen. “How’s your pain?”
“Bearable. I don’t want anything that’s going to knock me out, though. I’ve slept enough.” The name listed on her nametag is Nancy, and I see the words RN on it.
She stops, her eyebrows raised high on her stern forehead. “Your body needs to heal, and for that to happen, you need to rest.” She stares me down, but I refuse to budge. Finally, Nancy heaves out a sigh. “I’ll give you something to help your pain, but it won’t knock you out.”
“Thank you.” She examines the dressings covering my wounds, a hiss leaving my mouth as she presses her fingers over the tender flesh. “Your bandages need to be changed. I’ll be gentle… as long as you behave yourself.” She gives me a wink, then sets to work.
“Vanessa, how bad are your injuries?” I focus on her, knowing that if I distract myself, the discomfort of the nurse poking and prodding me will be much easier to bear.
She slides into the seat Darin formerly occupied. “I’m good. Minor cuts and bruises.” She shrugs. “No big deal.”
I stare at her intently. “You aren’t lying to me, are you?”
“Bitch, please.” She tosses a lock of hair over her shoulder. “You know me better than that. I’m honest to a fault.”
