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“God dammit. Who could it be?”
Slade continued to pace the living room with his phone gripped tightly in his fist. He’d had to have gone back and forth at least a hundred times. It left me even more determined to get my strength back. I felt weak next to him and I hated it.
“I don’t know, but I’m almost positive it isn’t my family.”
My words did little to comfort him. They did absolutely nothing to comfort me.
A sniffle was followed by the bedroom door closing. My head lifted just in time to see a blonde woman stop in her tracks. Her eyes were red rimmed and she looked a bit on the pale side.
“Oh great, you’re back. Did you get the crackers?”
Slade froze and his mouth parted the slightest amount. “I, ah…” His phone was to his ear before he finished. “Brace. Get the crackers out of the car. Fast.” He smiled apologetically and she groaned.
“Oh, Slade. You forgot, didn’t you?”
“Of course not. Come here.” His mouth twisted as he looked at me. I knew he was lying. We’d come straight here after driving around for a good half hour to make sure we weren’t being followed.
The woman came forward, stopping as her eyes connected with mine. “Oh…I didn’t know we had company.”
Slade’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Honey, I want you to meet Zain. Zain, this is my wife, Mary.”
I pushed myself forward, starting to rise when she rushed forward.
“Oh, no, please, stay lying down.” Her hand connected with mine. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zain.”
“Pleasure’s mine.” I looked back to Slade, only to return to Mary. “Are you feeling alright?”
She grinned, but I could see her fatigue. “I’m okay. Just a little under the weather. Morning sickness will do that to you.”
Pain settled in my chest, but it had nothing to do with the wound from the gunshot. I knew the effects of morning sickness all too well. Lily had been sick pretty badly. Not for long, though. She hadn’t been granted that opportunity. It tore me to pieces. I knew the hardships she would have had to face being young and pregnant, living at my father’s, but the pregnancy had happened and we were a little excited at the thought. Until my uncle. Saul was going to pay for causing Lily to miscarry. I had yet to be able to get my hands on him. He disappeared while I was off on one of my missions. But the time was coming, and he was going wish he’d never put his hands on what was mine.
“Congratulations,” I said, forcing myself to look at them and seem genuine. It really was great that they were having a child. I knew Slade was the type of man to take care of what was his. He’d made that clear concerning his sister. It still made my loss all too real.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling even bigger. “Say, are you hungry? Thirsty? If I know my husband, he probably overlooked asking. Slade expects people he’s close to to help themselves.”
I tried not to smile at the jab. She was joking, I could see that not only in her expression, but on Slade’s as he leaned down and kissed her head.
“My wife is right. Where are my manners? Would you like something to eat or drink?”
Food. Fuck, I was starving. I couldn’t remember the last meal I’d really eaten. The hospital didn’t count. I barely touched what they gave me, more as a precaution than anything. Poisoning my food was something I didn’t put past my father. He knew I killed my uncles. I could feel it from the cold shoulder I’d been given over the last few days.
“Actually, there’s a deli on the corner. I think I might try to walk over there and get a sandwich or something. I wouldn’t want the smell of anything to affect your wife.”
“Sounds like you’ve been through this before,” Slade said, laughing, only to sober almost instantly. His shoulders got wider as he stood taller. Something passed behind his eyes, but he shook his head, as if to dismiss it. “I’ll get one of my men to grab you something. I don’t want you out there just yet. A few more days and you’ll be good on your feet.”
I pushed to stand. “I’m good now. I should really be moving around. That’ll help more than anything. Been through this before. Not in the chest, but other places.”
Mary’s eyes widened. “You’ve been shot before?”
How she knew that’s what had happened was beyond me. My guess was Slade.
“Three times, not including this one. One in the arm, the shoulder, and leg.”
“At the same time or on three different occasions?”
The fear behind her question was real. She was afraid of me and what I’d bring on them. And she had good reason. I shouldn’t be here.
“Two different occasions.” I hesitated. “The world I lived in isn’t like this. That’s why I left.” My stare went to Slade, as if to drive the point home. “I’m going to go get something to eat. Then I should probably be heading out.”
