Page 134 of Secret Mission

“She’s good. Worried, but that girl is resilient. Got yourself a keeper.”

Fuck.

Water builds in the corner of my eyes until it leaks out.

“How long have I been out?”

He glances at the nurse who is now attaching an IV bag to the fresh line she just started.

“Three days.” He scrubs his hand over his jaw. “A rough three days.”

“Mr. Reese,” the nurse says softly, “you had a very serious infection. When they brought you in, your fever was dangerously high.”

“What?”

Justice grips my shoulder. “Allison said you were complaining of a headache, and that you were sweating when you were searching the house.”

I grunt as I’m assaulted by memories of being in that house with the woman I want to hide away from the world. “Of course, I was sweating. It was stressful as fuck.”

Justice makes a face and apologizes to the nurse. “Sorry, he’s salty.”

She clucks over me, tucking my sheet in and checking the IV pole once again. “He’s not the worst, trust me. Do you want me to call Ms. Westerly?”

“No! Let her sleep.” I wince when my throat protests my outburst.

Justice chuckles. “Man, we’re going to be in the doghouse together. That’s not gonna sit well.”

I almost smile. “I’ll make it up to her.”

When I shift, a sharp pain stabs through my chest. “Did you break my ribs, you bastard?”

“Only a few.”

“Get me some water.”

“What am I, now?”

“My nursemaid.”

He growls. “Don’t get used to it. I’m rolling. Going to break into Westerly’s primary factory this evening.”

This gets my attention. “What’s going on?”

“Rosalie, Allison’s contact, wasn’t at her place. Landlord said he hasn’t seen her in days. Your girl thinks her father grabbed Rosalie because of that rock sample.”

The rib pain gets worse until I’m panting in little short breaths. “You’re not taking Allison with you.”

“Maybe you should calm down.”

I beam him with a plastic cup. It’s the only thing I can reach. “Maybe you should tell me right now that you’re not taking my woman with you on any more missions. I’ll be breaking some of your ribs if you even try.”

He grins as he fills my cup with water and takes a swig.

Bastard.

“That was my water.”

“Play nice.”

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