Page 62 of Keeping What He Wants

“And you?”

“I was payment for the guns.” She shifted, clutching her stomach. “Razor wanted me dead. I fucked up his precious club. I got to Ryker and made him want me instead of the criminal life.”

He brushed her arm. “Ella, I’m so sorry.”

She looked up at him, startled. “For what?”

“Everything.” He glanced away. “I was mad. I thought you let him beat up on you. I thought…”

“Ryker hitting me was an accident. I wouldn’t be with him if he physically hurt me on purpose.” She paused. “Surely you know you raised a better woman that that.”

He had the most pitiful expression. “I raised a pretty fucking great woman.”

She smiled. “I’m bad to the bone.”

He hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do without you. The past month has been hell.”

She closed her eyes and took in his comfort. After the hellish day and night, she really wanted to go home take a shower and get some sleep in her own bed. Instead, she had to be hooked up to an IV until she could sit up on her own.

“I’m not your mother, but what do you need? She’s always been better at nursing you back to good health.” He tried to step back, but Ella held on to him.

“I just need an update on Ryker. And maybe a shower.”

He smoothed her hair from her face. “I’ll see what I can do. Do you need help with the shower? I can get a nurse for you.”

“I’m okay.”

He pulled out his phone and walked away from the bed. She situated all her IVs so that she could actually go to the bathroom. Staring at the shower, she frowned. There was no way she could do this on her own and definitely not with an IV attached.

“No, no, no.” Derek stepped in, shaking his head. “No shower.”

“Yes, shower.”

“No.” He gripped her shoulders. “You have a head injury. You have been puking your guts out for the past eight hours. You are getting in bed and getting some rest.”

“I can’t stand to smell myself anymore.”

“Then you can have a bedside bath.”

“No.”

Derek waited. “You can’t do it on your own.”

“I’ll help her.”

At the sound of Ryker’s voice, she smiled. “He’ll help me. Wait outside.”

Derek glanced between the two. “Good to see you’re back together. She is contagious though. You know that, right?”

“It’s not life threatening.” Ryker pushed the door open wider and stepped into the bathroom. “Leave.”

The tone of Ryker’s voice caused Derek to pause before finally turning to leave. Most people were difficult in the hospital, but Ryker went beyond that. She was fairly sure that he’d tear down the damn door if Derek tried to remove him. Ella waited for her friend to leave, watching as Ryker closed the door.

“Are you okay?” Ryker asked.

She tried to smile. “I am now.”

He took in the gash on her cheek and the dressing covering her head. He frowned as he looked at her body draped in a hospital gown.

---