Page 71 of The Gilded Cuff
The strain in Sophie’s shoulders eased until Cody spoke again.
“We have to work fast. Antonio was supposed to catch a plane to Colorado this morning. That’s where he thinks Fenn is.”
“How do you know that?”
Cody shrugged. “I got him to talk. Villains love to ramble. He figured I’d be dead and wouldn’t be able to repeat what he said. Plus, that dude was making mincemeat of my body parts and I needed to have something else to think about besides the pain.”
Neither of them spoke for a long moment, the weight of what had almost happened seemed a tangible force, pressing down on them. If Emery and Hans had been there a moment later…if she’d begged him to stay or to take her with them it might have cost them those few precious seconds and they would have all been dead. It was a sobering thought.
Their gazes met and held just as Cody opened his mouth to speak, but the hospital room door was opened and Emery strode in, his hands full with three coffee cups.
“Coffee for you.” He set one cup down on the tan tray table that stretched across the hospital bed.
Cody lifted up his bandaged right hand, cursed and switched so his left hand caught the coffee. He downed a large gulp, and then set the cup aside with a blissful sigh of relief.
“Nectar of the gods,” he said dreamily. Emery and Sophie exchanged relieved looks. Cody was a mess, but he’d be all right.
“Sophie, I got you some hot tea.” He handed her the second of two cups, which she took gratefully. The hot Styrofoam warmed her hands, dispelling some of the October chill which seemed determined to keep her fingers frozen.
Emery took a sip of his coffee. “I spoke to the police.” His brows lowered as he seemed to be mulling over whatever he’d said to the officers. “There wasn’t much to say so it was a short conversation. I told them you were kidnapped. They’ll want a description of the man who took you, Cody. Tell them the truth, but leave out any connection to my kidnapping.”
“Okay,” Cody agreed quietly.
Sophie pursed her lips. No matter how short his conversation had been, talking to the police had obviously unsettled him. She didn’t like the faraway look in his eyes just then, or how the knuckles of his free hand were white where he gripped the frame of the hospital bed.
She turned her attention back to Cody.
“When do the doctors think you’ll be ready to come home?”
Home. Funny, she hadn’t expected to fall so in love with Emery’s home to the point that she thought of it as hers, too. But it was true. She’d never felt more connected to a place in her life. The apartment back in Kansas had never been home. Instead it was a rest stop on the way to where she was meant to be. Arriving at Lockwood Manor that first night…that had been like coming home. Emery had been right beside her, his body pressed flush to hers as they’d passed through the gates and entered the realm of her dreams, a world where she could be happy, she could belong. She suppressed a shiver of longing. If only it were true. But Lockwood wasn’t her home. She was there only for a story and only for a short time. Emery hadn’t been interested in keeping her around for long, and certainly not forever. He’d given her no indication that he wanted her to stay with him. Sophie was a fool for wishing he’d change his mind.
Cody’s groan brought her back to reality.
“The doctor said three weeks at least, plus therapy. Boss, work your magic and jail break me. I can’t stand much more of the food in this place. And Nurse Ratchet keeps taking my cell phone away and says I shouldn’t be texting with my one good hand or I’ll get carpel tunnel.” Cody’s eyes widened slightly and he lifted his lips in a hopeful smile.
Emery set his coffee down and crossed his arms over his chest, giving the younger man a commanding look. “I want you here at least another full day. After that we’ll see about getting you out.”
Cody moaned dramatically and dropped his head back onto the mountain of pillows. “You’re a cold-hearted man, boss.”
Despite his attitude, Sophie could have sworn a smile flickered across his face for an instant.
While she felt bad for Cody having to remain here, she was relieved Emery was being protective. With the extent of the young man’s injuries, it was still unwise to let him leave. Another day under the doctor’s watchful eyes couldn’t hurt.
Emery’s mouth kicked up in a crooked smile. “Just think of all the Jell-O you get to eat.” As he spoke he picked up a plastic spoon and nudged a green Jell-O cup in Cody’s direction on the tray table near the bed.
“I’d rather be at home with my laptop and a cheeseburger,” Cody grumbled, but he picked up the Jell-O. His eyes flicked to Sophie, a flare of meaning blooming for a split second as he reminded her of the USB flash drive in her pocket. She shot a glance at Emery, her heartbeat cantering madly as she prayed he wouldn’t notice her reaction to Cody’s silent message.
“Well, we should go.” Emery rose, stretched long arms over his head, a yawn escaping him as he turned in her direction. “Hans is ready for discharge and Wes is going to follow us home to just to keep an eye on things. Cody, Royce will be outside if you need anything.”
Cody opened his mouth, a wicked glint in his eyes, but Emery cut him off. “And no, he’s not bringing any women, alcohol, or electronics. You need to sleep.”
“Well damn,” Cody moaned and collapsed back on his pillows. “You sure know hownotto show a guy a good time. I’ll die of boredom before they ever let me out of this hell hole.”
Sophie rose from her chair, kissed Cody’s cheek. “Rest up.”
He caught her elbow, as though embracing her gently so he could whisper. “Keep me in the loop.”
Emery gave a warning growl, but it had little bite to it. “Get some sleep.”
