Page 76 of Ryder
“It’s not generally possible for us to read women’s fucking minds, Ryder. There’s no way you could have known.”
“Ice knew.”
He frowned. “Knew what?”
“That she’d tried before. Back when it all happened before. Apparently she tried multiple times. It was only when he told methat on the phone, that I realised she’d been in the shower for too fucking long.Jesus.” I stared at the door, wishing I knew what was going on back there. Was she stable? Was she alive? Had she died in there, and I just didn’t know it yet?
“Well, this isn’t on you. It’s not even on him. If she hadn’t been with you, she’d have died for sure. You saved her,twice, and she better be fucking thankful when she wakes up.”
“What about Alicia?”
His eyes narrowed dangerously at me.
“What about her?”
“Won’t she want to know?” He took a breath, cursing quietly.
“Yeah, probably. Do you want her here though?”
I shrugged. “Not exactly up to me, is it? She’s your old lady.”
Reacher growled quietly, glaring at me.
“Don’t go making assumptions when you don’t know shit. If you’re happy for her to be here, then I’ll send for her. If not, then she can bitch at me later, when she finds out. Either way, I’m cool.”
“Probably just fuck all that sass right out of her anyway, eh?”
He leaned forward and jabbed me in the chest with a thick finger.
“Watch your mouth, asshole.”
Yep, he’s definitely fucking her. Well, about time he took an old lady, right?
The door popped open, and Doc stepped out, pulling it closed behind him. Was that a good sign? It didn’t seem like it. Jesus, I felt like I couldn’t fucking breathe as I waited for him to speak.
“Okay, she’s stable, and being transfused at the moment. I’m gonna have someone watching her constantly, but you can go sit with her if you like,” Doc told me, but I was already on my way into the infirmary, heading for her bed.
Nick and Rob backed up when I approached.
“Easy, brother. We’re not doing anything untoward,” Nick said, holding his hands up.
“I know. Thanks for helping her.”
They exchanged a look. “We know she’s yours, brother.”
“I know. I don’t know why you’re backing off like that. I appreciate what you did.”
“Just want you to know that we’re not touching your old lady, brother.”
“I get it, thanks. She’s doing okay?” I didn’t like all the bandages, and tubes and stuff everywhere, but more than that, I really hated how pale and silent she was.
“She lost a lot of blood, but we’ve got transfusions running, and we’ve stopped the blood flow, or, you know, Doc did. We mostly just passed him stuff.”
“Seriously, thank you. I can’t lose her.” I kept my eyes on her, but I felt their sorrow with mine.
“Totally understand, brother. Doc’s planning on sleeping here tonight, to watch over her.”
Good. I was relieved to hear that.
