Page 86 of Reacher
I was monumentally pissed off that the bastard had used my illness to try and break her. I couldn’t wait to tear his skin from his body, as he screamed for mercy.
“Brother, you’re far more eloquent when you’re groggy as fuck. Tell me you’re not riding home. Get someone to pick you up in a cage, yeah?”
He yawned widely, and nodded.
“Yeah, actually thought I’d grab a cab from here. There’s a taxi rank just down the road.”
“Call a prospect, brother. It’s what they’re for.”
“Can you stop bossing me around, so I can just get the fuck home?”
I waved him off, and lay back against my pillow. I should have been sleeping. It was late, so fucking late. Late enough that I’d worry about my VP getting home in that state of exhaustion.
Ryder poked his head in next.
“Need anything, Pres?”
I nodded. “Can you make sure Stitch gets back safe? I don’t want him riding, or trying to fucking walk. He’s like a zombie. Come back to me when you’ve sorted that.”
He nodded, and disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared. The thing about being their President, is that they’re all like my fucking children, and I care about each and every one of them. Their safety. Their happiness. Their survival. Jesus. It was no wonder I’d nearly had a damn heart attack. Wasn’t there enough stress already? Without Ice, and Ally being in danger, and hell… Ryder and his psychotic fucking old lady…
He returned eventually, with two cups from the vending machine in his hands, and he passed me one; coffee! I took a deep breath in through my nose, starting off my caffeine boost with the scent.Finally.
As I cradled it in both hands, muttering my thanks, probably sounding like I’d been handed the holy grail, Ryder cursed and facepalmed.
“You’re not fucking allowed coffee, are you?”
I smirked. “Try taking it back, and I’ll break your face.”
“Jesus.” He sat down beside me. “At least it’s not as strong as you normally have it. It’ll probably taste like piss to you.”
I took another deep inhale of the scent.
“Honestly, I’ve been dying without coffee.”
“Don’t even joke about it, Pres. You had us all worried sick. Fuck’s sake, you know we can’t do this without you.”
I glanced at the doorway, wondering if I’d get caught with the coffee. Honestly, I think it was more about stalling, so I didn’t have to answer him straight away. Comments like that hit me where it hurt, and truthfully? I’d scared the shit out of myself too.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? For my part in all of this. For whatever stress Tori and I have caused you. For anything that helped push you over the edge. Believe me, it’s the last thing either of us wanted.”
I stared at the poor guy, who looked just as worn out as Stitch, or me.
“I understand, brother, I do. I mean, I have an old lady now, and I’d have dragged myself from this bed, and staggered out there to try and save her, if it had been possible. We’ll do anything for our ladies. I’m just not sure that what you guys have going on is healthy, or safe, and you both know it too.”
He was slumped in that chair, staring morosely at his drink.
“I know, Pres, I know. Believe me, I want nothing more than to be able to fuck her the way I want to. I need to. I’m not the kind of guy to let a woman take the lead. Not normally. I guess that shit changes when it’s the right woman though. The one who matters more than everything. I never dreamed I’d submit to anyone, but if that’s what she needs…”
Jesus. This is too fucking private for me to hear.
“Brother, you don’t have to tell me.”
“I feel like I need to, like I need to explain why things are so fucked up with us. It’s how it has to be, at least for now, and, youknow… you’re right… why can’t she just tie me to the bed and fuck me-”
The nurse who popped into the room caught the last of his sentence, and blushed furiously. It was the one who’d flirted with Stitch when she last saw him.
“Fuck. I’m sorry.” Ryder actually blushed too, and I found myself fighting a grin.
