Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The doctor finished bandaging Devon’s upper arm. He’d already cleaned the wound. Apparently, the bullet had gone through the soft tissue, causing minimal damage. Otherwise, he would’ve been on his way to the closest hospital for surgery.
“I’m prescribing antibiotics,” the doc said, “as well as pain relief as needed. Can you make it with just ibuprofen, or do you need something stronger?”
“Ibuprofen is fine.” Devon felt like he’d been hit by a truck, but he wanted to keep his head clear.
“Whitestone is our resident martyr,” Tanner said from the corner. He was sitting in the visitor’s chair, legs sprawled casually.
Devon flipped him off again with his right middle finger. The doctor chuckled. “I’ll leave you to it, then. The paper I gave you has the instructions for keeping the wound clean. Call if there’s any sudden redness, swelling, or fever.”
“Thank you.”
The doctor stripped off his gloves and left.
Tanner stood up, stretching. “You got lucky. That was some serious shit. You must be looking forward to getting back to desk duty.”
“I’m sure my mom is looking forward to that.” Devon had asked Tanner to send off a message to Ruby and their mother, just to confirm that he was all right. For the second time in just a few days, he’d been in the line of fire. He couldn’t imagine how his mom must be feeling right now.
“But what about you?” Tanner asked. “Desk duty not so exciting anymore?”
“Doesn’t matter what I think.”
“Mother-freaking-Teresa.” Tanner shook his head.
Devon certainly hadn’t enjoyed getting shot.
Yet, for the first time since he’d started at Bennett Security, he felt completely alive.
He’d been using all his skills and training.
He felt like he’d been serving his highest purpose—protecting an innocent person.
Just like his dad, and just like Kellen.
That made Devon prouder than he’d been since leaving the service.
This is where I belong, he thought. Protecting people. Not selling expensive security systems to the wealthiest residents of West Oaks. And not sitting behind a desk. Those roles were important, too. But Devon belonged out in the field.
Did that matter, though? Nope. Nothing had changed. He still had his mom and Ruby to think of.
And Aurora. She was a new element in his life. He’d spent just a few days with her, and he only wanted more. He didn’t know how to make everything work.
“What’s Bennett’s sister like?”
Devon shrugged, looking down at his feet. How could he possibly answer that question without giving his feelings away?
“Smart. Seems nice.”
“Yeah, she seemed real nice.” Tanner grinned and ran a hand over his beard. “I’ve only seen her once around here, and it’s no wonder Bennett tries to keep her under wraps.”
Devon’s hackles raised. “Careful,” he said through his teeth. “She’s the boss’s sister.”
But Tanner just laughed. “Something tells me I’m not the one who needs to be careful.”
Someone knocked at the infirmary door. “Everybody decent?”
Tanner opened the door. Sylvie came in, holding cups of something steaming.
Aurora was right behind her. “Hey, how are you feeling?” Her hair was damp, and she’d changed clothes. Jeans and a cropped tee had never looked so good. His heart rate jumped at the sight of her.
He had it so bad for this girl.
“I’m all patched up. It wasn’t too bad.” Devon sat up against the pillows, ignoring the throb of pain in his injured arm. Aurora had stopped at the end of the bed. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Whitestone could’ve lost three-fourths of his limbs, and he’d still say it ‘wasn’t too bad,’” Tanner scoffed.
Sylvie handed one cup to Tanner and set the other by Devon’s bed. “Lattes, fresh from the fancy coffee maker in the break room. But you know, Tanner, I meant to grab you one of those cookie things. We should probably go back to get it.”
“We should, shouldn’t we? I guess we’ll have to leave these two alone.”
“Aurora, I gotta take care of this cookie situation and get back to work. My break time is almost over. I’m sure you can take care of our patient?”
Tanner made another snide comment under his breath, and then finally, they were gone.
Aurora came over and sat gingerly on the bed. “Are you in much pain?”
“Nah.” He pulled her closer with his good arm, tucking her into his right side.
“We both made it here, and you’re in one piece.
So, I can’t complain. Although I still think you should’ve run when I told you, instead of coming back for me.
” That had worked out fine since Max had ended up finding them instead of the attacker. But it had been pure luck.
“I’m not that great at following orders. If this thing between us is going to last beyond today, you’ll have to get used to it.”
No kidding. “I’ll do my best.”
She settled her head against his pillow, looking back at him. “The past week I’ve seen some really terrible things. But watching you get hurt might be the worst.”
“I had to protect you. I would’ve done a lot more.”
“I know.” Her fingers brushed his forehead and his temple. She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. Her mouth was tender and kind and sensual all at once. His body was far too wrecked at the moment to get turned on. But his heart and his spirit felt replenished just having her near.
“I just wish I could make everything better,” she said.
“You already are.”
“Can I get you something to eat? Or rub your feet? You take care of other people all the time. Me, your family.” Her kisses ran along the side of his neck.
“I want to take care of you.” She touched his inner thigh, making her meaning clear.
Briefly, he imagined Aurora kneeling between his legs, her sweet lips wrapped around his cock. He liked that idea a lot.
“I will definitely take you up on that later. For now, just having you beside me is all I need.”
Aurora was the best possible medicine. He’d never felt anything like this for a woman before. Like she was water, and he’d never realized until now how thirsty he was. His need for her scared him, and it was so much more than sexual.
“Okay. I’ll stay right here all day if I can. Lana distracted my brother so I could get out of his office, and Sylvie set me up with a phone so she can tell me if Max is heading to the infirmary. So, we don’t have to worry.”
“Then I won’t.”
They kissed a while longer, and then just sat with their foreheads together. His thoughts strayed to darker places.
“What’s wrong?” Aurora asked. “You’re frowning. Do you need pain meds?”
“I was just thinking of Kellen.”
“Your brother. Oh, Devon. No wonder.”
His K tattoo was on his left arm. The doctor had given him a sling to keep his arm steady, so the ink was hidden. But he felt it there on his skin, a reminder of the twin he’d lost.
“I’ve never been shot before. They said Kellen died instantly. Didn’t suffer. But when I realized I’d been hit earlier, I thought immediately of him. If he’d felt the same kind of impact and knew what it meant. How much time he had, what he might’ve been thinking.”
Aurora’s palm caressed his cheek. “He would’ve thought of you. How could he not? You’re his twin.”
“Maybe.” Devon and Kellen had fought sometimes. They’d each battled to be “man of the house” after their father died. And in the months before Kellen died, Devon had been busy with missions. They hadn’t spoken nearly enough. They’d taken the future for granted.
“The weird thing is that I feel even closer to Kellen now. Does that seem strange?”
“Because you’ve experienced the same thing he did?”
He nodded. “I’ve wondered, ever since he died, if he would’ve made different choices if he’d known what was coming.
If he knew he’d have to make the ultimate sacrifice, would he have chosen a desk job?
Or some other career altogether that was less dangerous?
After today, I think I know the answer: he would’ve done it all the same.
He was willing to give up everything to help other people.
And that made his life even more precious, for every minute that it lasted. ”
Devon blinked back tears, and Aurora’s eyes were shining. He couldn’t believe he’d said all that. He’d avoided speaking about Kellen, even with his family, ever since that terrible day.
But with Aurora, the words had flowed effortlessly. And it felt damned good to have said them.
“You must miss him so much.”
“Every fucking day.” That did it. The tears overflowed, streaking down his cheeks. Aurora wiped them away. “I just wish I could live the way he did. Kellen knew the risks, but he lived with purpose. It’s what I used to—”
He stopped when he realized what he was about to say. Devon used to have that sense of purpose in the army. But he’d lost it. He loved being near his mom and sister, of course, but he’d lost a part of himself.
“You used to what?”
He shook his head. “I was just thinking of the past.”
He missed his unit, but overall, Devon didn’t mind civilian life. Yet he wished he could find that sense of purpose again. Consulting on security systems wasn’t enough. He wanted to face down the kind of danger that he’d seen today. He wanted to be a bodyguard.
His mom would never be okay with it. But maybe Ruby would, given their recent conversation.
And what about Aurora? Could she deal with dating a bodyguard who risked his life? What about settling down with a guy like that?
Settling down? a voice mocked in his head. You are so far ahead of yourself.
But he couldn’t help it. Aurora snuggled against him, and he looked down at her, imagining waking up to this view each and every day. Then heading into work to protect the vulnerable. It wouldn’t be a bad life.
But it was pure fantasy.
Aurora’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and they both jumped. She got off the bed. “Hello?”
It’s Lana, she mouthed. She gasped as she listened. “I’ll be right up.”
“What happened?” Devon asked when she ended the call.
“Lana spoke to Dominic Crane’s lawyer. Crane says he had nothing to do with the attacks, and he wants to talk to me.”
Devon sat forward, which made the pain in his arm flare. “No way. That can’t possibly be safe.”
“It’ll happen by video. I don’t have to leave the building. Lana hasn’t told Max yet, but she thinks it’s a good idea. I do want to know what Crane has to say for himself.”
“Should I be there with you?” Devon didn’t want Crane thinking about Aurora, much less looking at her, even on a screen. How could they possibly trust the word of a mobster and a murderer?
“I’d like that, but it’s probably not wise.” Aurora reached for his hand. “You should get some rest. And Max…”
He understood what she meant. The more time that Devon and Aurora spent around each other, the more likely that Max would notice their closeness. Devon wanted to tell Max the truth at the right time, and this wasn’t it.
“I’m not very good at resting.”
Aurora kissed his cheek. “Then consider this an order. Take a nap.”
He threw up a salute.
She grinned. “I’ll see you later.”
It wouldn’t be easy to stay in this bed, out of commission, while Aurora dealt with Dominic Crane—even if it was only through an internet connection. But he was tired. As soon as Aurora was gone, he felt his eyes closing. For the first time in a while, he couldn’t keep his exhaustion at bay.