Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
W eren’t things supposed to be slowing down?
Val had retired for a reason. To put this kind of shit behind him.
His life was supposed to be more peaceful and relaxing.
He should be working on his tavern, catching a game on the weekends, and attending barbecues.
The danger was supposed to be behind him, not on his doorstep.
Even with everything going on, Val couldn’t help but worry about Saint.
He hadn’t expected to feel this deeply about the guy this quickly, but everything about Saint just felt right.
Val was happier when he was around, lighter.
He laughed a hell of a lot more. With a heavy sigh, Val sat back on his couch, only then just realizing he’d been sitting here worrying in silence for hours.
No doubt Saint was annoyed with Val for sending him a chaperone, but Val didn’t care.
Saint shouldn’t be alone. He was taking what happened exceptionally hard, and it wasn’t even his fault.
Everyone knew Saint had done the best he could.
He’d reacted how he’d been trained to do and protected Leo.
There was no way any of them could have prevented what had happened.
King’s arrival at the hospital had made a bad situation worse, but Val couldn’t fault the guy.
The man he loved, the man who King would do anything for, had been shot.
All King knew was that Saint had been the one protecting Leo and therefore had failed.
Something told Val there was more to it.
King was a rational man. His rage may have been justified, but his reaction to seeing Saint spoke of something deeper.
Guilt.
Val wiped a hand over his face and sighed. The guilt was probably eating King alive. Because of all the nights to have worked late, he’d been away when Leo had needed him the most.
“Fuck.” No wonder King was a fucking mess.
Val checked his phone again. Nothing. Exactly how long was he going to sit on his couch and stare at his phone?
All night, apparently. He’d tried calling Saint but got nothing.
Not even a text. Then again, no one seemed to be answering their phones, and Val couldn’t blame them, though with that murderous son of a bitch on the loose, they should all be in communication.
The only message he’d received that night was from Ryden, letting him know they were at a bar.
A knock at his door scared the shit out of him, and he jumped to his feet. He darted to the door and peeked out the window, letting out a sigh of relief to find his best friend. He opened the door and threw his arms around Frank, hugging him tight.
“Frank. Thank fuck. No one’s answering their goddamn phones.” He pulled back, his heart in his throat at Frank’s grim expression.
“They’re all still at the hospital. Leo….” Frank closed his eyes and shook his head. “They almost lost him, Val.”
“What?” Val moved to one side so Frank could come inside. He saw the patrol car and put a hand up to let the officers know everything was okay.
“He was in surgery, and they almost lost him. The bullet did more damage than they thought. It was a delicate procedure, and there were complications. That’s all I was able to learn from Joshua. He’s with Colton, helping out.”
“Fuck. Is he going to live through this?” Val could barely get the words out as he closed the door and joined Frank on the couch.
He didn’t want to consider the possibility.
King wasn’t the only one feeling guilty as hell.
If King lost Leo because someone had been after Val? Val would never forgive himself.
Frank’s phone pinged, and he removed it from his pocket, letting out a sigh of relief. “Talk about timing.” He showed Val his screen.
Leo is out of surgery. He’s going to be okay.
“Thank goodness. Fuck. I can’t believe this is happening. How’s King?”
“Not good.” Frank pressed his lips together.
“I mean, the guys are devastated, but King…they’re worried.
They’ve never seen him like this. He’s the glue that’s always held them all together.
Ace has stepped in for the time being.” Frank ran a hand through his hair.
He seemed to have noticed something and frowned. “Where’s Saint?”
“He needed some time to himself. He’s at a bar with Ryden.”
Frank nodded. “Poor guy. Shit position to be in.”
“He blames himself.”
“Lot of that going around. He probably thinks everyone else is blaming him.”
“If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. Whoever the fuck is after me has upped their game, and now people we care about are hurting. If King wants someone to blame, he should blame me.”
Frank cursed under his breath. “I know it’s easier said than done, but you have to stop blaming yourself.
The only person at fault here is the asshole who shot Leo.
It could have been anyone of you who got hit tonight.
Hell, if it hadn’t been a room full of soldiers and bodyguards, the casualties could have been devastating.
That son of a bitch is the one to blame. Not you, and sure as shit, not Saint.”
Frank was right. But how was he going to get through to Saint so he understood that when Val was finding it difficult to accept it himself?
“One thing’s for sure,” Frank said solemnly. “The police better find that guy before King does.”
Val cursed under his breath. “Ain’t that the truth.”
“Don’t suppose you’ve heard anything from the police?” Frank asked.
“Mason called earlier. There were some witnesses, and they gave a description of the vehicle, but no one got a good look at the driver. The police found the truck abandoned on the other side of the bridge. It had been reported stolen two nights ago.”
“Great.” Frank shook his head. “Who would be that pissed at you?”
“I don’t know, man. I’ve pissed off a lot of people over the years.”
“Yeah, but enough for someone to commit murder? To kill you and anyone who gets caught in the way?”
“Who knows? It’s a crazy fucking world these days.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Frank grumbled.
Though Frank had a point. Yes, Val had pissed off a lot of people.
He’d fought back when they expected him to give in or go away peacefully.
Most of those incidents had happened out of bigotry and hate, but for someone to try to kill him?
He wasn’t even the fire chief anymore. The doorbell rang, and Val rushed to answer it, his heart in his throat when he opened the door to see Saint hanging off Ryden’s shoulder, his head hanging forward as his friend struggled to keep him upright.
“Got a present for you.”
Frank hurried over and helped Val carry Saint inside.
“Hey.” Saint’s crooked smile broke Val’s heart. He poked Val’s cheek. “You’re so handsome.” His words were slurred, and his eyes—glassy and red—were barely open.
“Bedroom,” Val said, grateful for Frank’s help. They lay Saint on the bed, and Val pulled off Saint’s boots.
“I managed to get a bottle of water down him,” Ryden said. “Fair warning, he’s been obsessed with mint tonight for some reason.”
“Chocolate mint,” Val murmured.
“What?”
“I told him how much I love chocolate mint.”
“Ah, that’s probably it.” Ryden clapped Val on the back. “Maybe you can get through to him. He’s being too hard on himself.”
“We’ll leave you two alone,” Frank said. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks. Let me know if either of you hear anything about Leo?”
“Will do,” Ryden said, leaving with Frank.
Val walked them out, making sure the front door was locked once they’d left. He checked the windows and the rest of the house. As much as he appreciated the officers in the patrol car out front, he wouldn’t put anything past the bastard who shot at them tonight.
Once he was sure everything was secure, he headed into the bedroom and kicked off his shoes. He’d showered and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt in case he needed to head back out. Saint lay on Val’s side of the bed, head on his pillow. His eyes were closed. Was he out?
“I fucked up.”
Nope. He was awake.
“No, you didn’t.”
“King fired me.”
Val frowned. “When?”
“At the hospital. You were there. He said I was finished. Ace said not to listen to him, but King’s the boss, right?
I mean, everyone listens to him. It doesn’t matter.
I don’t deserve to work there. My job is protection .
I failed. I failed to protect someone important to me, and Leo almost died . ”
Val sat on the edge of the bed next to Saint and ran a hand through his hair, smiling at the soft sigh Saint released. “Baby, you didn’t fail. The moment you were aware of the danger, you protected him. It’s not your fault.”
“King doesn’t think so,” Saint said with a hum as Val stroked his hair. “That feels nice.”
“King is hurting very badly right now.”
“Leo’s an amazing guy.”
“He is. He’ll be okay. Joshua texted Frank, Leo’s going to be okay.”
“Oh thank goodness.”
Val nodded. “He’s strong. Stronger than a lot of people give him credit for.” Leo might not have the brawn that the rest of them had, but he was a genius. He’d gotten himself out of deadly situations before using his smarts. From what Val had heard, he’d even saved King’s life.
“He is strong.” Saint opened his eyes, his lips pulling into a smile. “You called me Baby.”
Val hadn’t even realized he’d done that. “I did?”
“Am I?”
“Are you what?”
“Yours,” Saint said, his voice quiet.
Val ran the back of his fingers down Saint’s stubbled jaw. “Why don’t we have this conversation in the morning?”
“Is that a no?”
“If we talk about this now, you’ll forget all about it by morning.” Like when he’d been in the hospital and asked Val to kiss him. Saint’s pout was adorable. Val leaned in and brushed his lips over Saint’s. “What if I tell you that I don’t want to be just friends anymore?”
Saint stared up at him. “What do you want to be?”