CHAPTER 26
Jordan
“Is everything okay here?” the doc asks, his eyes moving around each of us before landing on Jordan. “Glad to see you are awake and responsive, Mr Bell. Can we clear the room so I can check the patient? Two of you are welcome to come back in for a few minutes, but visiting hours are over. We would ask that you leave the patient to rest and come back tomorrow.”
“Well, doc, everything is not okay. I was shot and a teenager is in danger. Nobody is leaving until the police arrive and take my statement.” I keep my tone neutral but firm. There is no way this doctor is going to rush everybody out of here when there is a maniac with a gun running around the city. What if he goes after Blake or Eric next?
“We understand the policy and the reason for the rules,” Eric says, suddenly adopting his lawyerly tone. “However, in this circumstance I have to ask that you give Mr Bell some leeway. His parents have flown here last minute and have not yet secured a hotel. The police have been called to come and take statements now that Mr Bell is awake, and despite my earlier behaviour, which I do apologise for, I am Mr Bell's legal representative.”
The doctor looks at Eric, his expression dripping with disbelief. Can’t say I blame the guy; I have no doubt Eric was acting crazy earlier when he couldn’t get any information. Now that he can see I’m okay, alive and talking, the cognitive part of his brain has clearly re-engaged.
“I can see why you like him. That was hot,” my mom stage-whispers to me, making damn sure that everybody hears her.
Smirking at her, I turn to the doctor and hold my hand out to shake his. I’m hoping we can put my little outburst behind us.
“I know, right? You should see him in court, Mom.” I wiggle my eyebrows playfully at her. Turning back to face the doctor, I wait to see if he is going to try and kick everybody out again. They would probably have to call security to get my mom out, so really, it would be easier if they just agreed to look the other way.
“Okay. If you can all assure me that you will keep the noise down, and if Jordan here needs rest you will leave, then I guess you can stay.” The doctor pulls on medical gloves and steps up to my right side. “I do need you all to leave so I can inspect the wound. Perhaps you can all go and grab a coffee?”
Eric leans over the bed and kisses my forehead, turning to my mom. “Come on, Beverly. I heard you know a few stories about baby Jordan.” He sends a wink my way and I groan.
“Mom, don’t you dare!” I try to make my voice more… I don’t know… threatening . She can’t spill the beans now. It’s too early; he’s not in love with me yet. Without a doubt, she will scare him off.
“Oh, my dear Eric, I have so many embarrassing stories to share,” she answers, completely disregarding my warning. My boyfriend holds his arm for her to take and they both leave while she giggles.
“Did she just giggle?” I ask my dad, who is still standing next to my bed. I can’t help but notice the way his eyes are sparkling with amusement.
“I think you made your mother very happy with your choice of her future son-in-law.” He smiles and starts to back out of the room.
“Son-in-what?” I positively shriek at the suggestion, and he just raises his hands in the universal sign of surrender. “You should talk her out of that idea,” I call out after him, hoping he can still hear me on the other side of the door.
The doctor, who was patiently waiting for the room to empty, lets out a chuckle of amusement. “Families, right?” He walks up to my side and reaches over to gently cut off the bandage covering my wound.
“You can say that again.” I hiss when his fingers probe at the tender flesh of my shoulder. “Feels like you are digging for gold in my skin, Doc.”
“I’m going to add more painkillers to your IV so you can sleep peacefully. We’ll check again in the morning to make sure there is no sign of an infection settling in. The nurse will redress the wound. All being well, we can release you in a few days, but it will require some physical therapy on your shoulder to get back to a full range of movement.”
Laying back, I nod weakly. I’m not sure if it's the pain relief he’s added to my IV or just everything that has happened in the last half hour, but I am exhausted. Maybe if I have a quick nap they will wake me when the cops arrive. I can’t be sure, but I think I’m asleep before the doctor even leaves the room.
The next time I open my eyes, the room is much brighter than it was before. There are far too many people whispering all at once, so I can’t quite figure out who is in the room.
“He’s awake. Back away from the bed, Officer. Let me see my son.”
Uh, oh… that is my mom’s no-nonsense tone. I guess the cops have arrived.
Her voice softens as I hear her turn to address me. “It’s alright, son, take your time. If you need more rest just close your eyes. These nice officers will simply have to wait until you are ready.”
“It’s okay, Mom.” I slowly blink my eyes awake and find the two officers—or detectives, maybe—standing off to the side. “Have you caught him? Is Blake safe?”
“I’m here, Jordan,”
The sound of Blake’s timid voice filtering through the ringing in my ears has my head snapping to the other side. There he is. This kid I’ve only known for a few short weeks, yet already feel so close to, so protective of. The unshed tears in his eyes as he looks away from me make me frown.
“Blake, what's wrong? What happened? Did he hurt you?” I’m trying to sit up, but have to quickly lie back down when a searing pain steals my breath.
“No, Jordan. Nothing happened. I’m just so sorry, this is all my fault. He did this because of me.”
The tears Blake was doing so well to hold back betray him now, and it breaks my heart. Eric crosses the room and pulls Blake into his arms. He’s whispering something into Blake’s ear. I can’t hear what he is saying, but I hope he’s telling him this isn’t his fault.
“Come over here, you dope.” Holding out my hand, I wait for Blake to step back from Eric and wipe away his tears before he takes my hand and allows me to pull him down into a one-armed hug. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. You hear me, kid?”
“How can I not? If you hadn’t met me, you wouldn’t have been shot.”
My heart breaks when I see him bury his face into Eric's chest again, shoulders shaking as he sobs.
“You stop that right now! I would take a bullet for you every day if it meant that you were safe.” There is no hesitation in me. I would do exactly that.
Eric’s eyes meet mine and I can see through them that he was equally as proud as he was terrified at the thought of this happening again.
“Maybe we should try and eliminate the danger in a legal matter without any of you getting hurt again. I’m not sure I would survive another night like this one.” Eric tries to smile and I appreciate his attempt at keeping it together for Blake.
“You’re right, Dimples. This gown is not flattering in the slightest, and this polyester is itching me everywhere. I'm going to need a full body scrub after this.” I point at Blake’s face as he visibly calms down in Eric’s arms. “There’s that smile, now. Don’t worry, I will be okay, and we’re all going to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
“Damn right.” My dad’s voice makes my head snap too quickly in his direction.
“Ouch! Okay, everybody, move to this side of the bed. I can’t keep turning my head without it hurting my shoulder.” When I see the detectives walk across the room into my line of sight, I remember what everybody is here to do. I got completely distracted by Blake.
“Well, Officers, Have you caught him?” I ask, finally giving them my full attention.
“I am Detective Barnes and this is my partner Detective Sanchez. We can confirm that we have Mr Jace Kemsley in custody. However, in order to successfully prosecute him, we need your full statement and cooperation.” Oh, these poor officers have no idea that there is not only one but two criminal attorneys in this room.
“As Mr Bell's appointed attorney, I would like to interject here. By all means a witness statement will be provided when Mr Bell is feeling better. I assume you have made contact with the owners of the establishment the incident occurred at and made a request for the CCTV? I have no doubt that the cameras will have captured the assailant, not to mention the sheer amount of witnesses. Have you had a chance to organise a line up?”
Holy fuck, my boyfriend is hot. Standing there in sweatpants and a dorky Iron Man T-shirt with one arm securely wrapped around Blake’s shoulders, he still manages to command attention and respect.
My eyes flick to my dad, and I can see how impressed he is. I might have thought he would be bothered that Eric just asserted himself as my attorney when that has always been my dad’s job. I’m glad I was wrong. He looks more than happy to sit back and let Eric take the lead.
Detective Barnes, however, looks tongue-tied—his mouth opening and closing before standing up to shake Eric's hand. “We look forward to meeting with Mr Bell at the station when his statement is ready.” He then turns to me. “Speedy recovery, Mr Bell. I will have an officer stationed outside your room for now, just until we can be sure there isn’t an accomplice.”
Well, fuck. I hadn’t thought of that. The guy, Jace, apparently was alone, but then again he did have a bunch of brain-dead friends that might have huffed too much glue or something and decided to finish the job for him.
“Thank you. I appreciate that, detective. I will be in touch as soon as I break out of this joint.”
With a final nod and a wave to the group, Detective Barnes drops a business card on the end of my bed and the two of them leave.
“I hope I wasn’t overstepping,” Eric says to my dad, who just smiles and pats him on the back.
“Not at all. If you need anything, I’m here,” he offers, before turning to Blake. “Now, I can tell my wife is on the verge of kidnapping you for the night. I would rather she not react drastically, so how about you come with us? We can grab something to eat and you can get some sleep. We will protect you.”
I keep my gaze focused on Blake’s face. Any sign of discomfort and I will pull the plug on this. My mom can be a bull in a china shop sometimes and Blake might not want to be smothered. When I spot a faint blush creeping up his neck as he nods slightly, I relax again.
“Told you my parents would want to adopt you. Prepare to be suffocated with love and food.”
Blake laughs, but I’m very serious. I’m guessing that Pete filled them in on the Blake story—or at least what he knows of it—while I was asleep. Which has set my mother’s maternal instincts into overdrive. I would hate to see what she might have done if Blake had rejected the offer. She probably would have set up camp at the shelter.
“I gave your parents the keys to my apartment. They are going to stay there with Blake, and I am going to stay with you until you are sick of me and kick me out,” Eric whispers against my cheek. With my parents busy gathering their things to leave, he takes the opportunity to lavish kisses all over my face. It’s extremely schmoopy and gross. And I love it .