Chapter 10 #2
Ace looked up to see Ryder Morgan coming toward them, wearing a pair of blue scrubs, with a black backpack slung over one broad shoulder.
He looked a lot like Hunt, except Hunt looked like the handsome guy-next-door, while Ryder looked like the proverbial bad boy, with his shaggy, brown hair, unshaven jaw, and piercing, green eyes.
“Hey, Ryder.”
“Ace,” the man replied.
“Just get off at the clinic?” Ryder worked at a free clinic downtown, when he could.
“Yeah.” The man’s gaze flicked to Maggie.
“I don’t think you guys have met. Maggie, this is Ryder Morgan.”
“Hunt’s brother,” she said.
Ryder gave her a slow smile. “Yes, but I’m the better-looking, more-fun Morgan brother.”
Ace curled a hand around the back of Maggie’s neck.
Ryder’s lips twitched at the possessive move, then his gaze fell to the bandage on Ace’s arm. “How about we get you patched up?”
They walked across the space into the Norcross medical room, which Vander kept well stocked.
Ace sat on the bunk while Ryder opened his bag and nabbed a few things off the shelf. Maggie hovered. She looked drained. Ace suspected the stress wouldn’t be good for the baby.
Ryder pulled the bloody bandage off Ace’s arm.
“Gonna have to have you lose the shirt.”
Ace sighed and nodded.
Ryder cut it off him.
Maggie took one look at the bloody wound and clamped a hand over her mouth. She made a strangled sound and raced out of the room.
Shit . Ace tried to lurch after her, but Ryder pushed him down with a hand to the shoulder.
“Sure she can puke without you, brother.”
Ace wrinkled his nose.
“She was a helo pilot in the Navy, right?” Ryder started cleaning Ace’s wound. “Vander told me she pulled his team out of a hellish situation. Nerves of steel. Would’ve thought she had a stronger stomach.”
“She’s pregnant.”
Ryder’s eyebrows went up. “Baby yours?”
“Yeah.”
“Congratulations.”
“Yeah, thanks. I think.” He blew out a breath. “It wasn’t planned. Been a bit of a shock.”
“I bet.”
Pressure built in Ace’s chest. “It doesn’t help that I never planned to have kids and pass my genes down.”
Ryder frowned. “I’ve met your mom and dad. They seem nice.”
“Stepdad.” Ace’s chest was tight, and he realized that this had been stewing from the moment Maggie had told him that she was pregnant.
“He adopted me when I was two. But the jerk who contributed biologically was a first-rate asshole. Local drug and crime boss where my mom lived in Rio. Beat her, abused her.”
“Shit, Ace.”
“She got out when she found out she was pregnant. Met my dad not long after that.”
Ryder bandaged up Ace’s arm. “It’s not all nature, Ace. Nurture plays a part. There are even studies that have been done to show how environment affects our genes, and how they express. You aren’t an asshole. I think you’ll make a great father.”
Maggie staggered back in. “Sorry.”
“I hear congratulations are in order,” Ryder said with a smile.
She returned it, but it wasn’t her usual wattage.
“He’s fine,” Ryder said. “Flesh wound. Keep it dry for a few days, and here are some pain pills. Especially for the night, to help you sleep.”
Ace took them. “Thanks, Ryder.”
The paramedic turned to Maggie. “You okay? No injuries?”
She shook her head. “Just a little shaky and a lot mad. Ace shielded me.”
“As any good guy would do for his woman and child.”
Ace heard the hidden meaning.
“I just wish we knew who the hell is trying to kill me,” she said.
Ace hugged her. “We’ll find out.”
She nodded.
Suddenly, the door of the medical room flew open. Harlow and Gia raced inside.
“We just heard,” Gia said.
“First your car, and now this. Are you all right?” Harlow tugged Maggie away from Ace. “Ace wouldn’t let us see you after your Jeep blew up. He said you needed to rest, but enough is enough.”
“Haven’s on her way from the museum,” Gia said. “She’s stopping to get pastries from Tartine. Believe me, nothing makes you feel better than a frangipane croissant.”
“I’m okay,” Maggie said.
“No, you’re not.” Sofie entered, wearing an elegant, pale-blue dress.
“But you will be after croissants,” Gia added.
The women herded Maggie to the couches outside in the main area. She shot Ace a startled look.
Ace wandered out more slowly and when he looked up, he saw Vander and Easton.
“You called in the reinforcements,” Ace said to Vander.
“Yeah. Maggie has this deep-seated need to do everything herself. She needs to know that she’s not alone.”
“I think it’s because of her dad. He doesn’t give his approval easily, and only on his own terms.” How could the man not appreciate the beautiful, vibrant daughter he’d created?
“Yeah, seems that parents can mess with the kids,” Ryder said as he joined them. “Even if they never raised them.”
“Subtle, Morgan,” Ace muttered.
Vander met Ace’s gaze. Vander was one of the few people who knew about Ace’s biological father. “Ryder’s right. But there are good parents out there, too. I’ve got good ones, Ace. Parents who love and support their kids.”
“What if I screw up?”
“You will. You just try harder, and you never stop loving them.”
Ace grinned. “You’ll be a good father one day, Vander.”
Vander rolled his eyes. “Shut it, Oliveira, or I’ll punch you in your bad arm.”