Chapter 23
twenty-three
Zander
I have no choice but to go to the emergency room even though it's the last place I want to go.
My right arm is hanging a good three inches below my left.
I took a blow to the head, and admittedly, my first few minutes in the water I was sure I was stuck in a weird dream where my arms didn't work, and the ocean was trying to swallow me as a beautiful mermaid tried to save me from the black depths below.
When I came to fully, I realized the weird dream was mostly true.
My bound hands made treading water nearly impossible, which I'm sure was the goal of my attackers.
The ocean was trying to swallow me up. Not because it was a monstrous, menacing creature but because that's what happens to anyone who can't tread water well enough to keep their head above the surface.
And a beautiful mermaid came to my rescue, only she wasn't wearing a tail, just a concerned look and a cut on her cheek that reminded me I didn't hurt her kidnappers nearly bad enough.
I went out there to rescue her but I failed.
If she hadn't jumped in after me, I would have drowned, and I couldn't let myself think what might have happened to Nev.
Kinsley and Indi wait while Nev finishes giving her statement to the marina police.
They'll drive her to the hospital. Jameson helps me into his truck.
He drove down after my last text, and Ernie filled him in on what was happening.
Ronan and Colin came along in case there were some heads to smash.
Unfortunately, the heads were all out at sea.
The U.S. Coast Guard were alerted to look out for Chug's boat.
I'm sure they'll be bringing the whole fucking crew back to shore soon and, hopefully, to jail.
The one person who didn't suffer any consequences yet was Hoffman, but his time was coming. I would see to that personally.
I lean back against the seat and close my eyes. I'm wet and cold, and my head feels as if someone is pounding it with a rubber mallet.
"Bro, your shoulder looks like mine did after I dove out of the hayloft," Ronan says. "They'll pop that sucker right back in, and it'll be as good as new … almost."
Colin leans forward. "How'd you let 'em get the drop on you, Z? Never seen you come out of battle this chewed up."
"There were, I don't know, seven of them, and one of them was a giant. I'm not saying he was giant. He was a literal giant, like off the fucking beanstalk or something like that."
"Ah, see, that makes sense," Colin says. "Ronan thought maybe you were losing your edge, you know, being over thirty now and all that. They say it all goes downhill fast after the big 3-0."
I don't have to open my eyes or look back to know that Ronan has given Colin a hard knuckle rap. "Shit, you fucker," Colin mutters as he sits back.
"What are you saying shit like that for?" Ronan asks. "Can't you see the old guy is suffering? Good thing Nev was there to save you." Ronan says with a laugh. "There you were going out to the boat to save her, and she plucked you out of the water instead."
I finally open my eyes. It's still a dark, cloudy day, but even the muted daylight hurts my head. I look at Jameson without lifting my head off the seat. "You had to bring the children along?"
"They were hoping we'd see some action," Jameson admits.
"Yeah, we thought we'd get to break some heads. Instead, the only head that got broken was yours," Ronan says. Colin has already wised up and shut up, but it always takes Ronan a lot longer to catch on.
"Seriously, Ro?" Jameson looks up at him in the mirror.
"What?" Ronan asks.
"Just fucking zip it, you idiot," Colin says. "Z, sorry about your shoulder and all that. I'm sure you got in a few good blows first. You know, before they tossed you overboard."
I look at Jameson again. "When my shoulder's back in place, I'm going to fucking kill both of them."
"Both?" Ronan asks. "Thought you said there were seven?"
Jameson looks up in the mirror again. "Don't think he's talking about Chug and his gang."
"Oh," Ronan says quietly. It seems he's finally taken the hint to shut up. "Hey, you know what? I don't want to hang out at the emergency room. It always takes forever. Cindy's house is on the way. Just drop me off there."
"What about me?" Colin asks.
"Dropping you both off and good fucking riddance," Jameson says.
The twins get out at Cindy's house, and Jameson drives around the corner to the ER entrance.
"If it's crowded, then we're going home," I say.
"Really? You're dragging your arm around like it came from someone else's body. Don't think it's something we can treat at home. Although, I'm sure Dad will be happy to try."
"Fuck, just better not be crowded. Are the girls coming? Nev needs to be looked at, too."
"Yep, Indi's driving her here after she's done with her statement."
Jameson's phone rings as he parks the truck.
He pulls it out. "Hey, Dad, yeah, he took a hit to the head, and his shoulder's out of whack.
We're just getting to the hospital." Jameson nods as if Dad can see through the phone.
"Yep, I'll let you know." He hangs up and looks at me.
"Who the fuck is that man living in the old man suit back at the ranch?
I was in the hospital for three days after I wrecked on my motorcycle, and he didn't even call until they were ready to discharge me.
It's like his own mortality just smacked him into being an actual human. "
"That's what I figure. Would have been nice to see that human when we were young."
The ground seems to be moving like I'm still on a boat.
I'm glad to see a mostly empty waiting room, and the triage nurse decides to send me straight in, not because of the shoulder but because of the blow to my head.
She says I'm showing definite signs of concussion.
I could have told her that, and I didn't even need to shine a light in my eyes.
They numbed my shoulder just enough to make the realignment bearable.
A CT scan confirmed the concussion and I was given the usual readout that tells you all the things to look out for.
It's not my first concussion rodeo, and knowing the way my life usually plays out, I know it won't be my last. All I want now is to see that Nev is all right and to go home.
My clothes are still damp, and they stink like a mix of diesel and fish.
Jameson comes in with a sweatshirt. "Forgot I had this jammed behind the seat in the truck."
"Thanks, I'm starting to smell pretty fucking rank." I pull off my shirt and pull over his sweatshirt. It's tight and short.
Jameson laughs. "Sorry, I didn't have one in Hulk size. So that big guy on the boat—" he starts.
"Fucking made the boat rock back and forth with his footsteps. Like some freak from a circus of giants. Don't want to talk about him. His fist was the thing that's making my skull feel like it's split in two. Is Nev here? Did you see her?"
"Yeah. Her cheek took two stitches, so I teased her that she'll only be semi-gorgeous now. Otherwise, she's fine. She's always been so fucking solid."
"You don't have to tell me." I take a deep breath, and Jameson catches on that something is gnawing at me.
"If it's about the money—don't worry. I'll find a way to get what we're owed. I've been trying that asshole's phone, but he's not answering. Left a voicemail that he nearly got Nev killed but still no reply."
I nod. That's not what's gnawing at me, but Jameson doesn't need to know that. The money isn't what's on my mind at all, although visions of me beating the shit out of Hoffman have passed through my foggy head more than once.
"Oh hey, almost forgot to tell you. Ernie called while you were in getting the scan on your noggin. By the way, it's been confirmed that you do have a brain."
"Fuck off. What did Ernie say?"
"Coast guard brought them in, and they're all under arrest for kidnapping. Hoffman owed Chug for a shipment of illegal arms, and when he didn't pay, Chug decided to kidnap Nev. I guess Hoffman's buyer must have fallen through. Seems like he was into all kinds of shady shit."
"So Chug thought he could get a ransom out of Hoffman. Chug always was an idiot. And Hoffman is a bigger asshole than I thought, and that's saying a lot."
Jameson walks over and is about to touch my shoulder but thinks better of it. "Good thing you got out there in time to save her."
I look at him. "But I didn't save her. She saved me.
" And there it is. That's what's gnawing at me.
"All my life, she's been the one saving my ass, keeping me from getting in trouble, putting bandages on my wounds, giving me shelter when I needed it.
It was my turn to save her, and I got fucking slammed by some two-bit gargantuan beast, and next thing I know she's pulling me back to the wave runner. "
"Ah come on, you're being stupid. That head of yours isn't working right.
Besides, you stepped in to protect Nev lots of times.
Just last year, you pounded that dick who grabbed her ass at the Gold Rush.
She knows you'd move mountains to protect her, just like today.
You rode out there without any backup. You had no idea how many thugs were waiting for you on that boat. You did good, bro."
His words aren't helping much. My stupid Wilde ego is getting in the way. "Dad will have a good fucking laugh about how things ended."
"Not true. I think he'll be proud. Of course, he'd never use those words, but I think they run through his mind a lot more than we realize.
Shit, after all, we all managed to make it to adulthood with all our limbs intact and only a few checkmarks on our records.
He will, however, have a fucking meltdown when I tell him we got stiffed on this job. "
"So don't tell him," I say.
Jameson tilts his head side to side. "Good idea."
"How are you feeling?" Nev's soft voice floats around the half-open door.
Jameson winks at me. "I'll be out in the waiting area." He walks out. "Hey Nev, you're amazing, by the way."
Nev's face peers around the door. A big square bandage is taped to her cheek. Someone has given her a clean, dry sweatshirt, too. "How's your head?" she asks.
"It's still attached. Don't know if that's a good or bad thing."
Her smile is always like an elixir for my mood, but today, even that amazing fucking smile isn't pulling me from my funk.
"It looks like they got your arm reattached, too.
Thank you for coming to my rescue." Nev never shies away from looking a person right in the eye, and this moment is no different.
Sometimes it feels like she can see right through me, right down to my shredded soul.
Instantly, she knows something is wrong.
"You took out an entire crew of men. You're still the most fearless, pigheaded, toughest man I know, Zander Wilde. "
"What's that they say about falling apples?" I ask. I lower my face and stare down at my hands. Both of them are swollen from throwing my fists at those assholes. It's easier to look at my bruised hands, than into her breathtaking face. "In the end, you rescued me, Nev. As usual."
She's silent for a second, and I can't find the courage to look at her. I suppose courage wasn't on the list because I'm acting the full coward.
"You're kidding, right?" she finally asks.
"You got on a wave runner, rode a rough sea out to a boat and climbed on board without having a clue how big the crew was.
I'll never forget the sight of those big, steel-toed boots stomping down the steps to the galley.
I knew who they belonged to with the first step.
As tough and brave as I'd been acting with those assholes, seeing your boots, I instantly broke down in tears.
" Her voice has gone from strong and confident to wavering and thin.
I'm not used to hearing the latter, and it tears at my heart.
I only ever want her to be strong and confident and happy and …
a part of my life. "Look at me, damn it," she says with a small foot stomp.
I lift my gaze to hers, and it takes both of us a second to come out of that trance that always takes over when the two of us are looking at each other.
"You rescued me," she says firmly. "And next time, don't wear fucking steel-toed boots when you're about to be thrown in the ocean.
" Tears fill her eyes. I reach for her hand, but she draws it back and shakes her head.
"When are we ever going to end this circus act, Zander?
We play this weird game every fucking time.
We both know each other better than anyone else in this whole damn town, the whole damn world, but sometimes it's like we're complete strangers doing this bizarre dance around each other.
Indi is giving Kiki and me a ride home. Jameson is waiting for you.
Thanks again for coming out to the boat, and I'm not apologizing for dragging a half-conscious man out of the water, even if it hurt his oversized, cantankerous ego. "
"I'm not cantankerous," I call to her as she walks out. "Whatever the fuck that means," I mutter to myself after she's left the room.