Chapter 13 Jason
JASON
Ithought I was prepared for Ari to be a pain in the ass while recovering, but I absolutely was not prepared for the complete bear that he would turn into. He glared at everyone, barked at people, and growled more than I thought was normal for a human.
And we were only on day three at the hospital since he woke up.
“Ari,” I sigh for the hundredth time today as he runs a nurse out of his room again with his attitude. “This isn’t helping anything.”
“I want to get the fuck out of here.”
“I know, but you can’t right now. You’re still hooked up to IVs that we can’t take care of outside of here.”
“I don’t need this shit.”
I take a deep breath, reigning my own temper in.
“You obviously do.” I ignore his glare and sit in the chair by his bed.
The team is still coming to visit, but they don’t stay long.
The only ones who can deal with him are me and Kira.
The guys just suggest restraining him to the bed.
“Ari, we’re doing what we can to get you out of here as fast as possible, but we won’t risk your health to do so. ”
“I’m a sitting fucking duck here.”
“Tivon has his team watching the cameras twenty-four-seven, and Axel has the teams rotating on shifts on the outside. You’re covered.
” Tivon is another one who’s a constant here, just not in Ari’s room.
He stands guard constantly in the waiting room, more than ready to eliminate a threat.
It’s given me a chance to get to know him and made me feel better about having him around.
He’s quiet for the most part, but it’s his calming presence that I’ve gotten used to.
He’s talked me out of killing Ari over the last three days more than once.
“Keon got shot, and he got to leave.”
I’m not going to point out that he sounds like a fucking child right now. “He also wasn’t on life support. You also had a lot of other stuff wrong.”
“You don’t have to keep repeating yourself.”
I stand from the chair before I can say something that I’ll regret. I leave the room without a word or turning back to look at Ari. I know he’s in pain and scared about safety. I get that, but I don’t know how many more times I can deal with him biting my head off.
Tivon looks up from his place in the waiting room and gives me a small smile. I don’t even have to tell him what happened, he knows. I flop in the chair beside him. “I don’t know how much longer I can argue with him.”
Tivon checks something on his phone and then shoves it into his pocket. “He should be coming off most of the IVs today, and then we can work on getting him moved.”
“I don’t even think that’s going to improve his attitude,” I mutter, scrubbing my hands over my face.
Tivon chuckles. “Maybe not, but at least his biggest complaint will be taken care of when he’s out of here.” My watch beeps and Tivon frowns. “What is that?”
“My heart rate is up. Shocking, I know.”
“You must take care of yourself.” Tivon pulls his phone back out and types out a quick message, then gets to his feet. “Come. We’ll go get food.”
I know better than to argue, so I get to my feet and follow him to the elevators.
When the doors close, I feel like the weight of the world is sitting on my shoulders.
It kills me that I don’t know what to do for Ari.
I know he doesn’t mean to be hurtful, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt each time.
I feel Tivon’s hand on my elbow and realize I zoned out when he leads me from the elevator.
I give him a confused look when he pulls me toward the front door. “The cafeteria is that way.”
“We aren’t eating there again. We’re going to find a restaurant, and then you’re going to relax.”
“What about Ari?”
Tivon doesn’t answer until we’re standing beside a black SUV, and he pops the passenger side door open.
“Axel is on his way to sit with him. It doesn’t all have to land on you.
” He gently helps me into the car and shuts the door, leaving me staring at him as he walks around to the driver side.
When he gets in, he flicks a glance at me and grins.
“We planned this. Keon is keeping Kira occupied, and my job was to get you out. Aryeh can stew in his own shit.”
I bark a laugh before I can stop myself. “I’ve been wondering where Kira and the rest of the team were. Since you guys were conspiring against us, does that mean you’re a part of the team now?”
Tivon shrugs and backs out of the parking spot. “I’m still gaining their trust, but since they trust me with your safety, that means I’m getting somewhere.” My watch beeps again and Tivon gives me a concerned look. “I don’t like that.”
I pat his bicep - his very nice bicep. “It’s just telling me that it’s back to normal.”
Tivon drives into downtown Forest Grove and pulls into a parking lot of a small diner.
They have the best burgers and fries, so I happily get out of the car.
After we’re seated and have our food ordered, I turn to Tivon.
I have so many questions that I’ve wanted to ask, but I didn’t know how.
But since he’s my bodyguard for the day, I’m not holding back. “Tell me about the real you.”
Tivon raises a brow. “I don’t have much more to tell you.”
“Is there someone waiting for you at home?”
“No. Our lives didn’t leave much time for a partner.” Partner. That’s an interesting term. I sip my drink, thinking of how to phrase my next question when Tivon laughs. “Out with it, Jason.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can see the question all over your face.”
“Damn trained professionals,” I grouch, making him laugh again. “Fine. Are you gay?”
Tivon leans back in the booth and stretches his arm across the top. He stares at me for so long that I start to fidget, and when he grins, I know that’s what he was waiting for. “Gay, no. Bisexual, yes. Where I come from made it hard to have a partner either way that I would turn.”
My eyes widen. “Are you a virgin?”
“Not even close. I said it was hard to find a partner, not that it was hard to find someone…” Tivon waves his hand around, “to play with.”
My train of thought is interrupted by the waitress dropping off our food. I dip a fry into ranch dressing, and Tivon wrinkles his nose in disgust. “Don’t knock it until you try it.” I hold it out to him and, if anything, he looks even more disgusted, and I laugh. “It’s not going to bite.”
Tivon gingerly takes it from my fingers and pops the fry into his mouth, only to shudder from head to toe. “That’s gross.”
With a giant grin, I drag a fry through the ranch and bite into it.
With a shake of his head, Tivon starts eating his steak salad.
Now that Ari is mostly out of the woods, I’ve actually seen Tivon relax.
He’s still always on high alert, like he is now, watching out the window or searching the restaurant for a threat, but he doesn’t look like a bow string ready to snap.
Now that he isn’t the enemy or ready to explode, I can admit how attractive he is.
He’s tall, broad, with dark hair and eyes.
Even Kira made a quip about it yesterday.
With everything going on, I’m just glad that he’s on our side.
Tivon has given us an inside look into who is in Israel, and he isn’t someone we would have wanted to go up against. Somewhere along the way, I started trusting him, mostly because he doesn’t deal with Ari’s shit.
Ari has hurled awful things at Tivon, and Tivon just shakes his head.
“Where did your mind go?” Tivon asks, making me look at him. He gestures toward my plate. “You haven’t eaten.”
“Just thinking about how fucking crazy things have been. None of us have had a chance to breathe.”
“That’s what today is for. Now, eat.”
I dig into my burger, and before long, Tivon is paying the bill. As soon as we get back into the car, his phone rings. Axel’s name flashes on the display, and Tivon is already headed back to the hospital before he hits accept.
“Hello?”
“Someone needs to come talk some sense into this asshole,” Axel growls. “He’s threatening to leave.”
“We’ll be there in ten.”
I sigh and lean against the door, already gearing up for a fight.
Tivon pulls into the parking lot, and we make our way to Ari’s room, where I can hear his voice as soon as we step off the elevator.
I push into the room and to my surprise, Tivon follows me in, when he usually waits in the waiting room for me to calm Ari down.
“Sit. Down,” Tivon growls when he sees Ari standing beside the bed and reaching for his IV, making my eyes widen.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” Ari demands, swaying on his feet. I move to step forward, and Tivon grabs my arm to stop me.
“On that note,” Axel says, leaving the room, but I can hear him laughing under his breath when the door shuts behind him.
“I’m talking to you,” Tivon answers. “Do you have any idea how exhausted Jason and Kira are from dealing with your bullshit?” Ari’s eyes narrow, but it doesn’t seem to have any effect on Tivon.
He walks over until he’s toe to toe with Ari.
“Sit.” I watch Ari fight to stay on his feet, but he finally gives in and sits on the side of the bed.
“You need to get your head out of your ass and realize that they’re doing what’s best for you, and that they deserve better than the way you’ve been treating them for three goddamn days.
I was going to let it go until Jason zoned out more than once today. ”
“I don’t need you—”
“I don’t care what you need. You’re not well enough to move yet.
Get over it.” Tivon somehow gets Ari’s legs onto the bed and covered up before Ari realizes what’s happening.
Ari growls, and Tivon rolls his eyes. “That doesn’t work on me.
The doctor is taking you off the IV meds today, and we’ll talk about moving you afterward. ”
“How the hell do you know that?” Ari demands.
“Because I pay more attention than people think. Your team is at the safe house and fine. No one is going to slip past us here, and on the off chance that they do, we have plans in place. Until then, lay your ass down, and quit being such an asshole.”
“I don’t like how you’re talking to me.”
“And I don’t like how you’ve been talking to Jason and Kira,” Tivon barks.
I know by this point, my jaw is on the floor at this entire exchange.
All I can do is stand here. Tivon gestures to me and walks toward the door.
“It looks like you have some apologizing to do, and then I’m taking him to the safe house.
” Tivon is gone before anyone can answer, and I look at Ari.
“When did he turn into your guard dog?”
“When you decided to be a prick.” I slap my hand over my mouth, but to my surprise, Ari laughs.
“I deserve that.” Ari gets comfortable on the bed and sighs. “Come here, Sweet cheeks.” I sit on the edge of the bed, and Ari takes my hand. “I know that I’ve been insufferable, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“I know you’re miserable, Ari, but we’re doing everything that we can.”
“Fuck, I know. I feel useless in here.”
I lay down on the bed and lay my head on Ari’s chest. It’s the closest I’ve been to him in days. “You aren’t useless. We aren’t anything without you.” I look up at him. “But you can’t keep treating us like this is our fault.”
“I’m so sorry, Sweet cheeks.” Ari kisses the top of my head and nudges me to sit up. “Let your guard dog take you home so you can rest.”
“Stop calling him that.”
“He was about to take my head off.”
“You deserved it.”
Ari nods. “I did. Go rest, and I’ll see you later.”
I peck Ari’s lips, being careful of his poor face. It’s starting to heal, but it’s still bruised and scabbed. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
When I leave the room this time, I feel better. Do I think Ari’s snapping days are over? No, but something tells me Tivon is the one to control it.
And that just makes things a lot more interesting.