34. Joker
Chapter thirty-four
I follow my nose, tracing Phantom’s scent back to his room, shoving through the door without knocking.
Which turns out to be for the best as I find Phantom sitting with his back against his headboard, Delilah sitting sideways in his lap.
She’s almost completely cocooned in a blanket, her peaceful, sleeping face the only part of her that was visible.
“She’s only been out a few minutes,” Phantom whispers as I gently close the door behind me.
` I nod, toeing off my shoes and crawling onto the bed.
Phantom shifts slightly, allowing me to scoop Delilah up so we can adjust positions.
Once we’re settled again, I’m spooning my little wisp from behind, one of Phantom’s arms serving as a pillow for us both.
Delilah mumbles something in her sleep, but doesn’t fully wake up, only shifting slightly before letting out a long exhale and settling again.
“She’s so…peaceful,” Phantom mutters, almost reverently.
I nod, smiling to myself and nuzzling my cheek against the side of Delilah’s head. Though my smile turns to a smirk as I scent Phantom’s bath products, masking her already light pheromones. I give him a knowing look, which only makes him roll his eyes.
“Did y’all find anything on the cameras?” he asks softly, redirecting the conversation.
My jaw clenches almost painfully as I jerk my chin in a nod.
The rage I’d only just managed to forget surges back, my arms tightening around Delilah protectively.
I don’t know for sure who that bastard was who left the package, but it doesn’t matter.
The intent was clear enough. And that means he’s earned himself a date with me in my playroom once we catch him.
Phantom’s alpha purr fills the air and all the tension in my body melts away until I’m fully relaxed. His hand finds my hair, his calloused fingers playing with the strands to relax me even further.
“It’s okay, Jokes. You’re safe. She’s safe. Nothing is going to happen to either of you,” Phantom says, words vibrating with his deep purr.
Humming a vague affirmative noise, I let my eyes slide closed as I snuggle more into Delilah’s back. We fit together like puzzle pieces, as if she was designed to fit into my arms like this long before our paths ever crossed.
Our little bubble of peace and quiet bursts as a soft knock comes at the door, startling Delilah awake.
But I’m right there, purring in her ear as Phantom calls out for the person at the door to enter.
I glance at the door but turn my focus back to Delilah when I realize it’s just Cross.
Delilah turns to face me when Phantom sits up, facing our beta more fully.
“I got you, beautiful,” I mutter, pulling her close and kissing her forehead.
Her little giggle makes my heart skip a beat, and I press my smile into her still damp hair.
“What’s going on?” Phantom asks, firm but not loud.
Cross sighs heavily, pausing before he speaks. “There’s really no easy way to say this, so I apologize if I sound blunt,” he starts, picking his words with care.
Delilah turns her head slightly to see him better, and I follow her gaze.
Cross shed his blanket hoodie at some point since the last time I saw him, leaving him in a simple black long-sleeved t-shirt and black lounge pants, his black hair extra messy, like he’s been running his fingers through it again.
But it’s the serious frown pulling down the corners of his lips that makes my instincts perk up and pay attention.
“We’re concerned about how the person who left that package could have possibly found us. Delilah, honey, is there any way I could ask you to come out to the med bay with me for a while?” Cross says, directing his attention to the omega in my arms.
I swallow the possessive growl that builds in my throat, especially as I recognize the tone to Cross’s words: empathetic, slightly distant, professional. His medic voice.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, genuinely concerned.
Cross hesitates for a half-second too long, and I can see the muscles on Phantom’s back visibly tense beneath his shirt. He doesn’t speak, but the air grows thick with the scent of salt and tobacco leaves.
“I…I would rather discuss this matter in private before I give any details,” Cross answers diplomatically.
I look down at Delilah, finding her pewter-gray eyes wide as they stare at Cross. She’s pale again, and I purr instinctively, nuzzling her in an attempt to comfort her. She returns the gesture, but there’s still an underlying tension in her body I don’t like.
“Is something…did my blood tests come back bad?” she asks, hardly above a whisper.
Cross gives her a reassuring smile as he shakes his head.
“Nothing came back that I wasn’t already expecting, honey. But I really shouldn’t share your medical information without your permission.”
“I…you can tell Joker and Phantom. I tru—I give you permission,” Delilah says, cutting herself off.
When I look down, I grin softly as I spy the flush of pink across the tops of her cheeks, and giggle as she makes a point not to look me in the eyes.
Even if she didn’t fully say it, my heart flutters in my chest happily.
Even if she’s not ready to admit it out loud, knowing she trusts me means more than she could ever know.
Cross gives her a long, searching look, but eventually sighs and pulls Phantom’s desk chair out, moving it close to the side of the bed before sitting.
He leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees as Delilah and I sit up, moving to face our medic.
I keep Delilah close, the physical contact helping to keep my worries and rage at bay for now.
“Your bloodwork came back with the nutrient deficiencies I expected. But we’re working on that with supplements.
And starting today, we’re going to start working toward getting you to a healthy weight.
No more shortchanging your portions, no more skipping meals,” Cross says, slipping easily into his stern but not unkind voice, his brow low over his eyes as he looks unblinkingly into Delilah’s face.
Mine and Phantom’s heads whip around to look at Delilah, who is pulling up the blanket to cover her face except her eyes, which glisten with unshed tears.
“I…I didn’t think anyone would notice,” she mutters, muffled by the blanket.
“Baby doll…” Phantom trails off, not upset per se. More like…confused.
I will be the first to admit that I’m not the most observant person in the world, but I have been doing my best to keep my eye on Delilah when I could. But I never noticed that she wasn’t eating or hasn’t been eating enough.
“But that’s not why I came in. I wanted to ask you if you’d be up to undergoing a more thorough physical exam,” Cross says, not giving us time to litigate Delilah’s eating habits.
“Why?” I ask, half confused but mostly protective.
Cross gives me a long look, and my bond quivers slightly, spices settling on my tongue as he reaches out to me through Bones.
My alpha is keeping his emotions locked down, as he usually does, so I’m able to feel Cross more clearly.
And my blood runs cold as I feel his anxiety, his restlessness, his insecurity, and not emotional insecurity, but physical.
I swallow and pull Delilah a little closer, pressing a kiss to her head through the blanket.
“It could be nothing, but it could be something. I won’t know until after the exam. And I’m so sorry, honey. I know you’ve gone through a lot today, but it’s really something we need to do sooner rather than later,” Cross says, speaking first to me and Phantom and then to Delilah.
To her credit, my little wisp doesn’t balk or try to run, even if her shoulders are more tense than a tightrope. Instead she nods and looks at Phantom, who gives her a small smile, and then to me.
“I’ll get the nest ready for you, beautiful. Make sure it’s nice and warm and cozy. Then we can stay in there for as long as you want,” I say with a wide grin.
To my relief, Delilah lowers the blanket ever so slightly and gives me the tiniest smile before she gets out of bed and follows Cross out of the room.
I’ll never get used to the ache in my chest that springs to life whenever I have to watch her walk away from me.