Chapter 19
AS SHE TRIED TO DRESS, Ahri found she couldn’t move her left arm without a lot of pain, more than she thought the cut from the bullet should have caused.
She also had an assortment of bruises, some of them pretty spectacular, where the guy had kicked her into the furniture. Was that when she’d hurt her shoulder?
How badly would she have been injured if she hadn’t had on the armor? She’d definitely go to the ER after the banquet.
“You ready?” Kayn asked, tapping on her door.
“As good as I can get, I guess.” If he knew how much she was hurting, he’d insist on taking her to the hospital, so Ahri bit back a groan as she opened the door. She raised her hands, keeping her elbows at her side. “How do I look?”
He reached over like he was going to touch her bruised cheek, but she turned her face.
“Don’t mess with the concealer.”
“Sorry.” Kayn opened his arms. She stepped into them, only able to hug him with her right arm.
“Not too tight,” she breathed when he reciprocated. “I’m stiff.”
“Sorry.” He released her and stepped back, his face twisted with emotion. “You might have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t, and now it’s finally over.” Ahri reached up with her good arm and patted his cheek.
“What did you tell Bill?” he asked.
“That I think Zed hid something in Mom’s Korean doll. I’m guessing a flash drive.”
“Oh, wow.” Her brother looked at her, bemused. “If you’d have shipped it with the rest of your stuff, they’d have gotten it.”
“Yeah. I called Francie before I took my shower and told her to watch for the police. It scares me to death they could have come after me there.” Ahri had to blink back tears.
“It’s okay. They didn’t.” He kissed her forehead. “Remember, it’s over. You ready?”
Kayn’s bell chimed at the same time the door opened. Rafe entered, dressed in a tux with a white jacket this time, and a red rose in his lapel. He looked so good, Ahri sighed.
“You have two tuxes?” she asked.
“The black one was my costume.” He opened the box he held and pulled out a corsage. “Ahri, you look beautiful.”
“More prom stuff?” Kayn didn’t wait for an answer. “No PDA around me, okay? Let’s go.”
“Let me put on my flower.” Ahri took it from Rafe but needed his help to pin it on. She faced him and whispered, “How bad do you hurt?”
“I’m going to need some time in a hot tub.”
“Me too.”
He kissed her, took her right hand, and led her to the banquet. When they entered the room, they found Darius welcoming the guests. He looked relieved when he saw them.
“Well, it looks like our CEO Rafe Davis has arrived. I’ll turn the time over to him.” As everyone clapped, Darius took a seat.
They walked to the front table together, Rafe on one side of her and Kayn on the other. Ahri didn’t think it was a coincidence, and it made her feel protected. She accepted it for the kindness she was sure they meant it to be. Rafe seated her and moved to the podium.
“I’d like to welcome everyone to our first annual Midsummer’s Eve Banquet.
Did everyone have fun today?” The crowd erupted in applause and some cheers.
When everyone quieted, he continued. “We had a little incident today—” He indicated his face.
“—but rest assured that it’s been resolved and the bad guys are in custody.
Since it’s an ongoing police investigation, we can’t answer any questions, so don’t ask.
I’m sure everyone’s ready to eat, so the service can begin. ”
The longer Ahri sat, the stiffer she became and the more her left shoulder ached. It didn’t hurt as much if she kept her arm at her side. As often as Rafe shifted in his chair, she knew he wasn’t doing much better. She didn’t do the delicious meal justice.
When everyone had been served dessert, Rafe rose, moving a lot like an old man who was stiff with arthritis. He acknowledged their guests from the community, such as the university president and local elected officials and then put on a forced grin for the group.
“I’d like now to thank our guests of honor.
These are people who’ve done the most to share their love of playing REKD.
Word of mouth is everything, and your contributions have helped with our amazing success.
Your efforts have grown the popularity of the game worldwide.
We have a special gift for each of you, as well as a plaque like this.
” Rafe held one up. “These will be placed on our Wall of Honor here at headquarters.”
Ahri was hurting so much by then, that she lost the rest of what he said. She only came out of her fog of pain when he put his hands on her shoulders. She looked up.
“I think we’ll go to the hospital now,” he said.
“What about the hospital?” Kayn was at her chair in an instant.
“I don’t know if I can get up,” she whispered, her voice tight with pain.
“We need to be discreet,” Bill said. “Don’t try to pull her up. Let her hold onto you.”
Ahri took the forearm Kayn offered her. As soon as she tried to stand, a stabbing pain in her left shoulder made her cry out.
“Stop,” Bill said. “If I’d seen the video of your little fight before you left for the dinner, I wouldn’t have let you go. You hit that display case pretty hard. Let’s wait until the last of the guests have gone.”
Ahri sat while the guests filed out, unable to think of anything but the pain. It intensified when someone picked her up. Kayn. He placed her on a stretcher.
“What about Rafe?” she asked.
“He didn’t get hit as hard as you did, but he’s coming to the ER too,” Bill said. “Don’t worry.”
“Rafe,” she called.
“I’m here.” He took her right hand.
“Tell your mother I’ll be late tonight.”
“She’s meeting us at the hospital.”
With another wave of pain, Ahri lost track of things again. Eventually, blessed relief flooded through her, and she opened her eyes to find an EMT working over her.
“I’ve given you some painkillers, so you should be feeling better,” the man said as he adjusted an IV drip.
“I do. Thank you.”
The medication made her drowsy, and she was in and out for the exam. At one point, an agonizing pain shot through her shoulder. She screamed and everything went black.
When she roused, she found herself in a different room, being transferred to a bed.
“I don’t have to stay here, do I?” Ahri gasped. It was hard to breathe. The room swayed. “I can’t seem to get enough air.”
“That’s because they gave you a nerve block for the pain in your shoulder.
” The male nurse sent her a sympathetic glance as he typed something into the computer.
“Unfortunately, it caused your left lung to collapse. It should just be temporary, but the doctor’s keeping you here for observation until the block wears off. ”
“I don’t want to be alone,” Ahri said.
“Don’t worry. Your mother’s here,” he said.
Her mother was in Korea.
“Hey.” Francie came to stand on the other side of the bed and took Ahri’s hand.
Emotion stole over her, and she had to blink back tears.
“Rafe asked me to come to you while Kayn gives him some moral support.” His mother’s face turned troubled.
“Is he all right?”
“He’s in x-ray right now.” Francie looked pale and worried, but also determined. “He was bleeding from one ear, and the doctor wants to rule out a skull fracture.”
Ahri’s mouth went dry. Rafe had to be all right.
“You two don’t have the brains God gave little green apples,” Francie muttered in disgust, “going to the banquet instead of coming here.”
“We didn’t think he was hurt that bad,” Ahri said.
“And he might not be,” the nurse observed. “It’s also a precaution. I’m going to send your friends in. It’s late, so they can’t stay long.”
Ahri waited until he’d stepped out of the room to ask, “Did the police come to pick up my doll?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry.” Ahri winced and put a hand to her chest, her eyes burning. “I’d never have brought it to your house if I’d known.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t.” Francie handed over a tissue. “If you’d known, you’d have given it to the police.”
The door swung open, and Kayn pushed in a wheelchair carrying Rafe. “Enter the conquering hero,” her brother cried, Ezreal and Darius following.
“Shhh.” Francie jumped to her feet and hurried to her son. “There are people in the other rooms trying to sleep.” She gave Rafe a quick hug.
“Are you kidding?” Kayn said but more quietly. “No one can sleep in a hospital room because they’re in and out all night.” He bent to kiss Ahri on the forehead. “How are you?”
“It’s hard to breathe.” She looked at Rafe. “How are you?”
“Better than you, it appears. I get to go home tonight.” When he tried to move the chair forward himself, Ez pushed it next to the bed, forcing Kayn to shift out of the way. Rafe took her hand. “I hate to leave you here alone, but they won’t let me stay.”
“I’m staying,” Kayn said.
“Thank you.” Rafe brought her hand to his lips.
The nurse opened the door and held it open. “Okay, everyone. You’ve seen she’s all right. Now she needs to get some rest.”
“You’ll bring her to my mother’s tomorrow?” Rafe asked Kayn.
“Of course.”
He leaned forward as though to kiss her, but she couldn’t reach him.
“Fine.” Rolling his eyes, Kayn helped Rafe to stand.
“I should’ve let Darius handle the banquet and insisted that you be seen.” Rafe pressed his warm lips to hers, and he lifted her hand to the bandage on his cheek.
“I guess I’d better get used to this smoochy stuff, hadn’t I?” Kayn asked.
“For your self-preservation, yes.” Rafe released her hand and straightened.
“She really does need to get some rest.” The nurse took the handles to the chair, and Rafe sat in it.
Francie came over to the bed and brushed a kiss on Ahri’s forehead. “I’m so happy to see you and Rafe together,” she whispered.
Ahri watched them leave. She felt weary and a little bemused by all that had happened that day.
“It’s really still Saturday, right?” she asked her brother.
“Just barely.” Kayn watched her, his gaze tender. “So, you and Rafe, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” He rubbed his hands together and shot her a diabolical look like he used to do when they were kids. “We’ll keep all this money in the family.”
“Someday you’ll have a family of your own.”
He made a disgusted sound. “Not me. I’m not the marrying kind. A woman needs a man who’ll be there and not caught up in a video game, if you catch my drift.”
“I’m sure there’s some computer nerd out there who’s as in love with programming as you are.” Ahri shifted, and a twinge in her side reminded her why she was there. “I never did find out what’s hurt on me.”
“The doc said you bruised some ribs and partially dislocated your left shoulder,” Kayn said. “I told them you’ve had some trouble with anesthesia. That’s why they gave you that nerve block. I guess they hit something wrong, and it caused the lung thing.”
“Thanks for staying tonight.” She reached out a hand to him, and he took it.
“Any time, sis.”