TWENTY-EIGHT
NO ONE COMPLAINED or argued when the SUV drove to a secluded service entrance of the hospital. In fact, there was a nurse and a porter waiting for them with a wheelchair. Someone had called ahead, had money exchanged hands? Did she want to know?
They were led to a private room in a quiet corner of the hospital. Her x-rays were done, she’d been given pain meds, and at that moment, they waited for a doctor.
“Are you tired?” she asked, propped up on the only slightly reclined bed.
“No.”
“If you’re tired, you should go back to the hotel.”
His hand hadn’t left hers since they got there, not for anything other than the actual x-ray.
He kissed her fingers, though his lips rested against her knuckles anyway. “I’m not going back to the hotel.”
“It’s so stupid.” She felt stupid. Her head dropped as her eyes closed. “All this nonsense because I—”
“What did we miss?”
Lifting her head to Roxie’s interruption, Roxie, right there in the room with them, with Zairn, with Tripp, Struan, and Logan. When did the brothers become part of the equation?
“What are you doing here?” she asked as they came to crowd the bed. “Who’s watching Roman?”
“How do you know he’s not Roman?” Tripp asked, slipping his hands in his pockets.
“Because why would Roman give a crap I’m here?” she asked, though that did suggest Struan would have a reason and he didn’t. One quick scan of the room revealed another obvious clue. “And Roxie’s standing near him without spitting.”
“It’s not my spitting the other twin has to worry about,” Roxie said and bumped Zairn with her hip. Her friend quickly turned on the sympathy and rushed over to scoop up her other hand. “How are you feeling, honey?”
“I’m fine,” she said, making a point of looking at each face. Which was weird, with Logan especially, they didn’t know each other and hadn’t spent time together. “Thank you for your concern, but everyone should get some rest.”
“Night is our natural habitat. We’re all nocturnal. He’s a rockstar,” Roxie said, pointing at Logan, then switching the angle of her finger to Zairn. “He’s a playboy. Retired.” Next she gestured at Tripp. “He’s playboy junior.”
“I’ve had more women this year than your man,” Tripp boasted.
Roxie sneered and shook her head. “Not by choice. Original is shackled to me and has had sex with at least twice as many in his head, I’m sure.” The blonde nodded at Struan. “And that one actually cares about people. Weirdly. Given his bloodline.”
“I have his bloodline,” Logan said, though didn’t really seem offended.
“Struan’s also used to running after Roman in the dark, so, you know, we’re all vampires here. All possibly except Dyce there, but you’re sleeping with him, he’s obligated to be here.”
“No one should be obligated to be here. It’s an ankle thing, it’s not life-threatening, there’s—”
When the door opened again, everyone turned. The doctor held up an x-ray sheet, though was startled, presumably, by the volume of people in the room. Yeah, he wasn’t the only one.
“I didn’t realize—”
“It’s okay,” Zane said and stood up. “What’s the word?”
“There is a fracture.”
Well, wham, he went from she was right to she was not so right in a single heartbeat.
“What does that mean? A cast?”
“Ms. Florin won’t need a cast, but she will have to be fitted for a boot that must stay on at all times.”
“All times?” she asked.
The doctor shrugged. “You can take it off for bathing.”
“What about sex?”
The surprise of that hit the doctor, but the others in the room snickered, Roxie and Tripp anyway.
“Woman’s got her priorities right,” Tripp said in approval. “You’ve got her well trained, man.”
“Women can like sex too,” Roxie said. “Sometimes… it really depends on our mood.” Yeah, and the alcohol content of their blood. “And how hard you’re trying. Everyone loves a trier… providing they succeed. In bed is one place you don’t get a second shot if you fail the first one.” Her shoulders shifted. “Except in exceptional circumstances.”
“What’s exceptional?” Logan asked.
“Fake sucking,” Roxie said like that meant something to someone.
“You know…” Tripp exaggerated his pondering. “That’s one place men and women differ. We don’t really care.”
“Yes, I know that. I’ve met many of your kind,” Roxie said. “Often one woman is interchangeable for another for your people.”
“Playboys? What does that say for your guy?”
“Only that he can imagine anyone he wants. Providing I’m the one carrying his credit card, I don’t care.”
Logan laughed. “You’re unique, Rox Out.”
“Yep, and taken,” she said, fixating on the doctor. “Are you going to answer the woman’s question? It’s very important at this stage of their relationship that they get to do it a lot. A helluva lot. Like loads and loads and—”
“Lola.”
One warning word and Roxie silenced. “Sorry. The doctor can speak now.”
“Oh, uh, yes, there shouldn’t be any reason to refrain, if you’re—just stay away from anything too acrobatic.”
Hmm, another startling blow.
“Wow, acrobatic sex,” Roxie said, pushing out an impressed lower lip. “There’s a gym club I’d pay membership for.”
“The actual act is fine,” the doctor said with good humor, thank God. “I’d just avoid anything that puts excess stress on your ankle.”
“So, Dyce, you’re doing the work for the next few weeks.”
“Shit,” Zairn said, and it was only then the phone in his hand became relevant.
“What’s wrong?” Roxie asked.
“I’ll leave you to…” The doctor backed away. “Someone will be along in a while to fit you and give further instructions.”
He slipped out, which was nice, he could’ve stayed to nosey in on whatever got Zairn’s attention.
Zairn gave his phone to Tripp who swore under his breath.
“What did he do now?” Struan asked like he just knew his brother would be the culprit of whatever.
“Where’s Deacon?” Roxie asked, accepting the phone when Tripp reached over the bed to hand it to her.
If this was a Roman problem, why were they avoiding the two brothers in the room? That answer came when Roxie turned the device to let her and Zane see what was on the screen. A message:
Oh no, that couldn’t…
“All we know is there’s been a fight,” Tripp said.
“What else?” Struan asked, proving he was perceptive too.
“We don’t know who was involved.”
Zane kissed her hand and stood up, returning Zairn’s phone to its owner while sliding his own from a pocket.
“I’ll get Rourke to pull up the phone call.”
Zairn pressed his screen and raised the phone to his ear. “Want to bet Sunset Entertainment gets there first?”
The TV went on while both Zairn and Zane made their calls. Roxie had the remote and tracked through a few channels to stop on the first that showed Sway.
A picture of the beautiful actress on the screen got everyone’s attention. It quickly disappeared to a nighttime view of a bustling street. This city. Their city. A crowd of people, a hotel, their hotel, and an ambulance.
“Turn it up,” Struan said.
Roxie clenched. “I don’t want to.”
Logan grabbed the remote and did it for her.
“…specifics are vague. The confrontation must’ve begun elsewhere because no one reports seeing anything volatile in the club.”
“That’s something,” Roxie said, sitting on the bed. She scooted over to give her friend room to put her feet up too. “Rouge is in the clear, Hunt’s it.” Though still on the phone, Zairn’s eyes met Roxie’s. “What? I’m just saying…”
The TV people continued. “…shouting was heard by others in the hotel. Sway Sheridan and her entourage were seen entering the hotel around an hour ago. We haven’t yet seen footage of their arrival, though that will be important in revealing who was with the popular starlet.”
So popular that men were fighting over her. What did Sway think about it? Some women might be flattered, but her, if the situation came to blows, she couldn’t imagine ever putting up with that from a partner.
“Police were called when the suite underneath Roman’s reported shouting and what sounded like furniture being moved or thrown.”
“Ouch.”
“Hotel staff attempted to gain entry and were prevented from doing so.”
“How could the hotel be prevented?” she asked. “Don’t they have keys for every room?”
Roxie seemed to agree. “Logan, do you want me to call Carolyn? What the hell am I talking about…?” Reaching over, she prodded Tripp. “Call your mom.”
“You think she’ll know anything about this? They’re probably at breakfast right now. Bastian won’t have details. How would he divine information from LA?”
“You could call and find out.”
“Why? To piss him off? He doesn’t get into every fracas at his hotels. If he did, the guy would never sleep.”
“Might explain why he works so much,” Zairn said, though the phone was still at his ear.
“The reason for that is Robyn,” Tripp said. “Let’s not all pretend we don’t know that.”
Was Zairn talking to someone? Who would he be talking to? Could anyone help? Would anyone know something? Zane was on the phone too, though he was turned into the corner, talking quietly. Someone was connected to him, maybe it was Zairn and they were hatching a plot.
Struan and Logan quickly got their own calls going until it was just her, Roxie, and Tripp on the bed, fixated on the TV.
When Zairn turned, she slanted closer to whisper to Roxie. “Who’s he talking to?”
“He should be talking to Salad,” she said. “But it’ll be Ballard.”
“Who’s Ballard?”
“The only sane man in the whole operation. You should meet him, he’s cute.”
“According to the doctor, I’ll struggle to hook up with my current boyfriend. I don’t need a sidepiece.”
“Isn’t Alessia looking for a guy? Ballard literally is security, he’d protect her.”
“If he’s security, why isn’t he here?”
“Casanova,” Roxie suddenly called and he turned on the spot. “Ballard’s already on a plane, right?” The guy did a backwards nod of confirmation and turned his back again. “He didn’t travel with us because we were supposed to be on a deserted island.” Roxie folded her arms. “I don’t even know why I’m surprised. The riptide is never far away. It’s all Tripp’s fault; he lives for the drama.”
“You don’t look upset, tense, worried.”
“Zairn does the stressing thing,” Roxie said, slouching down the bed a little to rest her head on Thea’s shoulder. “He’ll wake me up when he wants sex.” She scoffed. “Or not, he might just have sex with me anyway.”
“He’d…”
“Hell, yeah,” Roxie said. “I love it. Don’t tell me you’ve never woken up with your guy already inside you. Maybe not with Dyce, he’s too nice. Tell him all bets are off and give it a shot. You won’t regret it. He sure won’t.”
Hadn’t Zane proved himself? Trusting him wasn’t difficult and he made it obvious that he cared. He didn’t deserve any of this madness. All he wanted to do was sit on his island, bask in the sun, and drink brightly colored cocktails. Okay, so maybe that was her, but he’d do it with her. Them, alone, just like it used to be every afternoon and for dinner on the sand. They had to get back to that, to them. Was it possible? Maybe not now with her stupid fractured ankle.
Their eyes met. His were still filled with concern. For her? For the Roman situation? She smiled. What other comfort could she give? God, it was selfish that all she could think of was his bed, in his hut, right there on the beach, scent of the surf, sound of the waves… She exhaled. They’d get back there, hopefully sooner rather than later.