Chapter 13
JAMISON
Dori eyes me up and down with concern. “Are you ready?”
I nod but don’t believe myself.
The last week and a half have been vicious. Healing from my gunshot wound has taken more out of me than I thought was possible.
After a brief hiccup with an infection that finally cleared, I’m feeling better than I have been. That’s not saying much, though.
“Let’s see how you do in the shower.” The occupational therapist places a shower seat in the middle of the stall. “Sit on this, and we’ll get you washed up.”
“Now I have to bathe in front of you?” I growl under my breath. “I thought sponge baths were bad enough.”
“Come on, grumpy.” Dori peeks around the occupational therapist and flashes me a supportive thumbs up. “You’ve been complaining about not having a shower. Get in there and take your opportunity with a smile on your face.”
I roll my eyes just as my lungs seize up. I grab the edge of the bathroom doorway to keep myself from falling.
“Fuck me! When will this get easier?”
The therapist grips on tight to a belt she’s placed around me to steady me. “Give yourself a minute to catch your breath.”
I take a moment to stabilize myself. “Thanks for keeping me on my feet. I thought I was going to pass out that time.”
“That’s why we practice.” She holds me up until I step closer to the shower bench. “Take your time.”
“I’d rather get this over and get back in bed.” I palm the walls of the small shower area until I’m facing the spout. I lower myself onto the bench. “Now what?”
Dori glances at my hospital gown. “You need to get undressed and get clean.”
My stomach hardens. I shake my head and force down my frustration. I’m not angry with her or the therapist trying to help me, but I’ve always been independent, and this situation has me feeling like a child.
The therapist places my toiletries next to me on the bench. “See how you do reaching for the valves.”
I glare at the knobs in front of me like they are purposefully offending me. Anytime I move to reach for something, my entire right side threatens to kill me. I inhale and shift forward.
A burning sensation shoots through me, and I freeze. “Fuck this. I don’t need a shower.”
“I know this is painful, but if you want to be discharged this week, you have to pass these assessments.” The therapist tips her head toward the room. “If you can’t do it, I can help you back to bed.”
Taking another step, Dori progresses further into the confines of the bathroom. “I can help him shower here and at his apartment.”
This is the first I’ve heard of this idea, and my thoughts instantly go to how much fun we could have together.
Great.
Now I’m getting hard .
“Okay.” The therapist gets out of Dori’s way. “I’ll let you help him undress, but I’m right here if you need me.”
She faces me. “Okay, grumpy. Let’s get you washed up.”
“I need a minute.” My cheeks heat, but I don’t move for fear of the searing pain.
Her eyebrows cinch together. “Why? Are you hurting?”
“No. Not exactly.” I lower my head to hide my embarrassment. “It’s more delicate than that.”
There are a few seconds of silence before Dori laughs quietly. “Oh my god. What made that happen?”
My skin erupts in flames. “It’s your fault. You said you would shower with me.”
I raise my head and meet her sparkling emerald gaze. I want to roll my eyes because she seems to be enjoying this a little too much.
“Do you want me to leave?” She bites down on her lip, holding back her smile.
I groan. “No. I need your help, but don’t touch me or this situation will only get worse.”
“Okay, just give me directions.”
Great, another thing to spur on my fantasies—giving Dori commands.
“I need two minutes to get this under control.” I try to think about anything other than showering or having sex with Dori.
“Anything you need.” Dori glances at the therapist and flashes her a smile.
I move to get more comfortable, and misery squeezes my chest. That does it.
I’m back to normal in seconds. “I’m going to try to get out of this gown. Help me if it doesn’t go well.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Just tell me what to do.” She glances around the space I’m in, and her gaze stops near my feet. Her head is down in a submissive position. “Should I get on my knees? ”
I groan. “Can you please stop saying things like that?”
She rolls her lips between her teeth and nods. Finally, I can get on with the task at hand.
We spend the next twenty minutes getting me showered and into a new hospital gown. Not only is the experience excruciating, but it takes every ounce of energy I have.
I pull my clean hospital sheets up to my waist as I rest back against the raised head portion of the bed. “Now that we’re settled, I think we need to have the conversation you wanted to have.”
She pulls a chair closer to the bed and sits. “Yeah. I think it’s time.”
“I can only think of one thing you want to talk to me about.”
“Which is what?”
“Where you stand with Hunter and how that affects us.”
She adjusts my blankets so they’re higher on my chest. “He’s been away on business this week.”
“I figured it was something like that, but that’s not the question. You’ve been here around the clock since I got shot. He must know that since you haven’t gone to work.”
“Um...about that.”
I find her troubled gaze, and my anxiety ramps up. “What?”
“He knows I’ve been here, and he understands.” She gets to her feet and paces along the side of my bed. “I ended it with him the day you woke up, but he keeps reaching out.”
“That’s not surprising.” I huff a laugh. “It will only get worse once you go back to work after your vacation time is up.”
She stops and stares at me. “He thinks his mom is after me for some reason.”
“What does she have to do with all this?”
“It’s a long story, but she’s been following Hunter and using Ava to get him. ”
“So that’s where the betting chip came from.”
Dori’s brows draw down. “What betting chip?”
“Ava gave me a chip to give to Hunter. When I did, he looked as if I had murdered someone he cared about. Then he warned me that Ava was working with someone and told me to watch my back. I thought it might be his mom, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.”
Dori’s eyes swim with different emotions. “What do you know about his mom?”
“Only that she’s married to a billionaire with ties to a crime organization.”
Dori’s voice rises. “How do you know that?”
Fuck, my pain medication is going to mess this up for me.
I grimace and still my breath. “Calm down.”
“I am calm, but you’ve never said anything about knowing this. Just how long have you had this information, and how did you find out?”
I glance off to the side, trying to find the right way to tell Dori everything. “When Hunter was threatening me, I went looking for information I could use against him. You know this already.”
“No, I don’t. All I know is what he told me. You never told me anything.” She shakes her head as her cheeks get red. “How many secrets do you have that I don’t know about?”
Right, she’s calm.
“Dori, sit down and I’ll tell you everything.” I try to straighten my posture and gasp when my ribs, back, and shoulder tighten. “Fuck me. I’m so sick of this happening every time I move.”
Her expression grows concerned. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, just give me a second.” I glare at the ceiling, waiting for the pain to subside. A few beats pass, and then I give Dori my attention again. “Please sit down so I can tell you what happened.”
She does what I ask. “Spill it, Stone. ”
“Now I’m Stone?” I roll my eyes.
She’s far from calm. She’s on the edge of her seat with annoyance hanging off her.
I clear my throat. “Before you found out about Lauren and Aricin, I did some digging. I found out all I could about Hunter to level the playing field.”
“And just how did you get this information?”
This isn’t going to go well.
“Please don’t leave when I tell you.”
She folds her arms over her chest. “Just tell me what you did.”
I flash her my best pleading for forgiveness look. “I asked Aiden to look into Hunter. He gave me a little to go on, but then I took Ava out to dinner and she told me the rest. I had enough to get her to tell me her side of the story.”
Dori’s back up on her feet. “You brought Aiden into this? Good God, Jami, are you just trying to make it impossible for us to be together?”
“No. I was trying to do the exact opposite when I went down that path.”
“And you thought getting Aiden involved in your takedown of Hunter would be good for our relationship?”
I shrug sheepishly. “I needed Aiden on my side. If he knew Hunter wasn’t who you should be with, then maybe I’d be the lesser of two evils.”
Her features soften as she sinks back into her chair. “I guess I see why you thought that. Sorry, I got upset.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “You’re not mad?”
“No. I’ve been working with my therapist. I know how much I’ve put you through. I can’t promise I won’t have a knee-jerk reaction to things, but I’m trying hard to see how my past actions have made the people I love behave poorly.” She takes my hand in hers.
I bring it to my lips and kiss it. “My actions are my responsibility. I’m sorry I was keeping things from you. ”
“I know you are.”
“That doesn’t make it better. I’ve hurt you by not confiding in you, and I promise I’ll work on it.”
“We can talk about all that once you’re home.” She stands and leans over, planting a kiss on my mouth.
When she lingers for a moment, I take the cue and dive my tongue into her mouth. I palm her cheek and bask in our connection with one another.
I could kiss her all day. It’s better than any drug the doctors are giving me.
She pulls away as if she’s forcing herself to stop. “I can’t wait until you get out of here.”
A gust of air slips through my lips. “You and me both.”
Her eyes sparkle. “That brings me to something I need to talk to you about.”
“Fantastic,” I say dryly. “Do I want to hear this?”
“I think so.” She blushes. “I was talking with your doctor while you were sleeping earlier.”
“What did he have to say?”
“That you could go home soon if you have twenty-four-hour care.” She peeks at me. “Meaning if I stay with you.”
My body fills with warmth. “You want to come home with me?”
She smiles and nods. “What would you think about that?”
“I’d like that, but can you afford to take that much time off work?”
She gets to her feet and strolls to the window. “I’m on an extended leave.”
“You are?”
“Mhm. I have plenty of time to get you back on your feet.” She peers over her shoulder and shrugs as if she’s unsure of herself. “If you’ll let me.”
“I’d love that.” My body vibrates with anticipation.
Being with Dori again can’t come soon enough. I might have an injury, but my dick still works. Every day she’s here, more sexual thoughts press on my mind.
I’ve even fantasized about different ways we could be together while I’m in the hospital. I doubt she’d take me up on the offer, so I keep it to myself.
“Good. We have an agreement.” Dori faces me with an emotion I can’t read whirling in her eyes. “I’m going to tell the doctor we have a plan so you can go home.”
“Dori, what’s wrong?”
A shield slides over her gaze as she strides back to me. “Nothing is wrong. I’ve just been worried about you, and I think I’ll relax more when you’re out of here.”
I try to think about what could be bothering her, and my thoughts hook onto something. “Once I’m better, what do we do then?”
She sits and shakes her head. “What do you mean?”
“I’m supposed to be in Miami in three weeks. Where does that leave us?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about that.”
“About me moving to Miami?”
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking that I could start looking for a job there.”
My mouth opens and then shuts. What is she trying to tell me? I don’t want to assume and get my hopes up, but this is the best news I could’ve gotten.
“Dori, are you sure about this?”
“I don’t know, but it’s worth having a conversation about.”
“I agree, but what about your job?”
Moving to Miami and away from Hunter could give us the fresh start we desperately need. Otherwise, he’s just a few rooms away.
Knowing him, he’ll pursue her relentlessly. And if I’m in Miami alone, there’s no way I stand a chance of her sticking it out with me. But her job is important to her, so I need to understand if she decides she doesn’t choose to move .
She runs her palm up and down my arm. “Let’s not focus on that part right now. Our first discussion should focus on whether or not you would want me there.”
“Is that even something you’re questioning?”
“It is.” She points to my gunshot wound. “Having me around puts you in danger. You shouldn’t have to risk your life to have me be by your side.”
Her statement makes me acutely aware of how much I’m unsure about. I’ve been using my energy to heal. I haven’t considered anything else while I’ve been in the hospital.
My thoughts grow fuzzy. “You know, Hunter made a comment to me about you being in danger, and now you’re alluding to it. What am I missing? Is someone trying to hurt you?”
“I told you when you woke up, you saved my life. Those bullets weren’t meant for you. They were meant for me.”
“My mind still isn’t clear. Parts of that day, I remember, but other parts are confusing.” I search her expression for a sign she can help fill in the blanks. “Why would someone want to hurt you?”
“I don’t know. None of it makes sense to anyone.”
I glance at the security guards stationed outside of my room. “What do they know about it?”
She stands, wrapping her arms around her waist. “They don’t know anything other than they need to keep us safe.”
“Then what good are they?”
“They’re making sure you stay alive, and that’s enough for me.” Her eyes gloss over.
Whatever is going on with her outside of here, it’s weighing heavily on her. There is a lot more to this than I can grasp right now. My pain medication is taking hold and I’m fighting to stay awake.
“Dori, if someone is after you, I need to know who and why you think that is.” Panic spread through my chest. “What are you keeping from me? ”
I get a sinking feeling in my gut. With all the meds I’ve been on, I haven’t been in tune with her moods as well as I usually am.
I study her for a few beats. Her gaze spins with a thousand emotions. She’s hiding something. I can see it in her eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Jami?”
“What aren’t you telling me?”