45. Frankie
45
FRANKIE
A s we entered the hospital, I tried to control my nerves and worry.
Reath had been silent on the drive over, lost in his thoughts.
As we walked down the hospital corridor, the sharp scent of antiseptic stung my nose. I fought back the old memories from my dad’s death. I glanced at Reath. He hadn’t once looked my way. I saw his jaw was tight.
I bit my lip. Initially, he hadn’t wanted to get involved with me because of Jack. I knew that tightknit code they lived by was something vital to them. My stomach did a sickening swirl. What if Reath pulled back? What if seeing Jack, and whatever my brother said, changed Reath’s feelings?
Or made him fight them again?
I felt like I was going to be sick.
I couldn’t survive Auclair, just to lose Reath anyway.
“Hey.” Reath took my hand and squeezed. “Jack’s going to be fine. He’s a tough bastard. He’s in the right place to heal.”
I nodded. I was terrified for Jack. I knew the missions he went on were dangerous, even if he didn’t tell me anything about them. But he was getting older. How long before he got himself killed?
Reath squeezed my fingers one more time, then released my hand. He strode ahead to the nurses’ desk.
“Excuse me, we’re looking for Jack Parker’s room.”
I clasped my hands together. It would all be fine. I’d survived Auclair, I’d survive this.
“Are you family?” the nurse asked.
I stepped forward. “I’m his sister.”
The woman nodded. “Room 314.” She pointed down the hall.
My shoes squeaked on the linoleum as we headed toward Jack’s room. Doctors and nurses passed us. One nurse was pushing a man in a wheelchair who had a missing leg and one arm heavily bandaged.
“Jack’s company provides top medical care,” Reath said.
“I know.” It wasn’t the first time Jack had been injured. I usually just heard about it after he was already released.
We reached the doorway, and I dragged in a shaky breath.
Jack sat propped up in the hospital bed. Light streamed in through the window. One side of his head was bandaged, and his legs were covered by a blanket.
As we entered, he looked up with the one eye that wasn’t bandaged. I’d always thought Jack looked like an All-American hero—strong jaw, good-looking face. And while I had dark hair, his hair was a sandy brown like our father’s had been.
He gave us a familiar grin. “Hey.”
“Jack.” I rushed forward. “God, are you all right?”
I took his hand.
My affable brother’s smile fled, and his jaw clenched. “What the hell, Reath?”
Crap . Could he tell that Reath and I were sleeping together just from looking at us?
“I told you to look after her. She’s covered in bruises and has a bandage on her head.”
I lifted a hand and touched my neck. Then I shook my head. “He has been taking care of me. He saved my life. I’m not the one in the hospital.”
Jack frowned. “What happened?”
“Oh no, Jack Parker. You first. How badly are you hurt?”
Jack’s gaze flicked between the two of us, then he reached up and scratched the side of his head. “My team got ambushed. It was a fucking clusterfuck. We got out, but I took some shrapnel to the face.” He waved at the bandages.
I knew my brother. “And?” I looked pointedly at his legs. They were covered by the blanket, but one looked larger than the other.
“I broke my leg.”
“And?”
“Geez, monkey.” He huffed. “I took a bullet to the side. The docs removed it.”
“ Jack .” I squeezed his hand.
“I’m fine, Frankie, I promise. I’ll heal up in no time.”
Emotions churned inside me, lodging in my throat. He’d heal, and then he’d head right back out on another dangerous mission.
A sob escaped me and I turned. Then Reath was there. His arms closed around me, and I held him tight. He kissed the top of my head.
It was all I needed to help keep me on an even keel, for me to get a grip on my worry.
“Looks like you’ve been taking care of my sister in more ways than one,” Jack drawled.
Jack’s careful tone had me turning. He and Reath shared a long stare.
No . I wasn’t losing Reath to some stupid bro code.
“Yes, he has.” I grabbed Reath’s hand. “And you aren’t going to ruin this because of some stupid code of honor. Reath…” I looked up. “He’s everything. He’s kept me safe, made me happy, and I’m in love with him.”
Reath’s arms closed around me. The kiss he pressed to my lips was quick and soft. “And I’m in love with her.”
I steeled myself and turned to face Jack. His face looked unreadable, and I fought the urge to fidget.
I loved my brother, and I loved Reath. I didn’t want to choose between them.
Then Jack grinned. “My plan worked.”
I blinked. “What?”
Reath’s hands flexed on me. “You asshole.”
“The best man I know wouldn’t let himself believe in love, and the best woman I know, even though she has a god-awful singing voice, was too busy losing herself in her work.”
“Hey,” I protested. “My voice isn’t that bad.”
“I knew you’d be perfect for each other.” Jack laced his hands behind his head, looking smug. “I just needed to throw you two together.”
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. I was speechless.
Then, beside me, Reath started laughing.
I huffed out a breath. “I should be pissed at you, Jack Colson Parker, but since I’m in love with an awesome, handsome guy, and you’re not dead, I’m going to stick with being happy.”
My brother’s smile widened. “Good. And you’ll probably be seeing more of me, monkey. The shrapnel damaged my eye and has reduced my vision.”
I gasped. “You can’t go back on missions?”
He shook his head. “It was time for a change, anyway. Especially if you two start giving me nieces and nephews.”
“Talk about getting ahead of yourself,” I muttered.
Reath slid an arm around me, a warm look on his face.
Oh . He wanted kids. One day, so did I. I smiled back, my head filling with images of what Reath’s babies might look like. My belly clenched.
“Now, can you guys get me some decent food?” Jack demanded. “What they serve here is crap.”