Chapter 6
Thario agreed to go to the hospital after they dropped by the veterinarian's office and got Frog medical treatment. The vet promised to call Sharp as soon as he had any information on what had been given to Frog.
At the hospital, Thario didn’t argue about the tests the doctors wanted to perform, and he didn’t balk at getting the CT scan. He was sure he had a concussion based on how he felt.
The nurse came in, his smile wide. “So we’ve hooked you up with fluid so you will be well hydrated, but are you hungry? The doctor said you could eat something since it doesn’t seem like you need surgery.”
He nodded, unsure if he really wanted to eat anything. The headache made him feel nauseous. Eating a big meal was the last thing he wanted.
“How about some crackers for starters? Then we can go from there? I grabbed two different trays when they came around with food, so you’ll have options.”
“Thank you.”
"You're welcome. Now then, let me check some numbers, and then I'll get you those crackers."
By the time he got the crackers, he was a little hungry. Then Sharp and Griz came into his room.
“I spoke to the police. They want to talk to you, eventually. They are wondering how someone ended up dead in your house.”
Thario let out a heavy sigh. It was all so stupid and overly complicated. “I don’t really know.”
“I told them what you told us,” Griz said. “They still need to talk to you.”
He finished chewing another cracker and took a drink of water so he could swallow the dry food.
He shook his head, angry at the situation. “This really sucks.”
Sharp nodded. “I can see how you think that, but what sucked more was thinking you were dead.”
“I’m glad Asher figured out what the email meant.”
“So are we,” Griz said.
“I can’t believe they told you I was dead.”
“There is a dead guy in your house, so it was reasonable they thought it was you.”
Thario grunted. “My house. How is it?”
“Destroyed,” Griz said.
“Dammit. I guess I lost everything.”
“Most everything. The guys will go over once the scene is released, and we’ll see if we can salvage anything.”
“At least I got Frog out.”
Griz and Sharp both nodded. He hated leaving Frog with the vet, but he needed medical care just as much, if not more than Thario needed care. Once he got out of this joint, he would go and be with Frog.
Sharp’s phone buzzed. “Ah, good news. The vet thinks Frog will be ready to leave this evening.”
“Good. Did he say what they’d dosed him with?”
Sharp shook his head. “No. But I’m sure he will have all the information for you when we go to pick him up. You’re staying with us for a while.”
Thario shook his head. “It could be dangerous.”
“He won’t know where you are, and I doubt he’ll come after you so soon. We’re looking into where this guy came from. We’re going to track him down and put a stop to his activities.”
"When you go in to take him down, I want to be there." Thario wouldn't budge on this. He wanted to make sure this guy was captured.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sharp said.
“I’m not sitting at home while you get to have all the fun. I’ll stay in the car, but I’m going to be there. I need to make sure he’s off the streets.”
“Okay. As long as you’re not in the hospital, you can come.”
“Hell, even if I’m in the hospital, you’d better break me out and let me come.”
Griz raised his hands like he was giving up. “Fine, you can come. But you’d better behave. Frog is relying on you.”
Thario didn't argue with that. They were right, he had to keep Frog safe. Seeing Frog out of commission had scared the heck out of him. If he'd lost Frog, he wasn't sure anything would stop him from killing the guy. Somehow, he would have to keep his anger in check.
The reality of him allowing that bastard into his house hit hard. He’d invited Brent in, thinking he could trust the man. He’d done background checks, looked into the guy, and hadn’t found anything concerning. Who the hell could he trust if he couldn’t trust himself?
“One of us will be here with you until you get out. If Frog gets freed before you, one of the women will go get him.”
“Good. He likes them all, but I think Asher is one of his favorites.”
Griz nodded. “I’ll make sure she goes to pick him up.”
Thario let go a heavy sigh. “He’s probably worried about me.”
Sharp nodded. “I’m sure he is. We’ll get you two back together soon. And I’m sure Danika will spoil you both while you stay with us.”
Thario chuckled then groaned. “Head still hurts. I don’t like it.”
“I’m sure you don’t. But the doctors will get you patched up, and then we can focus on getting everything worked out.”
Thario nodded. “He needs to pay for what he did.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll get it all sorted, and it will all be good.”
Thario trusted his buddies. They would take care of Frog while he couldn’t. He needed to find a place to hide so he didn’t put Danika or Sharp in danger. If Brent came back to do more damage, he couldn’t allow him to destroy his friends. Maybe he needed to disappear off the face of the earth.
Before being injured, he'd planned to retire on a boat and sail around the Caribbean until he was too old to live on the boat, but now, that wouldn't be a good decision. He could easily lose his balance on a boat, and he would need help.
Maybe he could move to the mountains where Elowen and Griz were going to live. They seemed to be doing well. If Griz was close by, but not so close that Brent could find him, it would be good.
He liked Elowen. She and Frog got along very well. They'd had dinner two days ago. His friends were stopping by more in the last few months. Thankfully, none of them or their family had been at his place.
Heat washed over him, and the machine hooked up to him started beeping faster. Sharp looked concerned, but it was just worry hitting him.
“I’m fine, just thinking.”
Sharp shook his head. “Rest, don’t think.”
He snorted a laugh but closed his eyes. Once he was out of here and at Sharp's place, he would get a new computer and start investigating why that guy had been killed at his place, and what the hell was up with Brent.