Page 170

“It’s The Kamau! Man, that was some amazing shit you pulled back there. I didn’t actually see what happened, but it’s you, so that means you must have been in the firefight of your life. Am I right?” He strode over to the table and snatched the remote. “So, in honor of your amazing battle, I decided we should catch something that will really resonate with the situation at hand.”
“Fox—”
“Not that I don’t love The Phantom, but sometimes you need something else.”
“Fox—”
“And let me tell you, the little lady was not that thrilled that she had to save your life yet again. I did what I could to smooth things over, but the amount of blood coating her hands is not something she’ll easily forget.”
“Do not put on a fucking movie,” I ground out.
He didn’t even bother glancing over his shoulder at me. He just continued to rattle on as if there was nothing else to think about. “I always wished we could watch this movie together. I mean, really, it’s a no-brainer. But now that we’re brothers?—”
“We’re not brothers,” I snapped, grimacing when my chest ached.
He tossed his head back and laughed. “I love it when you do that. I know you. You love me, even when it’s hard to admit.”
“I don’t love you.”
He glanced back at me and nodded. “I get it. It’s hard to admit sometimes. But hey, you’re my brother. That’s what we do for each other. Like when I walked in and you were laying on the floor bleeding. I could have gone over to you and helped out, but that’s not me.”
I listened intently as he recapped what happened. I’d been out of it and didn’t remember much.
“That asshole hid, but I drew him out and then pinned him to the wall.” He inhaled deeply, his eyes closing as he seemed to recall the events. “That first slice of scalp is something I’ll never forget the feel of. Ever taken a scalp before?”
He cocked an eyebrow at me, but I just laid there staring at him. The insanity in his eyes was receding, but it still lingered. He was just barely hanging on. I needed to call Anna.
Or watch his fucking movie so he didn’t fly off the handle and murder the doctor.
“No.”
“Shame,” he shrugged. “There’s nothing quite like watching a man squirm as you peel the flesh back from his head. But it wasn’t enough. It never is,” he said, almost to himself. “It wasn’t until I was holding his heart in my hands with his guts spilling all over the floor that I knew I’d gotten through to the bastard. Of course, he was dead by then. It wasn’t like he could feel any remorse.”
He turned on the movie and grinned, walking over to the chair next to my bed. “But there’s nothing like watching Annie to make yourself feel better after a kill.”
“Fox,” I said slowly, drawing his attention to me. “Where is Kate?”
“Oh, no worries, man. She’s all good. I would never let anything happen to your lady love.”
That wasn’t good enough. After being away from her for weeks and nearly dying, I needed my hands on her. “Bring her to me.”
The low rumble of my voice had him slowly turning to face me. He must have seen the desperation in my eyes because he nodded and got to his feet. “She’ll be back by tonight.”
He turned for the door, but I called out to him. “Fox.”
His eyes met mine again and determination burned bright in them.
“Thank you for taking care of her.”
A smile twitched his lips. “That’s what brothers do for each other.”
* * *
“Garrick, stay with me.”
I felt her fingers grip mine and rolled my eyes toward her. I wanted so badly to kiss her lips again, to feel her soft breath on my skin, but everything was giving out.
“Kate…”