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Tamsyn

From that moment on, with her head resting on his chest, listening to his heart beat beneath her ear, she didn’t leave his side. She politely but steadfastly ignored Fordham’s attempts to get her to leave the hospital, and instead dedicated every minute of the last three days of Merrick’s stay to learning from the nurses.

Watching how they changed the dressing, how they checked the wound.

How they handled the catheter bag and the way they studied the contents for blood.

She taught herself to read the monitors by listening to their comments.

The day after she fell asleep with him, eager to help yet lacking in all the relevant skills, Tamsyn attempted to assist with a bed bath. The simple task brought mixed feelings to light—pride in taking care of him the same way he’d done for her, embarrassment at seeing him at his most vulnerable, jealousy toward the nurse whose hands were also on Merrick.

When the doctor finally discharged him, Tamsyn was more than ready to go home.

Hospital policy dictated that a patient was required to exit using a wheelchair after major surgery, and she supposed in Merrick’s case, it wasn’t a bad thing. He’d lost some muscle mass and after ten days of bed rest, abdominal surgery, and a lot of strong drugs, he was no longer in his former peak physical condition.

Doubling her pace to keep up with the orderly’s quick walk, she was relieved when they reached the main doors and she was finally able to take a breath of clean, fresh air that wasn’t laced with antiseptic and the cloying scents of sickness and death.

No amount of lemon-scented bleach or air freshener could mask them.

It was nice to feel the warmth of the sun on her skin, even nicer to slip her hand into Merrick’s and hold him tight. They hadn’t discussed her father yet or the events he’d set into motion, the circumstances leading to his departure in a black bag.

The truth was, she didn’t care.

Jedidiah had been cruel, mean, vindictive, selfish… the list of his character flaws was a mile long. Like the other elders, personal gain had been his driving force, even if that meant profiting from the suffering of others and having copious amounts of blood on his hands.

Like the others, his death was a savage form of justice.

No one would mourn any of them.

“There’s our ride, little owl. Right on time.” Merrick squeezed her fingers as a black Jeep cruised up to the designated collection spot, glancing up at her. “Do you love me, Tamsyn?”

What kind of silly question was that? Scowling at him, she wondered if he thought his injury and the resulting scar might affect her feelings for him—as if it ever could. Did he not understand yet that her heart was stuffed into his chest beside his, beating in time with it, unable to function on its own anymore?

“You know I do,” she whispered.

“Do you trust me?”

Now she rolled her eyes, just a little. “With my life.”

“Perfect answer.” Grunting uncomfortably, he pushed himself out of the chair as the driver’s side door opened and Levi popped out of the Jeep. He swayed slightly, giving her a smile when she automatically stepped in close to use her body as a support. “There’s something I need to do when we get home, darlin’. Something vital. It can’t wait, not for a day longer, but I need you onboard. Will you be patient with me, wait for me to explain everything when we get back?”

“I…” Confused, she studied his eyes. His expression was earnest, his eyes full of nothing but love. Whatever the vitalsomethingwas, it was obviously important to him. “Yes.”

He kissed her, slowly, sweetly, then Levi was there, hooking his arm around the opposite side of Merrick’s waist to lend additional support.

“Good to see you on your feet, Merrick, even if you’re unsteady on them.”

“A couple days, I’ll be back to normal.”

Tamsyn scoffed under her breath. She knew what the doctor had told him—nothing too strenuous, gentle exercises, no more tackling men with guns. Swinging chain link floggers and spanking people was probably high on the list of not-to-do things.

Levi sent her a wink. “Yeah, I think your sub has other ideas on that. You’ll keep him on the straight and narrow, won’t you, little one?”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll see,” Merrick said, growling under his breath as they reached the Jeep. “How come you pulled the short straw for picking my sorry ass up? You hate the city.”