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Keaton nodded, doing his best not to wince as the doctor glued his wounds together. At least it wouldn’t be traditional stitches. Those sucked. “When can I take Trinity home?” He met the doctor’s gaze.
“I’d like to keep her overnight for observation.”
“Is that necessary or for precaution?” Keaton cracked his neck.
“If all Trinity underwent was surgery, we would have sent her home as soon as she woke up.” Emily held up her hand. “But that’s not the case, and to be safe?—”
“She’ll be safer where I can protect her from whatever that was.” Keaton stretched his arm. “Someone tried to kill her yesterday, and it seems they just tried to do it again. I mean no disrespect to you and your ability as a doctor.”
“None taken, but if I release her, it will have to be against medical advice, and I’m going to send you two home with some strict guidelines.”
“That’s fine.” Keaton nodded.
“Um, excuse me.” Trinity poked his good arm. “Both of you are talking as though the patient isn’t even in the room or incapable of making her own decisions.”
“Are you seriously going to fight me on this after you watched that jerkoff stab me? He was going to dope you full of a drug that could have killed you.” Keaton held her gaze. He tried not to glare. He tried to be soft, kind, and caring. But he doubted that’s how he came off.
“No, but I’d at least like to be treated like I have a brain and know how to use it.”
“Never said you didn’t.” He shook his head. “Doc, can we get those walking papers?”
“I’m sure you’re familiar with how red tape works. It’ll take some time, but I’ll get the ball rolling.” Emily patted his good shoulder. “Just promise me you’ll try not to be a repeat customer. Either one of you.”
“We’ll work on it.” He laced his fingers through Trinity’s. “Thanks.”
“Get out of my way,” her father’s voice bellowed through the hallway. “What on earth happened?” Monty asked as he rounded the corner. “Princess, are you okay?”
“Once again, thanks to Keaton, I’m fine.”
“I shouldn’t have left you.” Monty yanked Keaton off the side of the bed and shoved him to the side. “I’ll never leave your side again.”
“I’m a grown woman, Daddy. That’s going to be kind of hard,” Trinity said.
“You’re going to move home until we know for sure whoever tried to kill you yesterday is the same man Dawson just dragged into the elevator.” Monty tugged at the comforter, lifting it higher over Trinity’s body.
If Keaton ever had the chance to be a father, and he had a daughter, he suspected he might go a little overboard, too. Not that Monty was being overboard at all. He cleared his throat. “To be honest, I don’t think—and I’m sure Dawson will agree—that Warren Harley isn’t the mastermind behind what’s happening.”
“I have other patients. I’ll get the discharge paperworkstarted. Good luck having any say over what happens next.” Emily laughed, patting Keaton’s good shoulder. “You’re gonna need it. No one will ever be good enough for her or be able to protect her. No one. Not even someone like you.”
Keaton had waged that war before with Petra’s father. Talk about a high-strung dad with control issues. “Sir,” Keaton started.
“Do not call me that.” Monty fluffed Trinity’s pillow. “If you want to stand guard at my front door, feel free. But my daughter is staying with me. I have the best state-of-the-art security?—”
“I’m sure you do, but you’re not a trained Navy SEAL. I am.” Keaton rarely puffed out his chest or used his career to get what he wanted. It was even rarer that he ever needed to do it. “And while what is available on the open market is good, really good, what I have access to is ten times better. It’s been tested by the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, and the highest levels in the Department of Defense. You’ve never seen anything like it. My place might not be a mansion, but it’ll keep you and Trinity safe. I can guarantee that.”
“You’re inviting me to come stay with you?” Monty folded his arms across his chest.
“I know that where she goes, you plan on being at her side, so yeah.” Keaton nodded, holding Monty’s painful glare. “My place has two bedrooms. We’ll manage.”
Monty chuckled. “You don’t know my child very well if you think a two-bedroom home is going to serve?—”
“Daddy, stop it,” Trinity said. “Keaton, does it have to be your place? Can’t we make my house safe?”
“I’m sorry, but no. It’s too big, with too many weak spots—too many exits and entrances. If I had more time to set something up, maybe, but right now, it’s got to be my house. I know it’s small, but?—”
“We’ll make it work.” She took his hand and squeezed before shifting her gaze. “Dad, please stop giving Keaton a hard time. He’s only trying to help, and he’s a lot more qualified than either of us.”
Monty glanced toward the ceiling. “How concerned do I need to be for my own safety?”