Page 108 of Double Standards

Trigger watches her like a hawk.

“Mr. Bonanno?”

“Yes… no.” My thoughts tangle. “I don’t know.”

“You were shot. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Lucky?” Trigger spits. “You call this fucking lucky?”

“Sir, I understand your frustration. But I must ask you to keep your voice down. I’ll be monitoring him personally. For now, please try to stay calm.”

I shift my gaze between them. She keeps glancing at the monitor beside me, the incessant beeping pounding at my brain.

What the fuck is she writing?

“I remember… taking Cassie home.”

“Miss Caruthers?” she confirms, scribbling again.

“Do you want me to call her?”

The voice pulls my attention—Hunter. He’s leaning against the wall, phone in hand.

I nod before I can speak. Then my brain catches up. “No!”

He pauses. “Which is it?”

“No.” My words are firm, eyes locked on the ceiling.

“Mr. Bonanno, you suffered a significant amount of blood loss. You’ve been unconscious for the better part of a week,” Doctor Miller adds. “I want to monitor you for a few more days, but the surgery was successful and recovery is already promising.”

I grunt.

She takes it as a win and exits, leaving the three of us.

Trigger slides into the seat I know Cassie once filled. I can still smell her perfume in the air, like she’s still with me.

“She’s at home,” he tells me, answering my unspoken question. “I sent her away. She never left your bedside all week.”

“How is she?”

“No doubt she’s been better,” Hunter scoffs. “Police wanted to speak to her, but she knew nothing.”

Clever girl.

“Keep them away. I don’t need cops sniffing around.”

“You want to handle this?” Trigger asks, already knowing the answer.

“It’s the only way.”

“I’ll get Max on it.”

I’m glad he understands me without needing everything spelled out. In places like this—sterile, full of strangers and secrets—it’s far too easy for the wrong ears to catch the right words. I keep my voice low, my tone clipped.

“Have him do some digging. See if there is any CCTV around where Cassie is staying. Whoever did this can’t evade every surveillance camera.”

Trigger nods without missing a beat, already a step ahead. “Done. You want her to stay with you?”