Page 31

Chapter 31

Gonna Last

Whitney

After forty-five minutes, Wyatt took my parents back to his place. Dad seemed to be softening toward Mensa, but I wasn’t getting my hopes up yet. If Wyatt still had reservations about Mensa (and being in law enforcement, he had reservations about everyone ), then Dad would likely withhold any approval for a while.

Not that his approval mattered, but I loved my family and I wanted Mensa to feel accepted.

“Are you going to finish your food?” Mensa asked.

I shook my head. “My appetite hasn’t been normal lately. You can eat it.”

“I’ll pass. Are you tired? Do you want me to leave?”

“Yes. No. I mean, I’m tired, but I want you to stick around – unless you have somewhere to be.”

He grabbed my hand, leaned over, and kissed my cheek. “Whitney, I’ll be here until they kick me out, if that’s what you want. Only thing I need to do is call Har. I’d rather not text him about what went down today.”

I caught movement at the door and Riley bustled inside. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to come visit today! It’s been non-stop work at Har’s shop and normally I have that place running on auto-pilot.”

Mensa stood. “I’m gonna let you two chat and make a phone call.”

Riley gave Mensa a knowing look. “If it’s about Rod getting arrested, he already knows.”

“Thanks, but I’m gonna call him anyway,” Mensa said after a short nod.

Once he was gone, Riley sat in the chair next to my bed and leaned closer. “Now that he’s gone, how are you really feeling? I can’t even imagine how much pain you must be in.”

I shrugged my good shoulder. “The pain meds they’re giving me are working really well, though I’m probably due for another round.”

She looked around the room as if someone might be spying. “I’m sorry – well, not really – but I ran my mouth in front of your brother while you were in the ICU yesterday.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

An abashed look stole over Riley’s face. “Your brother was telling Mensa that you were too good for him. I got offended and prattled on about how he should have seen the two of you acting like you weren’t interested in each other.”

I dipped my chin, felt a pang of pain and straightened. “Well, we weren’t, Riley.”

Riley tilted her head. “Right. You can keep telling yourself that, but you’re wrong.”

Mensa stepped back into the room. “Why are you telling her she’s wrong?”

“Don’t be so protective, cousin. She was trying to say you two weren’t pining after each other for so long.”

Something about the big eyes, his arched brows, and the skeptical set to his bearded lips made me giggle.

“Neither of us pined for the other,” Mensa muttered.

“Whatever you say,” Riley said.

Mensa sat on the other side of the bed, but kept his eyes pinned on Riley. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

She stood, stooped over, then thought better of it and gave my hand a squeeze. “I’d hug you, but that’s probably not a great idea right now. I’m so freaking glad you survived. If you aren’t out by tomorrow, I’m bringing my laptop and we’ll watch Zoolander .”

I grimaced. “Ugh. Anything but that.”

She grinned. “One day, Whitney, you’ll see the light.”

“Won’t be a runway light,” I said, tipping my head to the side and immediately hissed with pain.

Mensa’s body stiffened. “Are you all right? You need the nurse?”

I straightened and shook my head tentatively. “No. It’s fine. I think I’m due for another dose of pain killers. They’ll be in—”

Mensa looked at Riley. “Go get the nurse.”

Riley scurried out of the room.

“Honey,” I said, in a low voice.

He turned to me. “No. You aren’t going to be in pain, Whit. You’ve been through enough damned pain.”

Those brown eyes said it all, and they said he felt deeply for me. “I’m not the only one who’s been in pain.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Doesn’t matter, Whit.” He opened his eyes. “The sight of you taking that bullet is ingrained in my brain. I’ve been stabbed and it hurts like fuck. I can’t even imagine the pain of a bullet tearing through you. If your meds are wearing off, then you’re getting more pain medication.”

The nurse came into the room. “I hear your pain is coming back.”

“Yes, but if it’s too soon—”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about that. Nobody earns a gold medal for enduring extra pain. Let’s get you taken care of.”

My nurse hadn’t messed around. She’d brought me a fast-acting pain medication, that came with the side-effect of knocking me out.

I woke from a very bizarre dream and saw Mensa conked out to my left, but felt my someone holding my hand on my right.

“Hey,” Wyatt whispered. “Didn’t think you’d wake up until morning.”

“What time is it?”

“Eleven-thirty.”

“Surprised they haven’t kicked either of you out.”

Wyatt shot me a half-hearted smile. “It helps when you know some people.”

“I’m gonna be okay,” I murmured.

“Yeah,” he whispered.

The silence between us felt unusual and heavy. “I know I shouldn’t ask this, but what’s happening with Rod? Was he threatening Donny’s son? And did they figure out which Corrupt Chrome member burned down the restaurant?”

“Slow down, Whit,” he whispered.

I grinned. “What can I say? I’m curious.”

He nodded. “Rod is under arrest, and will be taken for processing once he’s discharged. He threatened to hurt Demetrius Barlow according to what I gathered. I shouldn’t share this with you, so you better keep it to yourself. As for the restaurant, the security footage from Twisted Talons pointed to three members of Corrupt Chrome. It’s being reported in the press, that at least one of them confessed to the fire at DeeLight’s. Your friend isn’t a person of interest any more.”

“Thank goodness,” I breathed.

“Your purse was recovered at the scene. It’s in evidence.”

Between the drugs and the late hour, his words confused me. “Okay. Why are you telling me this?”

“There was a tracking device in your big-ass bag.”

“It’s a Boho bag,” I said reflexively.

“Whatever. That’s how he knew you were at the UPS store. This isn’t the time, but in the morning, think back. Did you have that bag when he cornered you at the mall? That’s good information to have.”

“I did, but nothing was taken from my apartment after the break-in.” I paused. “In fact, Mensa thought something might have been planted – the tracking device could be it. I switch purses for karaoke night, and I didn’t switch back until the day I went to the mall. The same day Rod showed up again."

Wyatt nodded. “I’ll pass that along.”

“Are you headed back to Jackson?” I asked.

“In a couple days. Got some reports to finish.” He tipped his head toward Mensa. “Are you really sure about him?”

I gave his hand a squeeze. “Yes, very. When I found myself taped to a chair, I didn’t know what was going to happen next. My life didn't exactly flash before my eyes, but there are a ton of things I haven’t done yet.” I tipped my head toward Mensa. “He’s the one for me, and he wants the same thing.”

“Exact same number of kids?”

I stared at Wyatt for a beat. “You know that isn’t something anyone can plan right down to the exact number. He wants a family. We’re around the same age, and I really love it here. There are still some things I have to learn about Aunt Nadia’s business, but at a minimum I can keep that going, and I believe I can make it grow.”

Wyatt stared past me at Mensa. “He could get arrested at any time.”

I resisted tilting my head since that caused me pain earlier. “If he breaks the law, you’re right. But I’ve yet to see him do anything like that. I haven’t seen any of the Riot brothers do that.”

Wyatt leaned forward. “Thought he held Rod at knife-point in front of you?”

I twisted my lips and slid my eyes to the side for a beat. “You got me there, but you’d have shoved Rod up against the wall or done something violent to get him away from me, too. I distinctly remember you being pleased that Mensa did that.”

My twin sighed. “Your memory is a real pain the ass sometimes.”

I chuckled quietly. “Besides, weren’t you the one who told me that if he’d broken the law, he’d have been caught by now?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna trust you about him. I’m just concerned.”

My brows drew together. “What are you concerned about?”

Wyatt scoffed. “You were very sure about the FBI, and you resigned. He does it for you now… are you sure that’s gonna last?”

“Nobody has a crystal ball, Wyatt. But love is entirely different from a career choice. Not to be all sappy, but he makes my heart sing. Plus, a relationship is a two-way street. You’ve been perennially allergic to those, but he and I work.”

He nodded. “All right. Gonna let you get some sleep. If you’re lucky, they’ll discharge you tomorrow morning.”

“From your lips to God’s ears,” I whispered.

He stood, leaned over, and kissed my forehead. “Goodnight, sis.”

After Wyatt quietly closed the door behind him, I closed my eyes.

My entire body jerked when Mensa said, “We’re gonna last, Blume because you’re right. You’re the one for me, too. Any relationship is a two-way street. Shit starts going bad, I’ll put in the work to make that right again.”

I smiled at him. “I love you so much. As much as I love having you here, you should sleep in a real bed.”

He widened his eyes. “Not a fuckin’ chance. I heard him say you might get discharged tomorrow. If that happens, I want to get you out of here as soon as possible.”