Page 92 of Russian Roulette
“I’m not onboard with this,” he says, shaking his head. “Not one damn bit. It’s too dangerous.”
Fuck!
I was hoping I’d be able to bring him along first before working on the other two. This will be harder than I thought. “Do I need to remind all of you I don’t need your permission to live my life and do whatever the hell I want? You can’t keep me a prisoner forever. You don’t own me. I’m not asking you to join me or to put yourself at risk. I’ve always done just fine alone, and I’ll be fine this time too. Now I’m regretting telling you anything because you’ll try to stop me. I should’ve known better.”
I’m tired and tonight was a bad time to spill my secrets. I try to stand up to make a point of how strong I am. My stupid leg crumples underneath me. “Fuck!” I mutter, grabbing onto the back of the sofa to keep from falling flat. “I’m going to bed unless those big ass ostriches have crawled through the bathroom window and made themselves a nest on my pillow.”
Kit reaches out a hand to steady me and I wave it off. “I’m fine.” I grit my teeth and take one unsteady step, then another while holding onto the furniture. Once I get to the long hallway, I’m screwed without something to put my weight on.
“For fuck’s sake!” Kit says in exasperation. “Let me help you. Now you’re angry at us for caring for you and you’re just being stubborn.” He watches me hobble a couple more steps before stepping in and swooping me up in his arms.
“Put me down!” I tell him, pushing against his biceps. “I can walk on my own.”
“Sure you can,” he says, trying to placate me. “Can you humor us for tonight? Just one night? You’ve been through too much today and you’re being emotional.”
“Emotional!” I spit out.How dare he call me emotional?“I’m not emotional! I’m just tired.”
Come to think of it, I’m feeling very drowsy. Unnaturally so, even with everything I’ve gone through today. “Was that an aspirin you gave me for pain?” I ask him. “I’m a lightweight when it comes to medication.”
“I gave you a PM painkiller so you could sleep through the pain. I hope the pill is taking effect because you need to rest. The sleepy ingredient is generic Benadryl. That’s all.”
“Oh man, I’ve never been able to take that stuff and still be able to function. I’m going down fast for the night.”
“Good,” he says. “I hope you are. Don’t get any funny ideas because I’ve locked up your car and Leroy hasn’t delivered your stuff from Seven’s yet. Can you stay put for one night? Can you please do that for me? Today has been a long day for everyone. We’re all tired.”
My eyelids are too heavy to keep open. “Okay,” I mumble when he places me on the bed.Crap!I’m not able to go anywhere tonight. I can barely make a cohesive thought. This is why I never take allergy medicine.
He grabs a blanket from the chair sitting beside the bed and tucks it over me. “I’m leaving your bedroom door open, so if you need anything during the night, yell for me. I’ll hear you.”
“Where’s the tiger?” I ask sleepily. “And the ostriches? Don’t let the animals come in here, okay?”
He lets out a deep chuckle. “Don’t worry. You’re safe, and I’ll make sure the bathroom window is closed.” I hear him walk into the bathroom to check the window. He stops back by my bedside a moment before leaning over and kissing me softly on the lips.
“Goodnight, my beauty,” are the last words I hear before I fall sound asleep.
45
KIT
“She’s asleep,” I tell the guys upon returning to the living room.
“Asleep?” Vulcan says. “Damn, Kit! What did you do? Hit her over the head with a hammer? She was boiling mad a few minutes ago. I can’t imagine her willingly crawling into bed and going straight to sleep. I’d better go check on her. She’s pulling a fast one on you again. You’re such a sucker.”
“Not this time,” I assure him. “I gave her something to help her sleep through the pain. It hit her all at once. Plus, she’s exhausted after everything she’s gone through today. She was with Seven this morning and then spent the whole day with you. Where did you go anyway today in the helicopter?”
“Red Rock Canyon,” Vulcan replies. “I put the copter down on a cliff and we went for a long hike. I’d forgotten how hot it can get up there on the cliffs with no shade. Jade is a trooper though and didn’t complain once. She’s probably flat worn out from all the…hiking we did out there.”
I glance over at Seven, who’s fighting hard to control his jealousy. He’s still upset with Vulcan.
“Is that the reason you swiped her out from under Seven’s nose?” I ask. “For a hike and a picnic?”
“No.” Vulcan leans forward, preparing for an argument. “I took her because I wanted to teach her how to shoot a gun and I did. She’s a fast learner and as soon as she feels comfortable enough to carry, I’m providing a gun for her, too. Don’t give me any shit about this either. If we can’t be with her every minute of the day, then we need to help her protect herself. She’s out of her league here and doesn’t realize it.”
“You expect us to believe that shooting practice was all you did up there?” Seven asks, glaring at Vulcan. “You were gone for hours.”
Now that Jade is out of the room, the gloves are coming off again. These two had better not start fighting in my house. Their jealousy caused Jade to get hurt, and I’m sick of it.
“I never said that’s all we did,” Vulcan calmly replies. “Is there something you want to ask me, Seven? Spit it out. Or would you rather not hear the details? I’m usually not one to kiss and tell, but you keep pushing me. I’ll tell you every fucking thing you want to know. Just say the word.”