Page 99 of Second Sets Omnibus

Under normal circumstances, I’d tell his ass to sit down and take a chill pill. But Kieran’s emotions are in the driver’s seat, controlling his actions. There’s no stopping him from doing stupid shit like marching toward Van like he’s about to chewhim up and spit him out. Only this time, Kieran won’t leave any bones behind.

“Fuck sake,” I grumble, jumping up to catch him by the scruff of his shirt and haul him back. “We’re in public. Unless you want Nigel to beat your ass even worse,” I mumble the last part, earning a scowl. “I’ll make him leave,” I say, silently pleading with the idiot to sit down.

“Fine. I can’t look at his stupid face anymore,” he grumbles, turning on his toes and plopping back down in the chair with a grunt. Running a hand over his face, he closes his eyes and hopefully counts to ten.

I shove my hands in my pockets and walk toward Van, sitting a good thirty feet away with an ice pack resting against his swollen face. If one good thing came out of this situation, it’s the bruising on Van’s pathetic face.

“My suggestion would be to leave,” I say, sitting beside him. “Unless you want my idiot brother to rip your face off. Again,” I huff, rolling my eyes. “Look at him; he wants to march over and put his fist through your teeth.” A chuckle works its way up my throat when Van stiffens, clearly threatened by the big dummy death-glaring in his direction.

That’s right, Van. Be deeply afraid of him. He’s had years and years of pent-up aggression. And he’d be excited to use it on you.

“I’m waiting to hear how she’s doing,” Van stubbornly grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m curious,” I say, slumping down into the seat. Running my fingertips along my chin, I pop my eyebrow when I pique his interest. “How would Whitley feel about you being here, waiting for River to get released?”

“What the hell does it matter to you, man?” he asks through gritted teeth. “Why’re you so damn hellbent on telling her anything? She has nothing to do with any of this. River is my…”

“I’m just saying,” I say, waving a hand lazily. “One of these days, your fiancée will catch on.” I shrug, climbing to my feet and letting my implication hit its mark. “Besides, I can text you when she gets out and is healthy.”

“You would, wouldn’t you?” he growls, shifting the ice on his face to scowl at me. “You’d really send that email and let her know…” He swallows hard, shaking his head.

“What? That you used to fuck River behind her back at the record store? Or that you’re stalking her now? Or that you really had something to do with all this?” I wave a finger, smirking when he gets paler and paler with every word I speak, eventually turning green. “There’s plenty I can do. Now or later, that’s your choice,” I say with a shrug, waltzing back toward Kieran and plopping down next to him. He raises a brow at me, practically begging with his eyes about what I said.

Satisfaction spears through me when Van grabs his shit and stomps out of the emergency department. Seconds later, his engine roars to life, reverberating through the lofty room. Finally, I settle back in my chair, letting my eyes fall shut. Maybe now I can get some rest. All the children are snug in their chairs without worry.

“Finally,” Kieran shouts, jumping to his feet.

My damn body bounces out of the chair on instinct with a pounding heart. Swallowing hard, I blow out a breath as Ode emerges from behind the locked ER doors.

“Nice to see you, too,” Ode quips with a tired groan. Bags sit under her red, puffy eyes, letting me know she hasn’t slept a wink.

“How is she?” Rad asks, out of breath, rushing Ode with urgency, furrowing his brows.

Ode sighs, running her fingers over her forehead. “She’s finally awake and talking to the doctors and cops. It’s fuzzy for her, but she’s doing okay. They’re going to run tests and shit.Doc thinks she has a concussion and abrasions from the attack. So, she’s fortunate it wasn’t worse. But we’ll see after the MRI.”

“Jesus-Jesus,” Callum mutters with a quivering chin, pulling his fist to his mouth.

“She’s a tough cookie,” Ode says, clapping him on the shoulder and gently squeezing. “Believe me, and she’s already bossing around the doctors and demanding to leave. Don’t worry too much about her, okay? I’d say you should probably go, but then I’d probably be talking to brick walls,” she huffs.

“Yeah, we’re not going anywhere until I know my pretty girl is feeling okay.”

“Can we see her?” Kieran asks with hope.

Ode wrinkles her nose. “I think like one at a friggin time. Whoa, dude!” she hisses, turning on her toes when Kieran pushes past without care and marches back into the ER, disappearing behind the doors.

I roll my eyes. “Friggin idiot,” I mumble through a tired sigh.

“I’m next,” Rad says, rubbing his hands together. “My pretty girl needs a nice massage and a dose of penis-cyclin.”

“You’ll only hurt her,” Callum grumbles, slapping him on the back of his head.

“By the way,” Ode says with furrowed brows. “Did you guys know that Bradley from high school came in with a stab wound?”

“He what?” Rad yelps, and his body stiffens, fury taking over his face.

Yeah, there’s something up with him and Bradley. Every time that fucker enters a room, he tenses. And those cops before, they were here for him. Who the hell finally stabbed that dick? My entire body locks up, drowning out the noises around me.

Bradley Bradford is officially on my shit list. A stab wound? That’s awfully fucking coincidental. Images of River’s fingers dripping with blood run through my mind, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m marching down the hallway without a clueas to where I’m going. Kieran grumbles something behind a curtain before I throw it open, revealing River nestled against his chest. His arms lock around her protectively, gently running his fingers through her long, ratted strands.