Page 69 of Sticks and Stones (FBI Romance/Thriller #65)

“I can’t save us both now. He needs me to be strong, and that’s not who I am anymore. I set him free so he could find someone who can hold him up, protect him, and take care of him. That man is dead, and I’m broken. It’s the right thing to do,” he whispered.

Gene wanted to help him.

Only, how did you heal a broken heart?

Corbin was staring at them.

“He was wrong,” he whispered. “He was my soulmate too. He was going to be my husband one day. I wish I died,” he added. “God. I wish they killed me. I can’t do this,” he said, heading back to the guest bedroom.

When he was gone, Gene sighed.

“That was bad.”

Oh, well, if he had to be up to his eyeballs in a mess, he was taking his man with him.

Ethan headed to his duffel bag, and pulled out Corbin’s absconded phone.

“Read the messages,” he said.

And Gene did.

When he finished, he tossed it back.

“I didn’t give him the phone. I should have given him his phone back. Maybe he would have told him what happened, and they would be together. Did I just cause this?” Ethan asked, feeling guilty.

Gene reassured him.

“No, this isn’t your fault. Honestly, we should stay out of it, EJ. When has it ever ended well for the messenger? Corbin is stubborn, and Will is now pissed. If we get involved…”

Yeah, honestly, Gene didn’t know.

Would it help?

With Corbin in this condition…

Likely not.

* * * Blackhawk & Cantrell * * *

Washington D.C.

The Hospital

Charlie’s Room

It was like déjà vu all over again.

What Charlie knew was he was in restraints, his arms locked to the rails of the bed.

And that he was pissed.

Not only had he been drugged once, but during the night, when he tried to get out of bed, they’d drugged him again.

To be compliant.

Why?

It was all because he wanted to go see his daughter. She was on a case, and he had to get to her. His gut said she was in terrible danger.

That she’d die if he didn’t help her.

Now, he needed to get the hell out of there.

Sam had gone to the brownstone to get him some clothes, and he was stuck there.

Like a prisoner.

Well, that made him angsty.

Oh, and bitchy.

There had to be a way, and when he figured it out, he was going to do it.

He just needed to think this through. He was a grown-ass man, and he was being treated like a child. Oh, and once he got out of that bed, there was going to be all kinds of hell to raise.

Samuel Trudeaux LaRue could be goddamn sure of that. He wasn’t amused by this, and they were going to have words.

Harsh.

Words.

Oh, he wasn’t going to be restrained to a bed for wanting to help his daughter. The fact that the nurses found it amusing that he was in the murder mittens, the mittens they’d put on his hands so he couldn’t undo the bindings—annoyed him.

It was a freaking gallbladder, not his heart.

Hell!

It was like the appendix—another useless organ. If you could get shot in it, and live, you didn’t need it.

That was his motto.

When he heard whistling, he knew who it was. That’s when he grinned.

“Oh, well, let’s play, Samuel,” he muttered. Already, Charlie knew the way out.

His son.

As Tony came into the room, he was carrying a bunch of flowers. The second he saw Charlie, he smiled.

“Hey! Dad!” he said.

Charlie grinned like a lunatic.

“Hey, Son. I’d hug you, but they restrained me when I was having an issue with the meds. I had a bad reaction,” he offered.

Tony checked out his wrists.

“Do they hurt?” he asked.

Charlie nodded.

“Yeah, but I don’t blame them. I’m bad with anesthesia. I wake up confused. They said they’d take them off of me when they came back in, but there must have been an emergency—which sucks, because I have to take a leak.”

Tony sympathized.

“Yeah, Sam said you were getting crazy. I’m glad you’re good now,” he said. “Do you want me to loosen them up?” he asked.

Charlie had a better idea.

“I really have to pee,” he said. “Can you just take them off, so I don’t piss this bed? Next, they’ll have me in a diaper, and Elizabeth will be busting my ass.”

Tony laughed.

“She’s too busy to bust your ass right now, but I get what you’re saying. She’ll ride tail if Sam tells her you pissed the bed,” he admitted.

He played along.

“Oh, did you talk to her?”

He nodded.

“Yeah, I’m heading to where she is now. Elizabeth is in California. At first, they didn’t think they’d need me, but they found bones. So, I came by to check on you, and to tell you I’m leaving shortly.”

Charlie sighed.

“Are you getting to fly out on a jet, or are you stuck taking commercial?” he asked, digging for information.

He laughed.

“If they gave me a jet, I’d be living my best life. Unfortunately, if I don’t leave when she does, I’m shit out of luck. Chris won’t send his jet back.”

And there it was.

Oh, Sam was going to regret treating him like a child. Before he was done, they’d realize where Elizabeth got her crazy from.

FROM.

HIM.

“I’d hug you goodbye, but again…”

Tony looked around.

“When is Mom getting back here?”

Charlie gave him the most pitiful looking face as he shrugged.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m out of luck. God! I have to piss.”

Tony didn’t want him to be uncomfortable.

“How about I help you to the bathroom?” he asked. “I’ll take those off of you and you can pee. You seem pretty calm now.”

And there it was.

His way out of restraints.

“Son, you’re my favorite. I swear to God, I’m fine. I’m rational now. All I want to do is piss. Is that too much to ask?”

That made Tony smile.

Wait until he told Elizabeth he was Charlie’s favorite.

As he removed the murder mittens, and undid the restraints, Charlie rubbed his wrists.

“Bless you.”

Tony held out his hand and helped Charlie stand up. If he fell, Sam would kill him.

As he got to his feet, Charlie knew he was halfway to freedom.

“I feel so much better now. Can you do me a favor?” he asked, knowing he was almost in the clear.

“Sure.”

Charlie had to get his ass moving. The airport was seven miles away. He needed to catch a flight.

“When is your flight?” he asked.

Tony told him.

“In ninety minutes. Why?”

He put the puppy dog eyes on, and tried to look pathetic again.

“I need you to do something for me.”

Tony warned him.

“As long as it’s not escape. Don’t get my ass in trouble with Elizabeth.”

He laughed.

“Son, I’m in no shape to travel. Sam was right.”

Oh, that was hard to say, but it would pay off for Charlie.

Tony touched his face, and he didn’t have a fever.

“Do you need meds? I can go get the nurse.”

He stopped him.

“I need something better than meds.”

Tony waited.

“Honestly, I would kill for a coffee. I’m dying here. I haven’t had a coffee since two days ago, and I was wondering if you’d grab me one from the cafeteria before you head out. Sam won’t be back for a while.”

Oh, well, that was easy.

“Absolutely. Want me to wait for you to pee?” he asked,

Hell.

No.

He loved this boy, but he was ridiculous. That he didn’t see this coming…

“I’m good. See? Completely stable, and not planning to make a break for it.”

Tony could see that.

“I’m glad you feel better. I know Elizabeth is worried about you.”

Oh, well, he’d be with his daughter soon enough. His only disappointment was his gun and badge were at home.

Damn.

He changed the subject.

“Can I have a hug now?” he asked.

Tony grinned.

When he hugged him, Charlie slipped his fingers into the man’s coat pocket and pulled out his wallet and cell phone. Unfortunately for Tony, he needed it for a few seconds.

“I’ll be good. I don’t even have any pain,” he said. “I’d appreciate the coffee though.”

Tony being Tony missed the big picture.

“On second thought, can you wait while I pee? Sam might be pissy if you leave me alone.”

The man was more than happy to help him, and it was clear he was rational.

“Sure.”

Heading into the bathroom, his bare ass out for the world to see, Charlie locked the door quietly, and pulled Tony’s credit card out of his wallet.

That’s when he booked a flight.

He’d pay him back later.

Hell!

He’d give him double that once he landed.

“Are you okay?” Tony asked through the door.

Charlie hit the button to pay.

It looked as if they both had a flight to Elizabeth. By the time Tony figured it out, they’d be in the air.

What was he going to do? Make them turn the plane around?

“Yeah, prostate,” he said, making that shit up. He didn’t have to pee, and his prostate was perfectly fine.

Flushing, he washed his hands, and got ready to put the man’s things back.

When he opened the door, he smiled.

“Thank freaking God,” he muttered. “You saved me, Son,” he said, hugging him again. As he did, the wallet and phone were replaced.

Yeah, he owed him one.

“Great. How about you get back in bed?” Tony asked, needing to get the coffee for him and then haul ass to the airport.

“Okay,” Charlie said. “Oh and if you come back and I’m not here, they said something about taking me for some tests. Just leave the coffee. I’ll drink it cold, warm, or three days old, at this point. I just need the caffeine.”

He laughed.

“Gotcha. Give me a few,” he said, heading for the door. “I’ll see you when I get back, Dad. I love you!”

Charlie grinned.

He honestly felt bad dragging Tony into this, but if he used his credit card, Sam would track him. He needed a head start.

“I love you, too, Anthony. Be safe out there.”

The bug man waved and left.

When he was gone, Charlie got out of bed again, opened the closet to find his things, and got dressed. His incision sucked, but he was NOT sitting this one out.

Charlie LaRue was taking a little trip.

He didn’t have his gun, but he had his wits.

After getting dressed, he yanked out the IV, and shoved it into the garbage. Then, he carefully pulled on his boots, and stared out into the hallway.

The coast was clear.

Dialing for a cab, he took the elevator, knowing Sam, the health nut, would take the stairs. Thank God his husband left him his phone. That was probably a big mistake.

When he reached the front of the hospital, there was a cab waiting.

Getting in, he cringed.