Page 182 of The Illicit Play

Wily and Grady get into a short bickering match until Satch asks if Wily can please sit in the front with her.

“I’ll feel better if you’re beside me.” She glances at Grady, and I don’t miss the little wink she shoots him.

Thankfully, Wily is already moving for the front, and I get to sit in the back with my legs stretched out and my throbbing foot resting on Grady’s lap.

He’s still treating me like a delicate petal, and I don’t mind so much.

It’s nice to be treated with such tenderness, and I soak it in, resting my head against the back of the seat and looking at him until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.

With the heat blasting and danger no longer an imminent threat, I drift into a thick doze that makes me feel groggy and hungover when I’m shaken awake what feels like only a few minutes later.

“We’re here, Bee.” Grady’s voice is soft and gruff.

I force my eyes open and give him a bleary blink.

When did he get over there?

He’s standing behind me now, on the ground, lifting me out of Wily’s truck.

I whimper when my foot catches on the side of the seat.

“Sorry.” He winces, securing me in his arms and walking into the emergency room.

I didn’t expect to be back here so soon.

Yeah, well, maybe if you hadn’t acted like an insane person, you wouldn’t be.

The weight of what I did is hitting me hard now, and I can’t even look the receptionist in the eye as Grady and Wily check me in.

They take me straight through, nurses fussing around me as they get an IV into my arm. Zander must have called ahead, because they were obviously expecting me. Before I know what’s happening, my dirty clothes have been stripped away and I’m wrapped in a heated blanket that is all things delicious.

It feels so good, I just want to close my eyes and drift into oblivion, but the voices around me won’t let that happen.

Satch is helping to fill in all the forms while I rest. Grady stands beside me, absently brushing his fingers through the top of my hair.

It feels so good.

“Have you let your parents know?” Grady asks over me, and I turn my head to take in my brother. He’s found a chair and has his leg propped up in Satch’s lap.

Shit. All this running around can’t have been good for him.

Closing my eyes, I silently berate myself for being so thoughtless. So self-absorbed.

“Yeah.” Wily’s voice is rough and gravelly, kind of distracted. I open my eyes to see him pointing to the form and answering Satch’s question. “I called them as soon as I heard from you. We were already on our way to you by then. I couldn’t just sit around at home. When you called to tell us you’d found her tracks, we piled into the car to come after ya.”

My lips curl into a grateful smile.

So much care.

So much concern.

For me.

“Mom was freaking out and wanting to call every emergency service provider there was. I’m pretty sure she was seconds away from hiring a helicopter to start the search herself, but I told her to stay put. She hasn’t slept all night, and Blake doesn’t need Mom’s fussing on top of everything else. I’ll call them as soon as she’s been checked, give them another update.” He looks right at me then, his blue gaze intense. “Be warned, they’re coming later today. I don’t think anything can stop that from happening.”

I wince, my gut clenching at the thought of having to face them.

“Hey…” Wily lightly squeezes my uninjured leg. “It’s gonna be okay.”