Page 13 of Tone Deaf
“Alright. And I also want to let you know that I’m going off duty,” Lyric says before turning to me. “Veronica will be here shortly. She’s great. She knows what’s going on and the stipulations on who comes in and out of Callum’s room.”
“I don’t like that idea. I told you we want only you to tend to Callum while he’s here,” I say, not trusting just anyone for Callum’s care. Granted, I don’t know this male nurse either, but something’s telling me that I can trust him. And I always follow my gut.
“I’m sorry, but the hospital made a concession to your request and allowed me to finish my shift up here. And I guarantee you that they won’t pay me overtime. So, you’ll have to deal with it. Veronica is good and I trust her.”
The moment Lyric stops talking, Dante appears in the doorway like a magician. Their makeup is flawless, their suit cut to perfection, and their trademark four-inch black heels don on their feet. Dante’s androgynous look belies their Rottweiler tendencies, and right now their eyes are sharp like a knife’s edge as they focus unblinkingly on Lyric. “Please, may I have a word with you?”
“Umm… Sure,” Lyric says hesitantly and follows the band’s manager out of the room.
“What was that all about?” Danny asks, looking at each of us.
“I have no clue,” I say before we are interrupted again as Detectives Faller and Longe stride into the room.
They both scan the space before Longe says, “I’m assuming this is the rest of the band?”
“No, only two of five. I’m Danny Wells, and this is Connor Wild.” Danny extends his hand, which Faller shakes.
Longe ignores the greeting and moves to the foot of the bed. “If you don’t mind stepping out of the room, we have a fewquestions we want to ask Mr. Fitz.” His eyes jump to me, to Pen, and then to Danny and Connor.
“No,” I say flatly. “We’re on duty and we’re not leaving Mr. Fitz.”
“Dom,” Pen says in warning.
“Mr. Rossetti,” Longe begins, but I cut him off.
“We are Mr. Fitz’s bodyguards. We will remain here, with him.” I narrow my eyes on the cops, giving no fucks if either detective likes it. Pen and I aren’t leaving Callum’s side.
Tobias and Dante come into the room and I smirk. I can’t wait to see the detectives try to go toe-to-toe with the band manager.
Our lead eyes me and then assesses the electricity in the room. “I’ll stay with Callum,” he jumps in.
“For legality purposes, I have to also,” Dante adds, then looks at Detective Longe. “I’m Dante Ross, the band’s manager. My pros are they and them.”
I watch the detective slow blink as he takes in Dante, then quickly gather himself.
“That’s fine,” Detective Faller says, not affected one bit with Dante’s announcement.
“We’re not leaving either,” I insist.
Tobias shakes his head. “You two are way too close to this. You and Pen go with the band to the waiting room.” His rigid tone gives me no room to argue—no matter how much I detest his interference. But I get it. Pen and Iaretoo close to this case—too emotionally connected to be reasonable—especially me.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me. Go,” Callum says sleepily, but the glazed look in his eyes shows that the drugs to numb his pain still have him feeling slightly high.
“Want to lean back a bit?” Without waiting for his agreement, I grab the controller and lean Callum back a littlemore. He sighs with relief and the corners of his eyes lose their hard lines.
“Thanks,” Callum mumbles out, his shoulders relaxing. My guy isn’t going to last long before he falls back to sleep.
I shoot a warning glance at Tobias to keep Callum’s comfort in mind before Pen and I leave the room.
“Callum will be okay,” Pen says, but there’s worry in his words.
“Between the cops, Tobias and me standing guard next to the bed, no one’s going in there to hurt him. I promise,” Dante says and waves us off.
I don’t know what it is, but I’m not comforted by Dante’s encouragement. Something in my gut is telling me that Callum’s attacker will try again.
Chapter Six
Callum