Page 26 of Tone Deaf
We head inside the room, where Callum is arguing with Dr. Kim.
“I don’t feel safe here. I want to leave,” Callum insists.
“Fair to say, you’re not going anywhere,” the doctor blusters. “Now gentlemen, we only allow two people at a time. I need to have some of you leave the room?—"
“I’m not leaving,” Danny insists, folding his arms across his chest.
“Neither are we,” Connor, Raef and Bobby say in unison.
“We are their security, Dr. Kim. We aren’t leaving, especially now,” Tobias states firmly.
“I’m sorry, I—” Dr. Kim starts, but Dante strides in and cuts him off.
“I’m sorry, doctor, since your hospital didn’t take proper precautions on my client’s safety, I must insist you sign Mr. Fitz out of hospital, so we can take him to a proper facility that will secure his protection. If you don’t, then I must insist you get the hospital administrator here—who I have already talked to, because I’m about to call the band’s lawyer and then you will have a whole other set of issues on your hands.” Dante didn’teven bat an eye or take a breath as they put the doctor in his place.
Dr. Kim glares at Dante, then glances around the room at the security team, each one of whom is bulkier and at least six inches taller than he is. The doctor harrumphs and gives in. “Fine. Give me five minutes to put the paperwork in order, with instructions.” He then storms out of the room.
“Geez,fineseems to be the word of the day,” Danny chimes in.
Bobby pulls the ever-present sucker from his mouth and adds, “No kidding,” before turning to Callum. “Seriously, dude, how are you feeling?”
“Aside from Dom smothering me while some crazed woman tried to kill us, I’m good.” Callum glances at me. “How’s your shoulder?”
“Don’t worry. I’m stitched up and good,” I admit with a smile, trying to ease the worry from Callum’s frowny face. My feet automatically move until I reach the bedside and touch his cheek. “Do you need help into your clothes?”
Silence.
That’s when I wince, drop my hand and slowly look around me. Every pair of eyes are on us. Some faces show surprise, some wear huge smiles. Some are smiling huge. But one is frowning. Yeah, Dom is definitely not happy with me.
“Really?” Danny snickers, then his eyes darts to Connor and his right hand shoots out toward the drummer. “Pay up, asshole.”
“Fuck me,” Connor whines and shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a fifty dollar bill.
“What am I missing?” I ask, my attention landing on Dom, who’s still scowling at me.
“You two…” Raef’s words hang in the air like a sharp sword.
I open my mouth to explain there’s nothing between us, but no words come out.
Then Callum blurts, “No. We aren’t together, Raef. Stop making shit up.”
And those words hurt more than the pain from the gunshot.
Chapter Eleven
Dom
Christ.I told Pen to be discreet about our plans for Callum, and here he goes looking like a lovesick pup around the rest of the security team and the band. Tobias is going to have his balls—and mine, if Pen doesn’t pull his head out of his ass.
Granted, Tobias has no place to say shit. He fucking took Danny and ran two years ago, because of a stalker—Danny’s former personal assistant, who was delusional and obsessed with the lead singer. By the end of the whole crazy fiasco, our lead ended up with Danny as his life partner. So no, he can’t say shit to us.
Not wanting Pen to be singled out, I walk over to the opposite side of Callum’s bed, silently admitting that yes, there is something going on with the three of us—even though Callum won’t admit his feelings.
“Dom. Pen. Hallway, now.” Tobias doesn’t leave room for arguing as he strides out of the room. John follows behind him, his face a mask of indifference. But I see the corners of John’slips tip up—he too, has nothing to say about hooking up with a band member.
I turn to Pen and frown. “We’re going to talk later about being discreet.” I drop my scowl and glance at Callum with a reassuring smile. “Need anything?”
“Like that’ll happen,” he says flatly, his eyes never meeting mine. Callum’s avoidance tactic won’t work on me. I kiss the top of his head and walk out of the room, with Pen on my heels.