Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Did you land close to where the tumor is now?”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah. Maybe? I’m just not sure. I think so?”
“OK. OK. We’ll visit that later when Doc gets here. How’s your pain level right now.”
“Not bad. I’ve been walking a lot lately. That seems to make it worse. It aches now. It’s more aggravating than anything else.”
“OK. I want you to take some anti-inflammatories along with some painkillers. Nothing too strong. I’m also giving you a stronger pain medicine to take at night to help you sleep. Looking at you, I’m betting you’re not sleeping well.”
“Well, I’ve been sleeping outside mostly. It’s not very comfortable and, I’ll admit, not very safe. I tried to stay in good neighborhoods and such, but it wasn’t very… relaxing.”
“Right. I’m assuming that’s all at an end?” He looked at Reaper instead of me. I had to grin. Normally, I’d be upset, but Reaper had effectively taken over my life. And I wasn’t at all broken up about it.
“Yep. She’s staying with me. Hadn’t planned on letting her sleep too much, but if you say she needs it, I’ll try to keep my hands to myself. Sometimes.”
I giggled. Fury just shot me an exasperated look. “Don’t encourage him,” he scolded. “You need sleep. And nourishment. I’m betting you’ve not been eating regularly, or food high in calories or protein.”
“I eat when I’m hungry. I’ve been worried, and I can’t eat when I’m stressed.”
“Something else that stops now,” Reaper said. “I’m officially making it against the rules for you to stress over anything. You leave the stressing to me.”
“Right,” Noelle said, grinning at me. “Honey, you’ve got your hands full with this one.”
“Tell me about it,” I muttered, but I smiled just the same.
Fury rolled his eyes. “That will do for now, I suppose. I’m giving Reaper your medicine and some vitamin supplements I want you to try to take. You need your strength and, until Doc can put everything together, I think it best to just do supportive care.”
“I can live with that,” I agreed.
“Let me know if you need something stronger for pain. I don’t want you any more uncomfortable than you absolutely have to be. Don’t put it off until you’re hurting so bad it’s difficult to get on top of the pain. You hear me?”
“I got you.” I looked at Noelle. “Are all the men here so bossy?”
“Every single fucking one of them, honey. And they’ll all bully you like this. I think they get off on it.”
“Great,” I muttered, but spoiled the effect by giggling.
“Too bad,” Reaper said, turning and motioning for me to get on his back. “You’re just going to have to put up with it.”
I hopped up and wrapped my arms and legs around him. “Like it’s such a hardship.” I slapped his ass. “Hi Ho, Silver! Away!”
Noelle and Fury burst out laughing. Reaper just scowled at them before giving them the bird. “Just remember, I will tickle you ’til you pee. All I have to do is get you in the shower.”
Chapter Five
El Segador
The next day was a special kind of hell for me. The girls took Swan off to a spa somewhere while I spent an hour getting fitted for a suit El Diablo’s tailor promised would be ready in a couple of hours, which had to be some kind of record. El Diablo stayed with me, offering instructions while I stood there, my arms straight out while some uptight tailor fussed over the damned suit.
“If I get out of this in one piece, Liam, I may fuckin’ kill you.”
“Now, is that any way to treat the man helping you romance your girl? How can you make her fall in love with you if you don’t sweep her off her feet?”
“Was kinda hopin’ the bike would help with that. Chicks love the bike.”
“Chicks.” He snorted. “That right there is your problem. Your woman needs romancing. Wooing. The bike may fuel her lust, but you need to win her heart.”
“Which is the only reason I’m still fuckin’ standin’ here,” I growled. “Fuckin’ ridiculous. No biker should have to go through this.”
Then something happened I’d never seen. At least, not aimed at me. El Diablo’s face turned hard. Angry. “You go through whatever you have to for your woman. Indignant or not,” he snapped. “Now stop whining like a child and do what you have to do to be the man she needs you to be.” El Diablo paced across the room. “Even the children wouldn’t whine so much.”
“I’m gonna be the man she needs, and I’m gonna make her fall in love with me. I’m all in with this, Liam. Don’t mean I have to like the method.”
“One question.” El Diablo turned around, giving me a curious look. “Have you thought about what you’ll do if Dr. Muse is able to heal her? You’ll have yourself a woman. One you can’t get rid of without breaking a promise. Or, likely, her heart.”