Take - Page 107

The woman nodded. “Room 314.” She pointed down the hall.

My shoes squeaked on the linoleum as we headed toward Jack’s room. Doctors and nurses passed us. One nurse was pushing a man in a wheelchair who had a missing leg and one arm heavily bandaged.

“Jack’s company provides top medical care,” Reath said.

“I know.” It wasn’t the first time Jack had been injured. I usually just heard about it after he was already released.

We reached the doorway, and I dragged in a shaky breath.

Jack sat propped up in the hospital bed. Light streamed in through the window. One side of his head was bandaged, and his legs were covered by a blanket.

As we entered, he looked up with the one eye that wasn’t bandaged. I’d always thought Jack looked like an All-American hero—strong jaw, good-looking face. And while I had dark hair, his hair was a sandy brown like our father’s had been.

He gave us a familiar grin. “Hey.”

“Jack.” I rushed forward. “God, are you all right?”

I took his hand.

My affable brother’s smile fled, and his jaw clenched. “What the hell, Reath?”

Crap. Could he tell that Reath and I were sleeping together just from looking at us?

“I told you to look after her. She’s covered in bruises and has a bandage on her head.”

I lifted a hand and touched my neck. Then I shook my head. “He has been taking care of me. He saved my life. I’m not the one in the hospital.”

Jack frowned. “What happened?”

“Oh no, Jack Parker. You first. How badly are you hurt?”

Jack’s gaze flicked between the two of us, then he reached up and scratched the side of his head. “My team got ambushed. It was a fucking clusterfuck. We got out, but I took some shrapnel to the face.” He waved at the bandages.

I knew my brother. “And?” I looked pointedly at his legs. They were covered by the blanket, but one looked larger than the other.

“I broke my leg.”

“And?”

“Geez, monkey.” He huffed. “I took a bullet to the side. The docs removed it.”

“Jack.” I squeezed his hand.

“I’m fine, Frankie, I promise. I’ll heal up in no time.”

Emotions churned inside me, lodging in my throat. He’d heal, and then he’d head right back out on another dangerous mission.

A sob escaped me and I turned. Then Reath was there. His arms closed around me, and I held him tight. He kissed the top of my head.

It was all I needed to help keep me on an even keel, for me to get a grip on my worry.

“Looks like you’ve been taking care of my sister in more ways than one,” Jack drawled.

Jack’s careful tone had me turning. He and Reath shared a long stare.

No. I wasn’t losing Reath to some stupid bro code.

“Yes, he has.” I grabbed Reath’s hand. “And you aren’t going to ruin this because of some stupid code of honor. Reath…” I looked up. “He’s everything. He’s kept me safe, made me happy, and I’m in love with him.”