“Thanks. It’s a good day so far. No sickness.” She knocked twice on the wood post of the railing, her brown eyes shimmering. “Now get in here before your dad tries to get off the couch and come get you himself.” Her smile tilted, her worry for her husband cascading over her beautiful face.
“Okay, but if he starts in again about Brick, I can’t promise how long I’ll stay.” I followed her inside, linking my arm around hers as we strolled further into the house.
“Give him a break, honey. He’s just lookin’ out for his baby girl. You know how he is.”
“I know, but I’m not little anymore. I’m a grown woman.” My exasperation escaped even though I tried to hold it at bay.
“Not to him you’re not. You’ll understand when you have kids of your own.”
“Yeah, not gonna happen. Never. Kids are not in the cards for me.” Braylen leaned back and kissed my cheek before patting my hand.
“Never say never.” She laughed at the face I made, my obvious displeasure with the topic clear as day. “Now, go see him.” She gently shoved me toward the living room before turning and walking down the hall.
Standing outside the room, I heard Stone talking to my dad, their tones dipping every couple of seconds. It didn’t take a genius to know they were discussing club stuff. While I wanted whoever shot him, Brick, Ace, and their new prospect to pay dearly, I wouldn’t ask any questions about it because they wouldn’t tell me. I’d already tried with no success.
The ache in my chest swirled around in anticipation for what I was gonna see as soon as I walked in. The last time I’d been here, Dad could barely lift his head off the pillow. His voice had worked just fine, however, unleashing his opinion about me helping Brick.
After counting to ten twice, I entered the room, my eyes zeroing in on my dad.
Stone saw me first. “I told you she didn’t run off,” he joked, rising from the couch. His stare morphed from jovial to serious in the matter of seconds as he approached, and when he was close, he bent slightly to whisper into my ear, “Take it easy on him if he starts in about the big guy. He looks better than he did yesterday but he’s still not out of the woods entirely. He shouldn’t get upset.”
What I wanted to say was “then he shouldn’t be so damn stubborn,” but I kept my comments to myself because they wouldn’t do anyone any good.
Stone disappeared, leaving me alone with my ol’ man.
“Hi, Dad. How are you feeling?” I strode toward him with a smile on my face and a promise not to rile him up during our visit.
Stone was right. Although he appeared better than the last time I laid eyes on him, he looked pale and somewhat defeated. His dark hair was messed, and he was in dire need of a good shave. And I had no doubt he was in pain, the evidence coming in the form of a grimace and flared nostrils when he shifted his weight on the couch to get into another position. Anger rose inside me once again, watching the strong man I knew struggle with the tiniest of movements. “Shouldn’t you be in bed resting?” I leaned down and kissed his cheek before taking the seat next to him, making sure not to jounce.
“I’ve been lying in that damn bed for days. I argued with Bray to finally let me come down here for a little while. She relented, but I think she’s gonna toss me back in the bedroom soon.” Although he seemed agitated with the situation, he appeared to be in decent spirits, which could possibly mean he wouldn’t bring up Brick.
“Where were you?” Damn.
With a simple glance, he made me feel like a teenager instead of a thirty-two-year-old woman.
“With Stone and Addy.”
“And where was that?” he pressed, knowing full well where we were before we came here.
“Helping your fellow brother out.” Perhaps if I reminded him he should be as concerned about Brick and his recovery as I was, then he’d pull it back a little.
“I want you to stay away from him, Zo. It’s not safe.” He clutched my hand in his. “Until everything goes back to normal, you’re to stay here with us.” When my head moved from side to side, his grip tightened, for as much as he could muster. “Don’t tell me no. I’m tryin’ to keep you safe.”
I yanked my hand back, careful not to jostle him in the process. “How? I’m. Your. Daughter. Whatever is going on, I can’t escape because I’m related to you. What’s the difference if I’m with Brick or not? The danger is still gonna be there no matter what. I can’t believe you’re trying to tell—”
“Hold up.” His voice deepened the same time a crease formed on his forehead. “What the hell do you mean ‘with Brick’?” he asked, using air quotes for the last two words.
“Not with him, with him.” I averted my eyes. “We haven’t really discussed what we are really. Not yet. But I think—”
“The one time I don’t keep on you and this is what happens.” He spoke more to himself than to me, but I heard him loud and clear. “Are you fuckin’ him? Were you before all this happened?”
“Dad!” I yelled, his crass question taking me by surprise.
“Answer me.”
“That’s none of your business. I’m grown. I can have a relationship with whomever I want.”
He grunted several times as he rose from the couch, clutching his side and breathing deep, his black shirt a crumpled mess. So much for not riling him.
The others must’ve heard the brewing argument because they suddenly appeared at the edge of the room, Braylen rushing to my dad’s side.
“Ryder, what are you doing?” Addy’s tone clearly indicated her disapproval of him being up and walking around. “You need to be resting. In bed.” Her voice was stern, but the stubborn man didn’t pay her any attention, instead focusing his icy glare on me.
“You’re not to go back there, Zoe. I mean it. Stay away from him.” He followed up his statement with a snarl and it was everything I could do not to stomp my foot and start shouting at him about how unreasonable he was being. But nothing I said right now would matter. He’d told me what he thought, and in his mind that was the end of it. Besides, further upsetting him could be detrimental to his healing, so with restraint I clamped my lips together.
I didn’t verbally respond.
I kept my face void of any reactional expression.
I met his stare head-on and didn’t blink.
“Come on,” Braylen goaded. “Let’s get you back in bed. You can’t be getting upset like this.” She propped her shoulder underneath his arm, whispering something to him to make him look away from me.
After they started up the stairs, Addy was next to me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I wiped away a fallen tear of frustration. “I’m fine.” I took a steadying breath before speaking again. “Do you have to check on him or can we go?”
“Go where?” Stone asked, walking up behind his wife. “He just told you not to go back there. And I know you don’t think you’re leaving this house against his wishes.”
“Stone.” Addy said his name on a warning. “This isn’t our business. Zoe is a grown woman. She can do what she wants. As long as she’s kept safe, that’s all that matters.”