“Hey, Hunter, I was going to text you, but I figured you’d rather hear a thank you on your voicemail than seeing it typed out. I love the flowers you sent, but I promise I’m okay. They’re ridiculously thoughtful and gorgeous. So, yeah, anyways, we’re good. Thank you. Can’t wait for tonight.” I can hear the beeping in the background, the blast of the intercom talking about code this and that. I end the voicemail to call her back, but she doesn’t answer.
“Fuck,” I grunt, still staring at my phone at a loss for words.
“Trouble in paradise already?” Bennett the wise ass says.
“Nope.” I ignore his look askin’ for more. Instead, I hit Monroe’s number to call her again. It doesn’t even ring before it goes to her voicemail. Fuckin’ service in the hospital sucks at times.
“Monroe, can’t get ahold of you, but, baby, those flowers ain’t from me. Call Doc.” I hang up and text Razor and Shovel. I’m not about to let somethin’ else happen to my woman.
“Let’s roll out. Might be leavin’ sooner than we thought.” Tomorrow, we meet the Russians at our warehouse, exchange the other half of their order, and then we’re headin’ straight back to Ely. And figure out what dumb cocksucker was brave enough to send Monroe flowers.
Fourteen
Monroe
“Those are some flowers someone special sent you,” Marnie says as I come back from making rounds with the patients. Today, I’m on the pediatric floor for long term care. It pulls at my heart strings that some of these children are here for cancer treatment or are on a donor transplant waiting list and our machines are what’s keeping their little bodies functioning.
“Yeah, I got lucky. My man is one of a kind.” It’s nice to actually say that out loud and not have to keep it a secret.
“I’ll say. Send him to my husband. He could learn a thing or two.” She’s so full of crap. Her husband thinks she walks on water, and I’ve seen him bring her meals, flowers, and pick her up from work all with a smile on his face.
“You’re full of it. Your man is golden.” I sit down, noticing that Hunter hasn’t called or texted me back. Then again, I’ve been so busy. Now is the first time I’ve had a chance to look, and it’s almost time for me to clock out of work. That thought causes a thrill to slide through me.
“Oh, he is. That doesn’t mean he can’t use some finesse every now and then. It keeps us young, you know?” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I laugh at her.
“I know. I’m going to do these last few charts and get out of here. Are you pulling a double?” Luckily, the nurse before me kept up on her charts, so that when I got them, they weren’t atrocious and were easy cases to handle.
“Girl, are you crazy? I am nearing fifty years old. Pulling doubles is for young whipper snappers like yourself. Unless you’re Doc. Your father has more energy than any person I’ve ever met.” Speaking of, I still need to get online and see if I can switch to a permanent floor and away from him.
“He’s been like that for as long as I can remember. I honestly think he just loves what he does.”
“Anyways, next time your man has time, bring him on up. I’d love to meet the man who keeps you smiling.” She logs off her computer, picks up her bags, and start to head out of the hospital.
“I’ll do that. He’s out of town right now, but next week you’re on.” I make a few more notes. It only takes me staying fifteen minutes longer than my shift, but I prefer things to be easier.
“You’re a hard woman to reach, Monroe.” I tip my head up from my work and stare into Razor’s eyes.
“Jesus, you scared me.” The red roses are blocking a big part of him.
“Well, if you’d answer your phone, you’d know Hunter and Doc tried to call you.” His face is stoic. My heart beats out of my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, but I’m digging through my bag, locating my phone, which is no easy task with all the shit that’s inside of it.
“I’ll walk you to your car and tell you.” He’s cryptic, which only makes shit worse. I put all of my work away, wave at Maisy to let her know I’m leaving, and go with Razor.
“At least tell me if Hunter’s hurt,” I plead once I’m standing beside him. Razor’s hand is on my elbow guiding me towards the elevator.
“He’s okay. I’ll tell you everything once we’re outside the building and by your car. I’m shocked as shit Cannon hasn’t upgraded your ride yet. That two-door coupe was good while you were in high school and living in town, but what happens when you travel from here to his house? Not too safe, girly.” If I could roll my eyes any harder, I would.
“He’s probably letting me adjust to all the current changes and knows I’m trying to pay off a few student loans I took out to pay for nursing school.” My father gave me a place to live rent free and not pay a dime when it came to food, car insurance, cell phone bill, and gas, but other stuff like what my scholarships didn’t pay, I had to pick up the slack. Shit, I’m still living that way, minus the gas and food situation. That’s because my dad still hasn’t kicked me off his plans yet, something about it being cheaper to have multiple, so it is what it is.
“Keep thinking that, Monroe.” He shuts up, thankfully, until we’re down on the first floor and walking out the building. It only takes us a few more minutes of silence until we’re by my car, which his bike is parked right next to.
“Got a text from Cannon tellin’ me about a flower delivery. Hell, he texted Shovel and Doc too when he listened to your voicemail. After he called and texted you. See, Cannon’s nine hours away doin’ club shit, which I know you get, so don’t go gettin’ your panties in a twist and callin’ Raven. I’m not sleeping on a couch, and she’ll be ‘All women stand together’, so I’m not bein’ a dick. What I will say is Cannon’s worried enough he reaches out to his brothers. Doc is out of town at some shit for work, so that leaves me and Shovel trying to decipher this shit over flowers that were sent to you, and they didn’t come from Cannon,” he finally states.
“Then who would send them? It’s not like I talk to a whole lot of people outside of the staff, and Dad knows everyone. You don’t think this is left over from before?” My gut clenches. I’ve tried to leave that horrible frightening day in the past, and for the most part I have, but if this is the Cartel coming back with a vengeance, I don’t know that I’m strong enough to deal with it again.
“No, and if it were, you’d be in lockdown already. Ruger’s workin’ an angle, but for the time being, with Cannon and Doc being out of town, we need you to stay at the club.” Razor’s word is law, but I wouldn’t fight him on this anyways.
“Okay, I already have bags in my car, so I’ll just follow you to the clubhouse.” He eases my mind although I could really use Cannon right now, just for a bit of reassurance.
“Sounds good. I promise you’re okay. We’re all just being cautious.” My hand dives back into my purse, searching for my keys. “Monroe, thinkin’ you and Raven are gonna have a talk about you being on the ready without taking years to look for a phone or your car keys.”