face. Jonah would give almost everything he possessed if someone could erase the memories of the emotional trauma and physical pain he’d endured during those long months of recuperation.
Hushed whispers snagged his attention. Jonah cracked open his eyes. Avery, Royce, Sawyer, Ellen, Rocky, Felix, and Marla stood in a small huddle, talking quietly. Jonah only had eyes for one of them. He raked his gaze over Avery’s face, noting his puffy, red eyes and pale face. Regret and guilt squeezed Jonah’s heart like a vise grip. He must’ve made a sound of distress because all eyes turned on him.
Even though his arm felt like it weighed two hundred pounds, he raised it enough to crook his finger.
“Which one of us is he beckoning to?” Royce asked.
“Doubtful it’s you,” Sawyer said. “It was probably your big mouth that woke him.”
“You love my big mouth, asshole,” Royce said softly.
Sawyer glared daggers at Royce, but Jonah saw his mouth twitch.
Avery shushed them and hurried to Jonah’s side. “Hey,” he said softly. “How are you feeling?”
“Like roadkill,” Jonah replied. His mouth felt like sandpaper, and his throat was as dry as a desert. “How’d you find me?”
Avery removed a reusable plastic water bottle and straw from the cellophane, then filled it with ice water from a pitcher. “Here, drink this.” Avery placed the straw against Jonah’s lips, and he complied. “Some guy named Hank picked up your phone after you passed out. He gave me a general location, and I got in the car and drove around until I found you.” Avery’s eyes watered. “Hank stayed on the phone with me until I got there. He told me what you did for him and Buddy.”
Jonah let the straw slide from his lips when he was done. Avery pressed the back of his hand against Jonah’s cheek. He couldn’t resist leaning into his touch, soaking in his warmth. After a few moments, Jonah wrapped his hand around Avery’s wrist and pulled his hand away. “Avery, I think you should leave. Get as far away from me as you can.”
Avery sucked in a sharp breath and recoiled, almost dropping the water bottle. He set it down and fell into the seat beside Jonah’s bed. He looked dazed for all of three seconds before he straightened his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest. “The hell I will,” he said.
“It’s time for us to step out and give these gentlemen some privacy,” Marla whispered.
“But, Mom,” Royce whined, “we’re just getting to the good part of the show.”
“Out now, before I drag you out by your ear,” Marla said forcefully.
“Will there be spankings if we’re really naughty?” Royce asked.
Marla giggled. “You’re too eager. Come on, now,” she said, herding them all out the door.
Once alone, Jonah reached out and caressed Avery’s face. The firm press of lips and determined expression let Jonah know he was facing a losing battle. To be honest, his attempt was feeble at best. “You know that tattoo on my back?”
Avery nodded.
“It’s to honor my four friends who died in combat because of a horrible mistake I made. I can’t let this go until I solve what really happened to Earl Ison. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you because of me.”
Avery leaned into his touch. “Nothing will happen to me. You and your friends will see to it. I’m more worried about you. You could’ve died tonight.”
“If he wanted me dead, I’d be dead. It was a warning. One I will not heed.”
A promise made was a promise kept.
Jonah woke a few hours later and found Marla sleeping in the chair beside his bed. As if she sensed him stirring, Marla sat up straighter and reached for his hand.
“Where’s Avery?” he whispered hoarsely.
“I sent the little lamb home to get some rest.”
Figures Avery would listen to Marla. Everyone did. Jonah snorted, then winced when just that motion sent pain reverberating through his skull.
“How you feeling, baby?” she asked.
“Bad,” Jonah admitted. “Really fucking bad.”
Marla caressed his face with cool hands. “I’ll get a nurse for you.”
Jonah gently wrapped his hands around her wrist to stop her. “Go home to Amos. You can’t rest comfortably in these chairs. It’s not safe to be around me right now,” Jonah replied.
Marla gave him one of her patented, long-suffering sighs. “What is some big baddie going to do to me that cancer isn’t already doing?” Her response caught Jonah off guard, allowing her to continue arguing unopposed. “I’ll spend the rest of my fucking