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.”
“If she were Riley, you bet your ass—”
“Well, she’s not.” She turned her head to the side and pinned him with her eyes,