don’t commit an outright lie. I have too much integrity for that kind of shit, but I’m not against omitting one or two things.
Speed jumps in, “Yeah, just kind of lost you for a bit. Ariel saw an opportunity. We took it.” He backs up Ariel’s version of the truth while I rock back on my heels.
“I see.” CJ looks between us but doesn’t say a word.
Our medical team joins us.
Doc Summers takes one look at me and gives a disappointed shake of her head. Her fierce gaze takes me in. “You’re bleeding.”
“No, I’m not.” My brows draw together. Sure, my leg hurts, but…
“Griff,” she points to my leg, “get in the plane and let me take a look at that. Looks like you pulled a stitch…or two.”
“I didn’t…” But wetness greets my fingers as I touch the back of my thigh. It’s hard to see the blood in predawn twilight, but the doc’s right.
“Get in the jet.” She shakes her head and takes Moira’s hands in hers. “You too, Moira. Both of you, get in the jet.” She glances at Forest, and they exchange another one of their secretive looks.
Whatever it is they say, he responds with a flick of his eyes. Or maybe, it’s Forest’s version of an eye roll. All I know is I’m in deep shit.
Doc Summers leads Moira to a waiting jet. It’s not the one we flew in on, but rather one specifically outfitted with a mobile medical unit. I march along behind Moira, feeling like I got away with something, and notice for the first time how much my leg hurts.
Fourteen
Moira
He’s bleeding?
I follow Skye’s gaze, and sure enough, a glistening wet sheen coats the back of Four’s pants. I want to go to him, hover over him, and check out the damage, but I can’t.
I’m still overly pissed at him about that lackluster, non-responsive kiss. The man has boundaries. I get it, but still? Come on, rescuing me should’ve stirred something in that stoic Guardian shell of his. I know he cares about me. Why the hell won’t he take that final step and—I don’t know—reciprocate? Is that too much to ask?
But what do I expect? Let’s be honest here. He’s a man. After all is said and done, all men are stupid. I’ll just have to keep pressing him.
Skye ushers us to the plane. I stomp in front of Four and do my best to ignore his hovering overprotectiveness. All the while, I want to know why he’s bleeding.
But I’m too damn proud to ask. Too damn angry to show him that I care.
Before I can second guess my decision to ignore him, Skye’s team separates us. I’m taken to the back of the plane, beyond the in-flight surgical suite set up at the front of the airplane, where a man I don’t know smiles down at me. Like Four, he towers over me. Unlike Four, his eyes are warm, welcoming, and genuinely concerned.
“Hi, I’m Ryker.” His megawatt smile nearly blinds me. Ryker is a looker, the perfect blend between rough and rugged and movie star gorgeous. His face should be on a movie poster. What the hell is he doing working for Guardian HRS?
“Moira.” My flat response makes his left eyebrow curve upward. The other one stays put.
I’ve never been able to do that. Even after many hours standing in front of a mirror practicing, I still can’t isolate just the one brow and make it arch like that. I’ve always thought that kind of thing was cool, like really sophisticated or mysterious.
Alas, I’m not in that cool-kid club. I belong to a whole other kind of club, and there’s nothing cool about it.
“We’re going to do a quick exam.” Is it possible for Ryker to turn off that magnetic grin? I don’t suppose it is.
“Are you a doctor?” I can’t help but challenge him. I’m still kind of reeling from killing Bossman, hiding out in the stacks of containers, and Four swooping down out of the sky to rescue me.
Like seriously, that kind of shit belongs in movies.
“No.” His lips curve into a broader smile, as if that’s possible.
“A m-urse?”
“A m-urse?” He holds his expression, but I have a feeling he’s laughing at me on the inside.
“You know, male nurse?”
“I know what a m-urse is, but it’s kind of derogatory, and no, I’m not a m-urse, although there’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Didn’t mean to be derogatory and never said there was anything wrong with it. Most of Forest’s team are