Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,45
a stretch. I’m sure he’ll be sore and have one hell of a headache the next couple of days, but he’s good. Charlie’s with him.”
Jake scoffed. “You know she’ll keep him in check.”
Charlie, or Charlotte, was Derek’s wife. She was a super-sweet woman with a heart of gold. She was probably the only person other than Jake who could actually make the dumbass follow doctor’s orders.
Another thought hit. One that had Mike reaching for Olivia’s arm. “Wait.”
She turned to face him. “What?”
“You didn’t...” His anxiety roared to life as his gaze bounced between his sister and Jake. “Shit, you didn’t tell her my real name, did you?”
“No. I saw Derek first, and he gave me a heads up.”
“So, she thinks your...” Mike let his voice trail off.
“Jake’s wife. Which, I am. But if that woman means to you what I think she does, you need to tell her before she finds out some other way.”
“I know. I plan to.”
“Michael James Bradshaw, I mean it.” The feisty woman put her hands on her hips. “In case you haven’t noticed, Juliet really cares about you. And you and I both know how fast a secret can destroy a relationship. Especially something like the one you’re keeping from her.”
“I said I know.” He scowled. “In case you haven’t noticed, Jules and I have been a tad bit busy since we reconnected.”
Jake coughed loudly, and his wife and Mike both rolled their eyes at the obviously inappropriate move.
“Seriously, dude?”
“What?” The man shrugged. “Just trying to lighten the mood, brother.”
Ignoring his immature friend, Mike turned back to Olivia. “Since when do you use middle names, anyway?”
“Why? Did that scare you?”
He gave her a hesitant nod. “Little bit, yeah.”
Smiling proudly, Olivia linked her arm with his and the three began walking again. “Good.”
“Explain something else to me, Sis. First you’re all ‘are you sure you want to be with a mob boss’s daughter’, and then you’re razzing me for being dishonest with her. What gives?”
“That was just a test.”
“A test?”
“To see if you felt the same way she did. I figured if you jumped to her defense, which you did, that meant you cared about her, too.”
“Motherhood isn’t just full of wonders.” Mike nudged his sister playfully. “It’s taught you to be downright ruthless.”
His comment made her smile even wider. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
After what felt like the longest walk in the history of the world, they finally reached the exam room where Juliet was being treated. The doctor was walking out just as they were about to enter.
“Oh!” The woman stopped just short of bumping into Olivia. “I was just coming to get you. The patient’s all set.”
“All set?” Mike frowned. “What’s that mean?”
“You’ll have to excuse my brother, Dr. Greer. He’s a little on edge this evening.”
“It’s understandable.” Offering her hand, the pretty brunette woman with green eyes smiled up at him. “Sophie Greer. You must be Mike. I’ve heard a lot about you from Olivia.”
“All lies.” He forced out the joke to avoid biting the nice doctor’s head off. “What did you mean when you said Juliet was all set?”
“She’s been discharged. You can take her home whenever you’re ready. Just make sure to keep the area clean and apply the antibacterial ointment I gave her as directed. ”
“What area? Ointment?” Mike looked to his sister for answers. “You told me she was fine.”
“She is.” Olivia put a hand to his arm. “She got a minor burn on the back of her right shoulder. That’s all.”
“She got burned?”
“A minor burn. Barely a second degree.”
“Your sister’s correct,” Dr. Greer assured him. “It’s a small wound that should heal in no time.”
He released a breath slowly and tried to calm his racing heart. “Okay, thanks.” With his need to set eyes on her for himself growing with each second that passed, he looked to Jake and Olivia. “I’ll find you before we leave.”
His sister nodded. “Take your time. We’ll be in Derek’s room, right next door. Oh and I have Juliet’s cat. I told her we could take her to the cabin and watch her until this whole mess blows over.”
“Lydia?” Mike ran a hand through his hair. “Damn. I’d completely forgotten about her. She made it out of the house, huh?”
“Apparently, she was already kenneled up, and Juliet grabbed her on the way out.”
Good deal.
Jules loved that crazy cat, and—not that he’d ever admit it—Lydia was starting to grow on him, too. If Juliet lost her, on top of everything else, an