Page 51 of Not Your Romeo
“You don’t worry ‘bout nothing. I got him.” Cane reassured.
He hurried toward his own bike, calling out on the way, “Hey, Sauce. Wait up, fucker.”
I smiled and headed inside.
“Mr. Nash,” The nurse who’d stayed with us earlier, gestured for me. “The doctor said she could have ice chips. I know she was parched, and I gave her a spoonful just now. If she wants more, you can give her some if you’re so inclined, I just wanted you to be aware. Doctor says we’re awaiting imaging, then we’ll know if the next step is observation or emergency surgery. Either way, doctor expects the orbital area is fractured, if not crushed. That is technically a surgery, but it has to be done by a reconstructive surgeon, and they move at their own pace. So, if the word ‘emergency’ is used about the eye socket, they could be here by morning. Maybe lunch. You understand? If it is used in regard to brain imaging, she will be flown right away to St. Louis.”
I blinked, processing the very frank information dump that had just occurred.
“I– Yeah, I– I think I do.”
Officer Von raised her hand when she spotted me and started my way. She paused a few feet from the nurse and patiently waited until the woman ventured back behind the counter.
“Alright, I’ve received the records from the University. They list a home address of–,”
“Ten-twenty-four South Lawn Street.” I finished for her.
“Yes. Great. So, I have some concerns to be frank and with the account that your wife gave of making dinner, I think it would be best to go ahead and search the house. I know you probably will not cooperate or give consent; it’s not the nature of your organiz–”
“Shut the oven off,” I clipped.
“Mr. Nash?” She paused her speech and stared.
“I don’t give a fuck about you going in my house. You don’t need a warrant, just do me a solid and shut the oven off.” I slowly nodded hoping she’d see the bargain in this and save me a trip home.
I really didn’t want to leave Ro.
“You’re giving me consent to search your home address?”
I nodded with a bit more conviction. “Yes. If– you shut the oven off. Oh, and lock the door after you determine the place is secure, hm?”
“Uh– yeah.” She seemed flabbergasted for a moment.
Once she recovered herself, she enthusiastically shot out her hand for me to shake.
I didn’t have anything to hide in that house. It was my home, the place I’d raised my children. I was a Dirty Savage, not a dumb one.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Unexpected Allies
Cane
I was pretty fucking sure I had said,Sauce, wait up.
I was certain of it.
So, every time the speedometer on my bike topped another set of digits, I questioned myself all over again. There were a lot of men in this world who might dare to try me. I accepted that fact. Anyone who believed themselves badass or bulletproof was a fool.
I’d been in the joint, I’d also had a step-father; I knew I wasn’t the biggest, strongest, or hardest motherfucker in the valley. I accepted this, too, but you could trust and believe, there wasn’t a shadow of a doubt as to who the darkest, most thorough, of the Savages was.
Not in my mind, or anyone else’s.
So, maybe he wasn’t challenging me with his defiance, maybe he was running for his life?
We cleared a hundred and I laughed, unable to help it.
“Goddamn it!” I called into the wind, knowing there was no way he could hear me. “I ain’t gonna hurt you, Sauce. Just slow the fuck down!”
