Gauge, page 4
“Don’t.” She grabbed his wrist before he reached the center of his chest. He ignored the feel of her hand and looked at his body to examine his chest more closely.
“What happened to me?”
“Can you tell me what you remember about being at the garage, first?”
Panic coursed through him. Had something happened at the shop? Is that why the others weren’t here? He looked around the room, trying to answer his unspoken questions.
“Calm down,” Viola said softly as his heart monitor beeped like crazy. “You’re okay now.”
“Where’s everybody at?” She stroked his arm, and it would’ve shocked him if he wasn’t already freaking out. “Viola,” he said in warning.
“Nobody else got hurt. Some are helping with the investigation into the attack. Others are working their asses off at the garage.”
“Is everything okay?” the nurse asked, rushing in.
“Yeah,” Gauge said, willing his heart to slow. “Just talking about what happened.”
“You need your rest,” she admonished and checked the machines.
“How long have I been here?”
“Five days.”
Gauge gaped at her. “Holy shit.” He figured it’d been a couple of days at most. “How long has my sister been here?”
“She showed up the day after you had surgery.” Seemingly satisfied with whatever the machines displayed, she turned back to him and said, “Call me if you need anything. The doctor is making rounds now. He should be in shortly.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t know what to think about Viola being here several days as well. He had so many questions.
Viola watched the older lady leave the room before putting her focus on Gauge once again. “Do you remember anything about what happened at the garage?”
He remembered obsessing about Viola, but he sure as hell wasn’t about to tell her that. “Nothing out of the ordinary. We were working on some cars. Roc and Hunter were trying to be civil, which was funny as shit. The delivery we were expecting was running late.” He shrugged.
“That’s good.”
“Okay,” he said slowly. “So, what happened?”
She opened her mouth, closed it. Slowly, she said, “Someone came into the shop and shot you.”
He looked at his chest. No wonder he’d been hurting like a sonofabitch. “Who?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”
“So, you have no idea who did it?”
“No.”
“But no one else got shot?”
“No.”
“I feel like you’re not telling me everything.”
“Because I’m not. I’d rather see what you can remember on your own. If I tell you every detail—”
“Then I might create false memories. Yeah, I get it.” He’d once been an agent, too. He knew how easily eyewitness accounts could be altered by mere suggestions. He looked at her, then. Really looked. “Where are you staying?” he asked gently.
She blinked. “I came straight here. Melody gave me some scrubs to wear that first night, but then I went down to my rental and got my bag.” She pointed into the corner.
Her luggage was shut haphazardly with what looked like part of a shirt hanging out. If she had the bag with her, then she hadn’t checked into a hotel. His heart raced at the thought of her staying by his side while he recuperated.
“Are you okay?” she asked suddenly, looking at the monitor as his heartrate caused it to beep wildly again, but for a very different reason this time.
“Yeah. I’ll be glad when I’m not hooked up to that thing anymore.”
The door opened again, but this time, an older man walked in. “Mr. Osborne. It’s good to see you alert. I’m Dr. Cliffside.” He leaned over, looked into Gauge’s eyes, and felt around his neck. “How’s your chest?”
“I hear there’s a hole in it.”
The doctor snickered. “There was, but we took care of that.” He pulled out the laptop beside the station of medical machines and typed some notes as he continued to speak. “We’ll see how you do today. If your pain is managed at an acceptable level with prescription strength medication, then you can go home first thing in the morning.”
“Tonight,” Gauge said. He’d rather sleep in his own bed.
Viola frowned at him but didn’t argue.
The doctor nodded. “All right. Tonight. You’ll need to follow up with the surgeon in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, you’ll be given a course of antibiotics and some pain medication to keep you comfortable until then.” He looked at Gauge then. “But not too comfortable. It’s only medicine, not a miracle.”
“Seems I’ve already been given that.” Gauge lightly patted the bandage on his chest.
“Definitely.” He looked at Viola. “Are you in town long?”
“I’ll be here as long as I’m needed.”
“Good. When he’s discharged, he’ll need someone to stay with him to make sure he doesn’t try doing too much too soon. It usually takes a couple of weeks before someone gets around decently after an injury like this. No heavy lifting. Things like that.”
Gauge stared at her. If he didn’t know this woman as well as he once had, he might’ve missed the look of panic that briefly glanced across her face. “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of.”
“I don’t need anybody babying me,” he said at the same time.
The doctor chuckled. “I see stubbornness runs in the family.” He walked toward the door. “Let the nurse know if you need anything when she comes to take your IV out. When you’re ready for pain medication again, it’ll be given orally.”
Gauge muttered his understanding but didn’t look at the doctor. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from Viola. When she finally looked at him, he asked, “Why are you helping me? I haven’t said two sentences to you since…”
Her back stiffened when he trailed off. “Look, Gauge,” she said, sneering his nickname, “I’m only here doing my job.”
“Then why haven’t you left my hospital room?” He pointed an accusing finger at her luggage. “I mean, you can’t question an unconscious man. Try again.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Everybody is doing their part to keep you safe.” She grabbed her handbag from the floor without elaborating on that. “I’m going to get something to eat. Try not to get shot while I’m gone.”
She stormed out of the room, and he felt like the biggest fool. Here he’d been, dreaming about the woman he’d done wrong all those years ago, and when he’d woken up to her voice and saw her angelic face, he’d been almost comforted by her presence. Maybe it was because she was someone he knew and nothing more. It was obvious she still blamed him for what had happened between them and was only here because duty called. Not that he blamed her. She didn’t know any differently, and that was the way it was supposed to be. The last thing he’d wanted was to hurt her all over again.
The choice had been ripped from him.
As he drifted off to sleep, he remembered how happy he’d been the morning after making love to Viola. How excited he’d been to be with her. How careless he’d been leaving her dorm room.
If it had been an instructor catching him, maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. He could’ve taken the reprimand and pleaded with the board not to kick them out. Unfortunately, he’d stepped out of that door and into the only person in the world he couldn’t reason with.
Viola’s father.
Chapter Five
Viola didn’t remember the ride to Mayflower from Little Rock taking this long the last time she was here. Of course, sitting next to Gauge in this dark, confined space probably made it seem like the drive was going much slower than it actually was. At least he’d taken her phone and made some calls to his teammates, keeping her from actually having to carry on a conversation with the infuriating man.
After he’d called her out on being in his hospital room, she’d fled, only popping in on him as he slept. Why had his words made her feel awkward? Sure, they had a past, but it wasn’t as if they hadn’t worked together since then on official business. Even as the question drifted through her mind, she knew the answer.
They’d never gotten closure. The two of them had gone from coeds, to flirting, to a secret relationship, but when it had ended, she’d never gotten to scream and yell at him. The only dealings she’d had with him since had been in a professional capacity. Today, if she found out a man had used her to get into her panties, she’d at least kick him in the balls.
“Hold on a sec,” Gauge said, and she glanced at him, not sure if he was talking to her. He looked at the screen, frowned, and said, “Hey, Bear, let me call you back.” He ended the call and handed Viola the phone. “Jedrek’s calling.”
“I’ll call him back later,” she said, mimicking his nonchalant tone and dropping her cell onto the dash. No way was she going to have a conversation with a man who was interested in her right in front of Gauge.
As she took the Mayflower exit and followed the small country road to Gauge’s address, which she’d previously entered into her GPS, she felt his gaze on her, but she focused on the road.
He reached for the phone and winced, grabbing his side.
“I told you to take the medication the nurse offered.”
“Fuck that. I wanted out of that hospital. It’ll be easier to take the pills and relax in my own bed.”
She understood that. She’d been surprised the doctor released him so late in the day. It was already getting dark when he’d checked on him again, but Gauge had remained insistent.
She grabbed the phone and tossed it into his lap. “You can take a drink of my water if you want to take some meds now. We’re close enough to your house.” She’d rushed down to the pharmacy that was located in the hospital to get his medication while they’d waited on an orderly to round up a wheelchair. That had been another battle Viola hoped she’d never have to witness again.
“I’ll wait.”
So, he’d rather be in pain than put his mouth where hers had been. Got it.
She pulled into the driveway, the headlights illuminating a quaint house with a lightly manicured yard, trying not to feel rejected. It was silly. She freaking knew he didn’t want anything to do with her, but it didn’t stop her instinctive reactions to this man.
“Bear will be by shortly. I don’t want a cloudy head when we talk about the game plan, and he’s bringing food. I shouldn’t take the pain meds on an empty stomach,” he said gently as if he figured out she’d taken his previous words personally.
She felt her cheeks flush, but she ignored it. She needed to get a handle on her strong reactions to whatever he said. Rather than responding, she turned off the car and got out. She reached his door just as he opened it.
“I can get out of the car by myself.” He grabbed the side of the door and grunted as he tugged.
“Good grief, you’re still as hardheaded as ever,” she muttered, putting her arm around his back and helping him upright. He swayed on his feet, but her grip tightened, keeping him from crashing into the door. “I got you,” she breathed.
He stood still. When he didn’t take a step, she looked up at him. He stared at her, searching her eyes in the moonlight, but she couldn’t handle more than a couple seconds under his gaze. She looked forward and took a step, forcing him to move. His arm landed on her shoulder, and she kicked the door shut. She took slow steps so she wouldn’t hurt him anymore than could be avoided. To any outsider, they’d look like a couple, walking arm-and-arm, facing what awaited together, not two people ignoring what lay destroyed behind them.
Navigating the stairs was difficult. When Gauge grabbed the handrail, he winced.
“Just lean on me.”
“I don’t want to crush you.”
“I can take it.”
“And you called me hardheaded,” he said with a pained laugh. They reached the door and he leaned against the wall. “Extra key’s over there in the plant.”
After she made sure he wasn’t going to slide over, she darted over to the pot, moved the leaves around until she found the house key, and unlocked the door. She eased him inside and helped lower him onto the couch. “Don’t move,” she ordered before returning to the car to get her purse and his medicine. “Which way to the kitchen?”
He pointed down the hall, watching her warily, but she couldn’t focus on him. She needed to find something for him to snack on so he could take his medicine. He was hurting, so there was no reason he should suffer. She found some crackers and water and brought them into the living room.
“What are you doing?”
“Eat some of these, so you can take your medicine now.”
“I’ve got some ibuprofen in the closet over there. I’ll take that.”
She opened the bag from the pharmacy and took out two pills. “You literally just got out of the hospital.” She put them in front of him beside the water. “Eat some crackers first, so you don’t get sick. I’d imagine puking would hurt like hell.”
He glared at her, but she was not standing down. He could fight others later about this...when the pain wasn’t as raw. Eventually, he picked up the crackers and ate a few. Then he took his medicine. “Happy?” he asked as he ate more crackers.
“Tickled pink.”
A car pulled up, and she took out her weapon.
“That’ll be Bear.”
“It better be,” she muttered. She walked over to the window and peered out. When she saw the big bald man with the long beard walking up to the porch, she dropped her weapon and opened the door.
“Viola,” he said and gave her a one-armed hugged her, which surprised her since they didn’t know each other that well. The smell of the pizza he was carrying had her stomach growling, distracting her. “How’s the patient?”
“In pain and trying to refuse meds,” she said as she shut the door and locked it.
“I’m sitting right here,” Gauge called out.
Bear walked around Viola and dropped the pizza on the coffee table. “Take your damn meds.”
“I just did,” he said, glancing at Viola. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Good,” he said as he opened the box and handed a slice to Gauge. “You scared the shit outta us, man.”
“I wanna say sorry, but I feel like whatever happened, I’ve already received my penance.” He groaned as he took a bite.
Viola ignored her body’s immediate reaction to that sound of pleasure and walked into the kitchen to get plates, napkins, and a drink for Bear.
“You look better. Still like shit, but better.”
“Feel like it, too.”
“We’re doing our best to figure out who was behind it.”
“Any theories so far?”
“Don’t,” Viola warned.
Bear nodded at her. “Your drill sergeant over there doesn’t want anybody saying anything to you that might alter your memories, and she’s right, man. Several of us saw the shooter and provided descriptions.”
Gauge’s brow furrowed. “If y’all saw it happen, then why not tell me? I mean, what information do you expect me to provide that you don’t already know?”
Bear glanced at Viola before he said, “You were nearest to him. You might remember more specific details or words that were said.”
“Jeez, you’re not even using gender specific pronouns?” he asked around a mouthful of pizza. Then he looked at Viola. “Eat.”
Oh, she was going to. She just wanted to make sure Bear wasn’t going to say anything they’d agreed to keep quiet about. He’d agreed with her when she’d talked with the Bang Shift leader about her concerns, but that didn’t mean something might slip out. Satisfied with Bear’s response, she picked up a piece of pizza and sat on the end of the couch.
“What did the doctor say?” Bear asked.
“Take meds, rest. Got a checkup in a few weeks.”
“He also said he needed someone with him for a couple of weeks,” she added. “He gave me emergency contact numbers in case there are problems.”
Gauge sighed and looked at Bear. “They think she’s my sister. I’ll be fine, though. I don’t want anybody wasting time hovering around me.”
“Too bad. I can take the first shift. We’ll talk with the guys tomorrow and work out a schedule so someone will be with you at all times.”
Viola didn’t know if she liked that idea or not. She hadn’t really thought about the others jumping in and helping. Although, she shouldn’t be surprised by that. These guys seemed more like family than coworkers. They’d also be much stronger helping him walk around. He’d probably be way more comfortable with one of his buddies helping than with her. What Bear had said was completely logical.
Then why did she feel like she needed to be the one to watch over him?
“He’ll need someone with him overnight, but I can stay during the day,” Viola said slowly as if testing the words on her mouth before uttering them. “I wasn’t there when it happened, so it won’t be a problem for me letting something slip out accidentally.”
“That’s smart,” Bear said.
“I don’t need a babysitter.” Gauge’s irritation was palpable.
Bear rolled his eyes. “It’s a couple of weeks, man. Let it go.”
“Why don’t I just call Roxie and see if she’ll come stay with me then? She wasn’t there either.”
Viola tried to ignore the sudden flash of jealousy at the thought of another woman seeing to Gauge’s every need, but by the look on Bear’s face, he’d taken the suggestion way harder than she had.
“She’s a single mom. She stays out of this,” Bear said. Gauge opened his mouth as if he was going to protest, and Bear shook his head. “Xan is about twelve months pregnant, so Brody isn’t going to let her do shit. The only other person we can risk knowing about this, who wasn’t there that day is Caitlin, and I still don’t know how I feel about a reporter being connected to our group.”
“Axle trusts her,” Gauge said.
It was obvious Gauge was grasping for anybody else to be here, but Viola. She ignored the small ache that throbbed at that thought.
“Love is blind,” Bear said without emotion. Viola wondered what had hurt him so deeply, but it was none of her business. She had her own baggage to deal with. “Can you conduct your investigation from here?” he asked her.
