Cowboy Gangster 03 - Outlaws of Love (14 page)

Tendrils of sleep slithered around his mind, coaxing him under. Outside the fog, he sensed the presence of a person closer to his bed. Fingertips touched his face, dragged lightly through his hair.

“I know you love him…” Cory whispered, his words beginning to slur with the onset of slumber. “Don’t walk away from the best thing that’s ever happened to you.” He released a deep breath as he sank deeper into the soothing, relaxing darkness. “I just want…” His thought swirled and faded then focused momentarily. “I just want you…to be happy…”

Lips touched his ear in a soft, affectionate kiss. “Thank you.” The whispered voice seemed to come from far away, barely audible.

Cory’s face twitched. “Uncle Clint…” he mumbled. “When did you start…” His words disintegrated, drifting away to nothing as he succumbed to sleep.

♦

The night hair had a bite to it and nipped Clint’s face as he emerged from the ER waiting room and headed across the parking lot. He tugged his jacket around him, though it did little to combat the cold when the chill came from within. He climbed in the car and shut the door but didn’t drive away. Instead, he burrowed deeper into his jacket and slouched in the driver seat, his eyes on the large windows that looked into the waiting room.

If the shooter had wanted Cory dead, Clint was pretty sure he would have completed the job the first time around. But fuck if he was going to take chances with Cory’s life. He was rarely in the dark about his adversaries, usually knew more about them than they could begin to imagine. But this one…Clint hadn’t a fucking clue. And that didn’t set well with him at all, and left him on the edge, anxious and alert. He didn’t like being away from Cory, even just the short distance to the motel.

He stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets, his eyes absently following the movement of a doctor in a white lab coat as he entered the waiting room from the ER, grabbed a small cup of water from the dispenser, downed the drink, then crushed the paper cup and dropped it in the trash.

The man went out of focus as Clint’s mind drifted. Cory’s words lingered heavy on his heart, but he couldn’t view it in as simple terms as Cory. The boy believed whole-heartedly in following one’s heart. But the heart didn’t always think rationally, didn’t always consider the consequences. Breaking Axel’s heart was better than getting him killed. Hearts healed. But no one came back from the dead.

Clint tucked his face down into the collar of his jacket and closed his eyes. He didn’t worry about falling asleep. There was a strong possibility he would never sleep again. That was fine by him. No sleep meant no dreams…or nightmares. Awake, he could consciously hold at bay Axel’s memory –as well as demons from much further back.

‘You’re gonna get caught…and they’ll lock you up in a crazy house…where you belong.’

Maybe that
was
where he belonged. Who the fuck could do the things he did to other human beings –and not be out of their fucking mind?

A sudden rap on his window made him jump and grab instinctively for his weapon. He quickly aborted the action when he saw the doctor from the waiting room outside his window. The parking lot was dark and the man’s bright white lab coat gave off an iridescent illusion that made Clint think of angels. In their own way, maybe doctors were angels.

Clint rolled his window half way down.

“Are you okay, sir?” the doctor asked. From what Clint could see, the man appeared to be in his late forties, though still quite fit. Or that could have been a trick of the darkness. His voice was pleasantly deep and masculine, his question posed in a low tone that added a rugged edge.

“Yeah,” Clint nodded. “Just waiting to get in and visit a friend.”

“Visiting hours aren’t till morning,” the doc informed in that same low tone. A soft breeze wafted around the doctor and through the driver window, carrying with it a light scent of the man’s musk cologne.
Stetson
, Clint was sure of it –it was his least favorite cologne.

“I’ll wait,” Clint muttered and rubbed his nose.

The man nodded. “All right.” He backed away and tossed Clint a small wave. “Have a good night.”

Clint returned a single, clipped nod and rolled up his window.

The next rap on the driver door window pulled him from the shallow slumber he’d managed to slip into, and he opened his eyes to a blinding glare of sunlight in his face. He squinted and dragged down the visor then shifted and scooted up in the seat. Anthony stood outside the car with Angelo and Cochise.

Clearing his throat, Clint rubbed his hand down his face and opened the door.

“You were here all night?” Anthony inquired.

“Yeah,” Clint rasped and stepped out. He stretched the kinks from his body and slipped off his jacket as the heat of the sun quickly warmed him, then tossed the jacket back inside the car and closed the door.

“It probably isn’t necessary to stake out the hospital,” Anthony said, though warm gratitude filled his eyes.

Clint shrugged. “Better safe than sorry,” he mumbled.

When they entered Cory’s room, the boy was looking a little better and certainly more alert than yesterday, though his greeting smile failed to reach his eyes. It wounded Clint deeply to think that Shay’s loss may have permanently damaged Cory’s heart. Would he heal from this pain and eventually regain his cocky, light-hearted personality? If not…then to some degree they had lost Cory along with Shay.

Following Cory’s call to Axel two days ago, Clint hadn’t spent any real “alone time” with Cory. He didn’t want the details of Axel’s condition –the memory of their breakup hurt enough on its own.

“Thanks, Uncle Clint,” Cory said quietly.

Clint ventured closer to the bed. “For what?”

“For staying with me last night.” He smiled warmly. “Watching over me like you always do.”

His eyes narrowing uncertainly, Clint asked, “You knew I was here?”

“I know I was kind of groggy from the pain meds,” Cory said. “But I was awake enough to remember.” He reached for Clint’s hand and though Clint wasn’t big on public display of affection, he accepted Cory’s grasp. The boy’s voice lowered a bit, his words meant for Clint directly. “I meant what I said last night. I hope that your
Thank You
means you agree.” He looked at Clint intently. “Does it?”

Clint frowned. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Cory.”

The others looked at Clint.

“What do you mean?” Cory asked.

Clint’s frown deepened and he glanced at the other men then Cory. “I wasn’t in your room last night. I was here at the hospital, but it wasn’t visiting hours.”

“But I saw you…” Cory’s brow pinched and his fingers drifted to his cheek. “You touched my face…stroked my hair and…and then leaned down and kissed my ear and said
thank you
.”

Anthony, Angelo and Cochise stood stone still, staring at Clint and Cory.

“Cory, I
wasn’t
in here last night.” He swallowed hard, his heart beginning to pound. “But there was
someone
here?”

Releasing a hard breath, Cory sank into his pillow, uncertainty straining his face. “Maybe…Maybe I was dreaming. I was pretty drugged up with pain killers, and so tired I could barely form a coherent thought.” He shook his head slowly and glanced around the small group of men. “I could have imagined it. I mean…who else could it have been? And if it wasn’t you…why would he kiss me and say thank you? Thank you for what?”

Clint’s gut twisted into excruciating knots. If there had really been someone here –they just fucking
walked right in?

Alarm resonated in Anthony’s eyes. “Did it feel like a dream, Cory?”

“No,” he murmured. “But…it could have been. I was pretty out of it.”

“So you didn’t
see
the guy?” Angelo posed.

“It was dark,” Cory told him. “Just a small light on, but not enough to light up the room.”

Anthony looked at Clint, his face tight. “Do you remember anything else, son?”

Cory frowned. “When he leaned down, I…I smelled cologne. But not the kind Uncle Clint wears. I think I started to ask when he’d changed brands, but I must’ve fallen asleep ‘cause I don’t remember anything after that.”

“Cologne?” Clint’s lips tightened. “I spoke to a doctor in the parking lot last night who was wearing Stetson cologne.”

“Well…” Angelo spoke up. “Maybe Cory’s dream just got mingled up with his doctor stepping in to check on him.”

Clint shook his head slowly. “This wasn’t Cory’s doctor.”

“They have on-call doctors during the night shift,” Anthony said. “Who check on the patients.” He walked to the door. “I’ll talk to one of the nurses, find out which doctors were making the rounds last night.” He looked at Clint. “Can you describe the man you spoke with?”

Clint sighed. “It was dark outside, but he appeared to be in his late forties, maybe. Short hair. It looked dark, but I couldn’t say for a fact. Most of his face was in shadow but I don’t think he had any facial hair. His voice was kind of deep, a little rough. And he was wearing a white lab coat.”

“Would you know him if you saw him again?”

Clint shrugged. “I think I would know his voice, at the very least.”

Anthony nodded and stepped out of the room.

“So what are you thinking?” Cochise asked low, eyes narrowed. “That the guy here last night might be with the fucker who fired on Shay and Cory?”

“I don’t know,” Clint whispered as every muscle in his body began to lock with tension –a tension that reached out and infected everyone in the room.

Barely fifteen minutes passed before Anthony returned and anxiety in his face predicted bad news.

“The on-call doctor last night was Dr. Humbry. Late thirties, white blond hair, kind of short with a very smooth voice that makes him sound much younger than he is, according to the nurse.”

Clint shook his head. “No way,” he muttered. “That was not the man I spoke with.”

“Also…” Anthony looked at them. “The doctors and nurses aren’t allowed to wear cologne or perfume, as some patients are allergic.” Anthony’s face turned to stone, his eyes as hard. “Whoever this motherfucker is –he’s got some huge cajones, walking right in here.”

Cochise raised an eyebrow. “Then I think it’s time he was castrated.”

“But…” Cory spoke up. “Why would he say
thank you
to me?”

“You thought you were talking to Clint,” Anthony said. “What did you say to him?”

Cory’s gaze shifted and he met Clint’s stare –and the look in the boy’s eyes nailed Clint’s heart with fear and dread.
Oh fuck, Cory…tell me that you didn’t mention Axel.

♦

Axel followed Angel and Dane into Max’s house. The instant sense of “home” engulfed him and within seconds he knew this was a good place, where one could be happy and feel safe. And upon meeting Max and Horatio, that feeling set in deeper. These men were Maddy and Angel’s new fathers? Their faces lit up with natural joy and love when they greeted Angel and Dane. Was it like this every time they visited? Axel thought of his own dad and tried to imagine the man being so happy to see
him
. It was an impossible task. The only thing about Axel that would have made his dad happy –was if he’d never been born.

“Axel.” Max shook his hand, then Horatio. “It’s good to finally meet you. The boys have told us many good things.”

About me?
Axel nearly blurted out but caught himself. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, too,” Axel said quietly. “Both of you.”

Max chuckled. “Well, they’re good boys. And good boys say good things.”

“You should’ve seen Angel the other night,” Dane snorted. “You wouldn’t think he was so good then.”

Angel scowled and elbowed him. “That was
you
. And just for the record –I was damn good.”

“Fuck,” Dane laughed and hugged him. “Can’t argue there.”

Max clapped Axel lightly on the shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. “I pity you for having to bunk with those two.”

“Hey,” Angel grinned. “We’re great hosts.” He looked at Axel. “Aren’t we?”

“Yeah,” Axel laughed softly. “The best.”

Angel looked around. “So where’s Jonah?”

“Out back,” Horatio said. “With Maddy and Savannah.”

“Savannah’s here?” Angel smiled. He touched Axel’s arm. “Come on, you’ll love her. She’s cool.” He smirked. “And totally has Maddy wrapped around her little finger.”

“Kind of like Angel with me,” Dane smiled wryly. “Except it ain’t his little finger I’m wrapped around. Ain’t nothing
little
about it, in fact.”

Rolling his eyes, Angel groaned and tugged Axel toward the hall as Max and Horatio just chuckled and shook their heads.

“What?” Dane called after them. “That was a
compliment
, baby.”