ZEKE (10 page)

“Lulu.” Zeke’s expression lightens, and his eyes revitalize when he lets out a short chuckle.

“So,” Token grabs his beer and resumes his casual position against the bar, “I take it that you two know each other?” He tips back the bottle, inspecting Zeke.

“Yes.” I scowl at Token’s intrepid examination. “Rayna and Emmie went to school with him. Zeke and his brothers own this place.” I turn back to Zeke with a smile. “And he was kind enough to show me around the Bayou.” Zeke offers me a sexy little grin and my insides light up like the golf cart Rayna decked out. I twinkle to my toes recalling the orgasm he sent soaring through me last week. His eyelids lower, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he remembers it too.

“Well, then allow me to buy the lad a beer,” Token says, interrupting the connection between Zeke and me.

“Yeah,” Zeke turns to my brother, “another beer sounds good.” He walks over to the bar to join Token.

I follow behind apprehensive. Token is like Rayna, he doesn’t hold anything back. Says it like it is whether you want to hear it or not. And while I love Rayna for it, I’m fearful how Zeke might handle that brazen trait when it’s coming from my overbearing six-foot-two brother. Five beers and three shots later and still laughing and joking around like a couple of old friends, it appears that I have nothing to worry about; the two are getting along fine. I relax. Standing between them with an arm resting on Token’s huge shoulders, I’m fixated on Zeke. He’s a charm to be around—funny, smart, and gorgeous. With his messy hair, perfect, casual winks, and tatted body, he’s not someone I’d ever think that I’d be attracted to but when I look at him, I just can’t turn away. From the inside out, he grips me. He grabs ahold of my attention and hoards it. I loathe accepting it, but in his presence, I am his. I only hope he doesn’t know it. Oh, the power that’d give the man.

Zeke cheers my brother and then they shoot back yet another shot of Jameson. Zeke’s cell lights up and vibrates on the bar with an incoming call. He picks it up, swipes the screen, and places it to his ear. “Yeah.” He nods. “Yes, it is.” He pauses for a moment. His eyes dart around the room, and his jovial expression slackens. “What?” He plugs his other ear with his finger. “What hospital?” He nods again. “Yeah, okay. I’m on my way.”

I bend down and look into his polished red eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“A friend of mine is in the hospital,” he says and stands up. “Hey, Jax!”

Working behind the bar, Jax comes over to us. “What’s up?”

“I need your truck,” Zeke says as though Jax saying no is not an option.

“Sorry.” Jax tosses a rag over his shoulder. “Emmie’s got it.” He glances at me. “You ladies must have forgotten that golf carts run on gas.”

“Fuck.” Zeke pushes a shaking hand through his hair.

“Here.” Token reaches into his front jean pocket. “Take my wheels,” he throws his keys at me, “but you drive, this one’s had too many drinks.”

I catch the heavy keys. “What are you driving?” I squint at him. “Not your hog?”

“Come on, Lulu. You know how to ride a motorcycle.”

“She does?” Zeke turns to Token with dented brows, apparently briefly distracted by what my brother revealed.

“Oh yeah, she does.” Token laughs. “Don’t let the sweet little Miss School Teacher bit fool you. My sis here can change the oil in her car, she’s got a wicked curve ball, and when she’s pissed off, she swears like a fucking trucker.” He smiles. “But don’t worry, lad,” he sets a large hand on Zeke’s shoulder, “I drove the Ranger here. Take it as long as you need. I’ll be around until tomorrow night.” He looks at me. “Text me in the mornin’ and we’ll meet up, yeah?”

“Thanks, Token.” I lean in for a chaste kiss to his scruffy cheek.

“No problem, kid.” He nudges Zeke. “Hope everything turns out okay with your friend.”

“Thanks,” Zeke says, grabs my hand, and we start for the door.

It took forty-five minutes to get to the hospital and neither of us said a word during the long drive. I wanted to ask about his friend, and I wanted to ask why he hasn’t called me in the past week, but when we got in the Ranger and I turned to him, I saw the same expression on his face that I’d seen when I went alone to watch him fight at JZS. He transformed from the charismatic and playful Zeke into the hard and staid one. He pulled on the mask as though getting ready for whatever battle we were about to face with his friend at the hospital.

The glass doors to the hospital swoosh open, and we stop at the front desk. Zeke leans over the counter. “I’m here to see Adeline Sewell.”

“Let me see what room she’s in,” the elderly woman at the desk says with a smile before looking down at the keyboard. “Here she is.” She stops typing and looks up at Zeke, who’s impatiently tapping his hand on his thigh. “Room 256, take the elevator to the second floor and make a left.”

With no response, Zeke turns toward the elevator.

“Thank you.” I smile and run to catch up with him, wondering whom Adeline Sewell is and what she means to Zeke.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I’m worried about Addy. I get it. They can’t say anything over the phone about how the patient’s doing, but damn, I hate this feeling. Last time I felt this helpless was after the fire when Jax and I were at the hospital waiting to hear about how Slate was doing. The time before that was Gram’s heart attack. Then, there was Mom and Dad. I don’t like to think about that, though. Unless I’m in the ring and the other person knows it’s coming, I don’t like to see blood, and I can’t take it when anyone is in pain. I think that’s why I love to fight. Unlike with Slate, Grams, and my parents, when I’m in the cage, I’m in control.

The elevator dings and I grab Lurlene’s hand. It feels good, safe, and right. I’m glad she’s with me. We step out of the elevator and I pull her along as I search for Addy’s room.

“Hey,” I hear a guy’s voice call out behind me. “Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?”

I stop and look over my shoulder to find a dude in dark blue scrubs. “Yeah, I’m looking for Adeline Sewell’s room.”

The guy walks up to us. “Are you family?”

“No.” My hand tightens around Lurlene’s. “I’m Zeke Declan. You guys called me.”

“Oh.” The guy tilts his head back. “You’re Mrs. Sewell’s health care proxy, right?”

“Yeah.” I squeeze Lurlene’s hand, patience weaning.

“Good, the doctor wants to talk to you.”

“Is she, ah ...” I thumb back at the rooms. “Can I see her first?”

“She’s fine, just resting. I’m Sean, her nurse. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll have the doc meet you in the waiting area, and after you speak to him, we can see if she’s awake.”

“She’s,” I swallow hard, “she’s all right?”

“Yes, there’s nothing to worry about. She’s okay. Follow me,” he says, and I drag a quiet Lurlene along with me, thankful she’s not hammering me with questions. I couldn’t deal with that shit right now. I glance at her and her eyes find mine. Her thumb runs over my hand as a hesitant smile touches her pink lips.

A few minutes later in walks a middle-aged man in a white lab coat. “Mr. Declan,” he stretches a hand out to me, and I meet him for a quick shake. “I’m Dr. Sanford. Hello.” He smiles at Lurlene, releasing my hand. “Mrs. Sewell had a transient ischemic attack. It’s like a mini stroke. She has no residual side effects. Actually, she’s doing quite well. She’s a feisty woman,” he says with a cheeky smile. “The reason I called you was because she wants to go home and she’s threatened to sign out AMA, against medical advice. I don’t really want to see that happen. She tells me that she lives alone, and right now, she’s a little unsteady on her feet. So, it’s not safe for me to discharge her home alone. I’d need to keep her for another twenty-four to forty-eight hours. You understand?”

“Yeah.” I nod, dropping my tense shoulders and sighing with relief.

“Will you speak to her to see if maybe we can come up with some kind of plan?”

“I’ll talk to her,” I say, releasing and tightening my fingers around Lurlene’s hand. “Can I see her now?”

“Sure, I’ll show you to her room, and we can chat after you meet with her.”

“Sounds good.” I nod and follow the doctor down the hall. He points to a room before heading back to the nurse’s station. I keep a good grip on Lurlene as we walk into the room. The lights are dim, but I can make out the outline of Addy’s small, frail body.

“Addy,” I quietly say.

“Oh, shit,” she says, clicking on the lights above her bed. “They called you, didn’t they?” She tries to sit up, falling back with a sigh. “I told them not to do that!” She pulls the sheet up, then pats it, keeping busy and making sure not to make eye contact.

Trying not to laugh, I ask, “Where’s Julia?”

“That poor woman.” She waves her hand in the air still fussing with the sheet. “I gave her a couple of days off to go visit her family. She’s coming back in the morning. I told the damn doctor that, but he wouldn’t release me and−” She pauses when she looks up and her eyes land on Lurlene. “Who are you?”

“I’m Lurlene,” Lurlene says with a smile.

“She’s a friend,” I say, taking a few steps closer to the eighty-two-year-old, wrinkled spitfire wreaking all kinds of havoc on the second floor of St. Francis Hospital.

“A friend you haven’t mentioned.” Addy’s eyebrow rises, and Lurlene glances over at me with the same sharp expression.

“He hasn’t mentioned you, either.” Lurlene turns to Addy with a small smile. “So how do you two know each other?”

“She’s,” I press my lips together as they both wait for my response, “a friend.”

“I’m sorry they called you,” Addy says, her eyes softening, and I know I’m going to say something I might regret, but hell, I can’t leave her here.

“Do you want to go home?”

“Yes, but the doctor won’t let me go home alone, and as I said, Julia won’t be home until−”

I glance over at Lurlene. “You busy for the next say twelve or so hours?”

“Nope.” Lurlene smiles at Addy again, and I swear the girl snatches a piece of my heart every time she does it.

“Okay. I’ll let the doctor know that we’ll be staying with you until your caregiver comes home tomorrow.”

“Zeke, you don’t−”

“I know.” I wink at the old bitty and then head out to the nurse’s station to chat with the doctor. An hour later, I carry the uncooperative patient into her home, a place I’ve visited every Saturday for the past ten or so years.

“Put me down. I can walk,” Addy spats as we come through the front door.

“Doc says you’re unsteady on your feet.” I chuckle. The doc pegged her. Addy is one feisty woman. “I’ll take you to your room, and you can get some rest. We’ll see how you’re doing in the morning. Maybe those legs will start to work again.”

“They work fine now!”

I laugh, carrying her up the stairs. “Don’t give me a hard time, Addy. I’ve had a few drinks and I’m exhausted.”

“You’ve been drinking, and now, you’re carrying me up the stairs!”

“Don’t worry, you’re safe.” I lower her onto the bed. “You scared all the alcohol out of me, woman.”

“Oh.” The fire in her eyes dims. “I’m sorry.” She palms my cheek.

I place my hand over hers. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re okay.” I stand up, gently pulling her hand away. “Now, what can I get you? Some water? Something to eat?”

“I,” she tries to sit up on the edge of the bed, “I need to use the bathroom.”

“I’ll help you,” Lurlene intervenes.

“I need that.” Addy points at her walker.

Lurlene grabs the walker and places it in front of Addy. “Okay. Do you need me to help you or do you want me to stay close just in case.”

“Just stay close. Zeke,” Addy looks up at me, “I could use some tea.”

“Sure thing,” I say getting the hint. I leave the ladies alone and go to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, the teakettle whistles. I flick off the stove and pour the water into the mug.

Lurlene enters the kitchen, leans against the counter, and crosses her arms over her chest. “She did good, made it to the bathroom without any of my help. She’s back in bed now.”

“Thanks,” I say, working the tea bag with a spoon.

“Who is she, Zeke?”

“I told you.” I stir the tea, keeping my eyes lowered. “She’s a friend.”

“A friend,” she says, and I hear it in her tone; she’s full of questions, ones that I’m not prepared to answer. “She’s a friend, like me?”

I lower the spoon on the counter, turn, and slide my hand around her nape. I pull her to me, her eyes still delving deeply into my fucked-up soul. “I don’t want to do this right now, okay?”

“Yeah.” Her head tilts back, and she blinks twice. “Okay,” she whispers and her warm breath caresses my lips.

The cascade of air releasing her body and touching mine draws my mouth down to hers. Wrapping my arm around her slender waist, I pull her closer to me and deepen the kiss. I’ve never needed anyone. But tonight, I needed her, and she was there for me. I’m not sure how I feel about all that. It feels good, safe, and right to hold her in my arms. Even her kiss feels different, not like any other. I want to keep her inside my arms and never let her go. And I always want to let them go. Not Lurlene. She’s the adversary to my rules. She’s here to corrupt my strength, to challenge my control, and to steal my heart. I get that and I’m crashing. I’m defenseless against her.