tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90181988921162845472024-03-15T18:11:35.069-07:00Bellann SummerBellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.comBlogger1226125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-84672301220067890462023-07-18T06:08:00.001-07:002023-07-18T06:08:27.170-07:00<p> Part two of my short story is out on ManLove Fantasies blog. </p><p>Small note. I just wrote a whole lot of words aimed at someone who criticized my short story. I then erased them. I am the one who put my imagination out to the public. (and this hurts to say) They have the right to their opinion. </p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-43581175806805146122023-07-17T06:47:00.002-07:002023-07-17T06:47:56.422-07:00<p> Part one of my short story is on ManLove Fantasies. I hope you enjoy it. <a href="http://manlovefantasies.blogspot.com/?zx=df0e8a1fa994dd83">http://manlovefantasies.blogspot.com/?zx=df0e8a1fa994dd83</a></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-32197279655039455292023-07-03T06:03:00.000-07:002023-07-03T06:03:10.764-07:00<p> Happy July!</p><p>I have submitted a short story to ManLove Fantasies which started July 1st. According to the schedule, my story will come out July 5th. I will keep you posted. The ManLove button is to the right of this post. Stormy Glenn has a multi day excerpts of her book, Hot Mess, up right now. Enjoy.</p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-91535706821220668142022-12-29T06:37:00.000-08:002022-12-29T06:37:13.191-08:00<p>Ice and Timmy - Granite County - has been whispering in my ear. I'm going to keep writing what they're saying until they stop. (uneditied)</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“And don’t come
back!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The owner hadn’t appreciated Timmy lurking about in
the doorway of his house and chased him away. The situation could have been
worse if </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> had found him. Timmy’s intuition screamed that </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> was near.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Avoiding the glow from the streetlights, Timmy
sprinted down the sidewalk and crossed the deserted street. To avoid </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">, Timmy’s only
chance was to move fast enough to keep his freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Timmy spun to the right, thinking the tall brick
buildings of the old industrial section of town a good place to fade into the
interior of the city. A place where people slept in boxes and were invisible to
the public while living in plain sight. Maybe not invisible but considered less
human and not worth more than a sniff of disapproval.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Pitch black bled out in front of Timmy and he hit a
wall. The blow tore his breath away, stars burst in front of his eyes, and he
sailed back onto the unyielding concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Timmy curled up into a ball of misery, bracing
himself for the agony to come. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The roar of an engine and tires scraping against asphalt grew loader until they stopped behind him. A door
opened. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh shit, Timmy.” Dom’s blessed voice brought Timmy
to tears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He blinked to clear his eyes and looked up. A
figure stood before him, black blending in with the shadowed streets. A hood
covering the person’s face. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Timmy scrambled backwards, ignoring the grit tearing up his palms, until he was pressed against someone’s legs and their
hands rested on his shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Who are you?” Domonic demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Dom’s presence gave Timmy hope. Maybe </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> would go away.
Yeah, and moose could learn to fly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Another set of legs appeared next to Timmy. He
looked up to find Bishop Clark standing next to Dom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Welcome to Granite City, Mr. Ice.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bishop stated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The man reached up and pushed back the hood of his
sweatshirt. Silver eyes reflected in the light from the truck’s open door. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Timmy froze.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Ice nodded,
acknowledging Mr. Saint’s statement while watching the cowering man before him.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The man’s fear
grated on his nerves, inciting a reaction to find the person who terrorized
him. A taste, Ice’s style, would show the perp the error of his ways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The man tempted Ice
to touch his smooth, caramel colored skin, trace the outline of his wide nose,
and bring a sparkle to the man’s dark, dark eyes. Was his straight black hair,
that reached his shoulders, as soft as it looked? Ice wanted to find out which
part of the Northern reaches of the continent bespoke the man’s ethnic
appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Their gazes met and
locked. Ice let the moment happen as it was destined by fate. He had learned
long ago that fighting what was supposed to be, a folly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">If he had it in him
to feel mercy or empathy, he would have let the moment pass. He would have let
the man go on with his life, free of his presence. But there were reasons he
was called Ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Destiny had spoken, and
for the first time he wanted more than a brief fuck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The bottom line. The
little guy intrigued him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-59341153165857591312022-10-29T08:45:00.002-07:002022-10-29T08:45:16.835-07:00<p> Unedited</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Treble stared down at his daughter. He knew his baby girl’s
stance echoed his own, arms crossed and tapping one toe. Except her bottom lip stuck
out in mutiny. The ten-year-old also clutched a toy bow and soft fluffy plastic
arrow bolts in one hand.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Any lasting damage?” Treble asked. Damian tended to get a
bit hyper when he had to calm some parent’s asses down after Wendy pointed out
that their precious kid needed an attitude adjustment. For some reason, Damian
wouldn’t let Treble near the usually bitching whiners. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wendy’s gaze dropped down and she became interested in
studying her shoes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Maybe a few bruises,” she mumbled.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Treble nodded toward the pile of soft squishy balls and the
toy gun lying beside them. “Capital punishment is a stiff penalty.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wendy’s gaze narrowed as she turned and glared at her
quarry. “He deserves it.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Treble studied the gagged preadolescent tied to the only tree
in the small clearing. He decided the kid had to be at least two years older
than Wendy. At least she hadn’t humiliated some stupid sixteen-year-old this
time. He hated when the older ones cried like a baby.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“How long has he been there?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He needed to know how long before Damian’s radar pinged, and
Treble had to send the kid on his way. The man seemed to sense when their
daughter became bored with her play and her edgier mercenary tendencies rose
into action. Unlike Treble, Damian wanted to keep the peace with other parents.
Treble thought those ideas were a waste of time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wendy kicked at a small rock and mumbled, “Maybe a couple of
hours.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What did he do?” Treble found it best to learn all the
details of Wendy’s side of the story before all hell broke loose. For some
reason, Damian thought Treble might influence their daughter toward rougher
activities. Treble did admit to relief when Wendy decided wearing frilly
dresses sucked when going down the slide. Besides, she looked good in black and
camo.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Flags of red painted Wendy’s cheeks. “He’s being mean to
Patty Pittsville.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Patty Pittsville?” Holy shit. Talk about abuse.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wendy shrugged. “Not everyone can have a cool Dad and Papa.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You have to let him go.” Treble would catch up with him
later and explain the error of his ways.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Daaad.” Wendy jerked one arm toward the perpetrator. “He
calls Patty fat and makes everyone laugh at her. This morning he threw her backpack
into the river.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Treble glanced at Wendy’s thick braid that reach her waist
and tried to keep her corkscrew curls secured. Yep, there were a few pieces of green
algae clinging to the dark strands of hair. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let him go,” he told
his sweet, brave, daughter. Treble’s gaze held the boy’s gaze. “I think he’s
learned his lesson.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or he would after Treble had a talk with him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wendy turned, walked toward her quarry, feet dragging, and
mumbled, “You take the fun out of everything.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Damian left his spot in the woods and rested his hand on
Trebles shoulder. Treble glanced up, noting the raised eyebrow. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“You should have stopped her from jumping into the river,”
Damian stated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Treble thought he should point out, “She had it handled.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The kid is six inches taller and a lot older.” Damian’s brows
lowered into a frown. “You not only let her tie him up and drag him here, you should
have intervened sooner than a couple of hours.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Treble shrugged on shoulder. “What fun would that have been.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“What am I going to do with you two?” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Love us.” To Treble’s way of thinking, that was a pretty
easy answer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Always.” Damian dropped kiss on Treble’s lips and slung an
arm around his shoulders. “Now let’s go see how many ruffled feathers we’re
going to have to calm.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Patty’s backpack is
in the garage,” Treble ran his hand over his husband’s tight ass. “If the kid
doesn’t agree to working off his shitty attitude, we’ll tell his parents what
is going on and they can replace the backpack and school tablet inside.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The corner of Damian’s mouth twitched. “So, you’ve decided
to rehabilitate another problem stray?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“He has potential,” Treble argued. “He didn’t piss his pants
in all the time Wendy whispered sweet nothings in his ear.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Heaven help us when she reaches her teenage years,” Damian
commented.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Treble would have smiled but Damian might get the idea that
Treble couldn’t wait to torture all the boys who looked twice at his sweet
little girl. <o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-65949988629524643132021-12-31T07:08:00.001-08:002021-12-31T07:08:59.490-08:00New Year's Eve<p> I want to thank everyone for their patience. I have tried to be upbeat about my writing but fear I've given you all false hope of me releasing a new story anytime soon. </p><p>The world of writing is vast and yet very small. For this reason I've tried to keep quiet and let the chaos behind the scenes play out. </p><p>2022 is a new year of potential ends and beginnings. I look forward to making some decisions that you, my readers, and I can live with. Please don't jump to any conclusions. We will have our answers in the next few months. </p><p>I want to wish you a wonderful Happy New Year. May your happenings be joyful and everything you've dreamed. I love and appreciate every one of you.</p><p>Bellann</p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-65858651985873927802021-11-18T07:18:00.003-08:002021-11-18T07:19:14.710-08:00<p> It has come to my attention that pirates do their dirty work by scanning blogs. I won't go into detail and give anyone ideas.</p><p>This is why I have hesitated to post my next chapter. </p><p>After much consideration, I will post the chapter in the next couple of weeks. I hope. After my full house is reduced to Mr. B and I and the dogs.</p><p>Thank you for your patience.</p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-65739217320468182972021-09-27T06:16:00.001-07:002021-09-27T06:16:13.666-07:00Chapter Six<p> Good Monday morning,</p><p>Last Friday morning I woke up to a cheek the size of a baseball. A trip to the dentist revealed that I have an infected wisdom tooth. He prescribed strong antibiotics. Today I see the oral surgeon. That's a good thing because my eye is half swollen shut.</p><p>Because of this newest health challenge and Mr. B's ongoing health issue, this will be my last chapter for a bit. I will be working on the next chapter, hint - Jimmy's chapter, but am not capable of giving it the greatness it deserves. So, if the next chapter is not up, Monday. Please don't rebel. I am working on it.</p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Chapter Six<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
pushed Lee’s wheelchair out of the elevator and down the hall toward the
intensive care unit. There were no doubts in his mind that the next few minutes
would be fascinating. He wished he had popcorn and a soda while he watched the
drama unfold between Lee, Morgan and Tatum. Odds said they would remain
somewhat polite, but the undercurrents would be a thriller.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
getting in there, no matter what,” Lee stated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
smiled. “My money is on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s
a good bet.” Lee paused before saying, “Hey, Parker.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No
Problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
stopped the chair outside the ICU, ready to use the phone attached to the wall
to announce their intentions to visit Reese. The double doors burst open, revealing
Morgan and Tatum. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lines
marred Morgan’s forehead and bracketed the corners of his lips. “The doc’s with
him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good,”
Lee responded. “Then he can update me on Reese’s condition.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“They’re
giving him drugs to keep him in a coma.” Morgan shoved his fingers through his
hair, leaving tuffs standing on end. “Damn, he’s messed up.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Move,”
Lee ordered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
two men stared at each other, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a
knife. With the tiny hairs on his arms rising, Parker looked from one to the
other, trying to read what was not being said out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
made a decision. Once Lee and Reese were healed and back at the hacienda,
Parker would totally interfere in their lives as well as Morgan and Tatum.
Enough was enough. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tatum
put his hand on Morgan’s back. “We’ll wait out here if you need anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morgan moved into the hallway, making room for
Parker to push Lee through the doorway. Leaving the other two behind, Parker
made their way down the tiled aisle, recognizing the controlled chaos around
him. Steps were brisk, but not hurried. Movements straight and to the point,
not wasted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
paused at the nurse’s station, noting that next to each of the glassed-in rooms,
were smaller, individual workstations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Behind
the counter, a younger man, looked up from a stack of paperwork. Parker took in
his thick black glasses, messy curls, and wrinkled blue scrubs. The
identification card hanging from a rope around his neck revealed he was a
registered nurse, but Parker couldn’t make out his name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“May
I help you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
strove for a pleasant, but firm tone. “We’re here to see Reese Palmer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Palmer-Sanchez,”
Lee inserted. “I married Reese almost three years ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Whoa.
Parker wondered if Roman knew that piece of extraordinary news. The family was
going to be pissed that they hadn’t been invited to the event. Way to widen the
already great divide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
man stood and lifted his chin enough to stare down his nose at Parker and Lee.
Parker didn’t need a magnifying glass to see homophobic disdain, emphasized by
the hint of the curling of his upper lip.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
braced himself for the crap that was about to come out of the guy’s mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Save
it,” Lee cut the man off. “Point toward Reese’s room and go back to your
paperwork.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
man’s lips drew into a thin line. Parker sensed the explosion about to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
wheelchair shifted and Parker used his weight to keep the chair in place as Lee
stood. Just out of surgery, no doubt exhausted, with a multitude of drugs
streaming through his system, Lee Sanchez still was a phenomenal looking,
badass of a man. Frowning, with a jaw hardened with determination, Lee would
make even the bravest human being think twice about standing in his way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
decided the nurse wasn’t brave, but stupid. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
can call security,” nurse ratchet threatened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lee’s chuckle sent chills down Parker’s spine.
The nurse must have finally gotten a hint that he was facing someone far
stronger than he. Parker would have added stronger in character, not just body,
but he wouldn’t give the nurse credit of having any character attributes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
can call my lawyer,” Lee retorted. “I’m sure he’s just itching to file a
discrimination lawsuit against this hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
tall woman, holding an electronic tablet walked over. “Is there a problem,
Ken?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
not sure,” Lee answered before the nurse could speak. “I’m here to see my husband,
Reese Palmer-Sanchez. Is that a problem, Ken?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
couldn’t stop the snort that left his nose. Yeah, he should have acted in a
more adult manner. At least he hadn’t pointed and laughed out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No
problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Yeah,
the pouting tone in that answer screamed there was a problem. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
woman slid her finger over her tablet and frowned. “We’ll have to change Mr.
Palmer’s file to reflect his correct name, Ken. I’ll let you handle that while
I show Mr. Sanchez to his husband’s room.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
the woman rounded the corner of the counter, she smiled. “My name is Rita. I’m
the supervisor of this shift. If you have any problems or concerns, feel free
to contact me or one of the nurses. We believe, for the well-being of our
patients, keeping the loved ones informed is one of our top priorities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
don’t think all of the people working under you would agree,” Parker commented,
and followed Rita down the hallway made of glass, patient rooms on each side.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rita
paused at the second room from the end and rested her hand on an empty chair
sitting in front of a large computer monitor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Again,
contact our nurses or I, if you have any questions or concerns.” Rita pointed
to a row of boxes sitting on a small shelf. “Please slip those on before going
into the room. I’m going to ask that you wait until the doctor is finished
caring for Mr. Palmer-Sanchez before you go into the room. Visiting times are
fifteen minutes per hour.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Think
old Ken is going to get an ear full,” Parker asked as the woman walked back
toward the nurse’s station.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yep,”
Lee answered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
wrapped the yellow, paper smock over Lee’s sling the best he could. He knelt on
one knee and slipped the paper booties over Lee’s shoes. Beside him the glass
door to Reese’s room opened.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
tall, thin man, wearing green scrubs and a bright multi-colored skull cap
stopped in the doorway. Behind him, back by the bed, a woman leaned over Reese,
holding a long plastic wand near his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hello,”
Lee greeted the doctor. “I’m Reese’s husband. How is he?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
stood and nodded in greeting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
man stepped forward, letting the door shut back into place. Parker watched as
his gaze traveled over Lee. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Dr.
David Aggard.” The doctor shook Lee’s hand. “Is there an empty hospital bed
somewhere with your name on it?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
where I’m supposed to be,” Lee stated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
man’s lips parted into a smile that revealed flawless, bright, white teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why
do I have the feeling that you are going to give the staff all kinds of trouble
concerning the rules?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
have no problem with rules.” Lee shrugged one shoulder. “As long as they’re
reasonable.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
doctor’s perfect eyebrow rose. “We keep the visits to fifteen minutes per hour
in the Intensive Care Unit. Our patients need to rest and heal. Once they are
transferred to a regular room, visitors can stay with them longer.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Tell
me about my husband’s condition.” Lee ignored the doctor’s warning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We
are keeping Mr. Palmer in . . .”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Palmer-Sanchez,”
Lee interrupted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
doctor nodded. “As I was saying. We’ve decided keeping Mr. Palmer-Sanchez in a
medically induced coma will give his body the best chance to heal. During
surgery we were forced to repair one lung by removing a part of the bottom
portion. The damage to his body wall was extensive and wasn’t helped by the
scaring from prior trauma. We are doing our best to fight the infection that is
causing him to retain fluid.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
looked through the glass at Reese. “How long will he have to be intubated?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Once
he starts breathing more on his own, we’ll start turning the machine down until
he’s no longer relying on it,” the doctor answered. “My concern right now is
his elevated heart rate and blood pressure. I hope by giving him time, he will
stabilize on his own, but if the infection isn’t contained and he continues to
retain fluids, decisions will have to be made.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Are
we talking hours or days?” Lee asked. The man’s tone stayed even but on the
edge of demanding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
was impressed with the man’s control. If either of his husbands were lying in
the intensive care unit, he’d have journeyed into the land of hysterical.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
nurses will contact me if an emergency arises,” the doctor replied. “Otherwise,
I’ll reevaluate his chart later today.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“If
I were a betting man, I’d say Reese’s intense hatred of hospitals is
contributing to his numbers.” Lee glanced up at Parker. “Let’s get in there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee’s
patience had ended back in the last hospital, about the time he woke up from
surgery. If the good doctor taking care of Reese didn’t move his ass, Lee would
run over him with the wheelchair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
knew he was being rude, but he’d promised Reese long ago, that he’d never be
alone again. Coma or not, he believed Reese knew Lee wasn’t with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
glass door opened, and the walls fell away as Lee’s vision centered on the
hospital bed and the love of his life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
sweet, beautiful Reese, reduced to an array of tubes invading his body. The
breathing tube held in place by tape covering the lower half of Reese’s face
almost broke Lee’s heart. A face, puffy, skin shinny and stretched, almost
unrecognizable. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One
monitor showed an outline of lungs, expanding and deflating to a monotonous
whooshing accompanying the rhythm. Squiggly lines crossed another monitor,
reporting Reese’s vital statistics. A beeping, red, light echoing his
heartbeat. A warning bell rang out and green lights began blinking. After a
moment they quieted, and Lee’s sudden panic eased.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Take
me around to the other side of the bed,” Lee growled out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After
reaching the far side, Park turned the chair around, facing the foot of the
bed. Lee reached out and took Reese’s poor bruised and swollen hand. Gone were
the slim, tan fingers. Replaced with grotesque digits, skin tight to bursting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
here, Sunshine.” Lee’s words were a hair above a whisper. “I’m here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
hand squeezed Lee’s shoulder. He looked through the blur to find Parker,
looking down at him, eyes bright with tears. Lee realized his own cheeks were
wet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
swallowed hard. Deep under that smothering fog of drugs, Reese existed. Lee
vowed to find him and bring him back. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
sun is shining today,” Lee began. “I’ll see if the nurses will push your bed
closer to the window so that you can feel the sun’s heat. We have visitors. The
gang from Rescue for Hire West are here. They heard about your encounter with
trouble on the beach and wanted to make sure you’re okay.” Lee took note of the
different plastic bags attached to the bed. He identified the one collecting
Lee’s urine. He thought the color too dark. “I think once you are ready to get
out of that bed, we should visit them at the hacienda.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
identified another couple of bags as drains from Lee’s wounds. The gunk inside
them looked nasty. Eight bags of medications and fluids hung from one metal
stand. From where he sat, he couldn’t count how many bags hung from another
stand. The doctors had bypassed Reese’s arm and the medications entered Reese’s
body through a catheter set in next to his throat. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
love you, Sunshine.” Lee cleared the emotions clogging his throat. “I love
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
began describing how much fun they had the last time they had driven down the
coast. Each stop led to checking out the sand on each beach. Reese loved those
grains of warmth under the sun, hugging the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
short time later a nurse entered the room. “Visiting time is over.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
left the chair in the corner, squeezed Lee’s shoulder, and walked out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sir,
I sorry, but it’s time for you to leave,” the nurse told Lee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
kept holding Reese’s hand. “Now, I want you to pay attention, Sunshine. You
might hear raised voices, but I’m not leaving you. I see that your heart rate
has evened out a bit. You keep listening to my voice. I’m here now.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
winced as the volume of her voice rose. Didn’t the woman have something better
to do than harass him? Vicki, he saw by her card, her name was Vicki.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Vicki.”
Lee plastered a smile on his face and tried his best to look friendly. “I think
I’m going to stay a little longer and talk to Reese. He has a deep hatred of
hospitals. The last time he was in one, he staggered out in a hospital grown
and was lost for weeks. I’m not going to let that happen this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s
very unlikely,” the woman argued. “He’s in a coma.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s
a known fact that people have reported being able to hear while they were in a
coma,” Lee pointed out. “I’ll just sit here a while longer so that Reese knows
he’s not alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
woman turned and left, but her pronounced sigh told Lee she was about to bring
in the big guns. Well, he had a few of his own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
pulled out his cell phone and found a certain contact. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hello.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Some
of the tension eased at the sound of his good friend’s voice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey,
Vinnie.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Lee,
tell me you and Reese are all right,” Vinnie demanded. “I went down to the
beach and found the place full of cops. They said they had to call in a chopper
for Reese and an ambulance took you away. They let me take your hotdog cart.
It’s in my garage.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Once
Vinnie seemed to run out of words, Lee assured his friend, “I’m a bit beat up
but okay. Reese’s is in a coma.” Lee took a deep breath and proceeded to do
something he vowed never to do. Take advantage of his friend’s power and money.
“Vinnie, I need a favor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Vinnie
may be in his late seventies and was considered the beach’s Casanova, wooing of
women, young and old. Most of the beach’s visitors humored him, thinking Vinnie
a harmless and smooth-talking old man who took over Lee’s hotdog cart once in a
while.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Little
did they realize they were in the presence of a prestigious and multi-millionaire,
Vincent Angleo. Once Vinnie left the beach, he donned a suit and tie, becoming
a powerful man who had a seat on many boards of directors. Including this
hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
knew Vinnie meant that statement. The man had been a good friend to Lee for
many years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Reese
in in the intensive care unit at UCI Trauma Center,” Lee explained. “They’re
trying to make me leave because of some bullshit fifteen-minute rule. We both
know between Reese’s brain damage and hatred of hospitals, if I leave this won’t
end well.” Lee let his gaze travel over Reese’s too still form. He wanted to
crawl in bed with him but knew if he tried to stand, he’d fall into a heap on
the floor. Exhaustion crept closer, trying to snare Lee in its tight grip. “Can
you make a call so that I can stay with him. Otherwise, you’re going to be my
one call from jail, because for me to leave Reese’s side, they’re going to have
to haul me out of here in handcuffs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Consider it done, my friend,” Vinnie stated.
“You take care of yourself and Reese. Tell Reese I have this hot redhead lined
up to dance with at his sunset party. Tell him he has to hurry up and heal so
that I don’t do something stupid and marry her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Will
do.” A small portion of the heavy weight on Lee’s shoulders lifted. “Thanks,
Vinnie.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No
problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
ended the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket. He took Reese’s hand
and held the precious flesh with gentle fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Vinnie
says hi and to get better,” he began. “He’s dating a hot redhead and wants to bring
her to one of our sunset dances.” Lee chuckled. “He’s worried he might marry
her. Boy, if we had a dime for every time he starts thinking about getting
serious about someone, we’d be rich.” Lee listened to the whoosh of the
breathing machine. “Don’t worry, when the sun starts to go down, I’ll hum, and
we can dance together in our minds. Soon you’ll get out of here and we can
dance as always.” Lee blinked back the tears clouding his vision. He longed to
hold his sunshine. Instead, he began talking about the weather.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Some
time later, the door slid open, and Rita entered the room. “I knew you would be
trouble, Mr. Sanchez.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
try my best to follow the rules.” Lee smiled. “Unfortunately, Vicki and I
couldn’t seem to see eye to eye.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
woman’s gaze traced over Lee. He tried to sit up straighter, but fatigue sat
heavy on his limbs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
ever angel you have on your side has ordered a reclining chair to be brought in
here.” Rita looked down her nose at him and set a bottle of water on the
rollaway table near the foot of Reese’s bed. “Take your meds. If you don’t have
any, I’m rolling you down to the ER myself. I won’t have you passing out on my
watch.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
hated to let go of Reese’s hand, but he knew when to cut his losses to gain the
win. He reached into the sling and grabbed four prescription bottles. With what
he hoped was a friendly grin, he leaned forward and set the bottles on the
table next to the water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rita
sighed and reached for one of the medication bottles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Styx
Randall slung his leg over the arm of the leather double seat of the plane,
sprawling further into the deep cushions. His gaze continued to follow his
husband’s erratic pacing from one end of the plane to the other. He figured
he’d give Flyer a few more minutes to work out some of his frustration and
energy before Styx took over. Nailing Flyer to the wall with his cock came to
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s
not right,” Flyer complained. “We should be at the hospital supporting Jimmy
and Reese.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“If
Isaiah wants us to stay on standby, we stay at the airport until he or Roman want
us somewhere else.” Styx reached down and grabbed his bottle of water off the
floor and took a quick swig to wet his always dry throat. “Honey, come here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Flyer
changed direction and headed toward Styx. No words had to be said. Flyer curled
his six-foot frame into Styx’s bigger body. Taking and trusting in Styx’s
support.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Styx
reached down and grabbed a handful of cashew and pumpkin seed clusters. He held
them out, appeasing his husband’s constant need for sustenance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Flyer
took one and popped it into his mouth. “If we do have to go back to the
hacienda and pick up Peggy and James, do you think any of the other husbands
are going to want to come along?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“All
of them.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Who
will watch the children and run Los Héroes if everyone is gone?” Flyer chewed
on another cluster. “Garrett will stay, but he and Tolliver are going to need
help.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
captain will have a plan. All we have to do is follow orders.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Styx
had seen Roman pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat in many crazy
situations. He had no doubts, the team’s leader would handle this set of
extreme circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Okay,
we stay here until we hear otherwise.” Flyer picked up another nut cluster and
held it between to fingers. “Want to play find the pumpkin seed?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Styx
chuckled and pulled Flyer closer for a kiss. Their lips brushed together, both
in no hurry, enjoying the moment and each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
dark beat from a popular shark movie cut through the airplane. Styx looked
down. Flyer’s hand already had slid deep inside the front pocket of his faded
jeans and pulled out his phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Flyer
engaged the call. “Hello.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Jimmy
is out of surgery,” Roman stated. “Go get Peggy and James. Get back as fast as
you can. He needs all of us right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-28317521905189549152021-09-20T07:07:00.003-07:002021-09-20T07:08:21.928-07:00Chapter Five<p> My mom's cell phone is an old flip phone and the service providers no longer service that phone. Yesterday I spent 4+ hours picking up 2 new phones. Yes, I upgraded also. </p><p>What a long, endless, time. Buying cellphones is worse than buy a car or house. By the time I got out of there I felt I had run a marathon.</p><p>The good news is that now I can write all day today. I hope I haven't jinxed it by writing that. </p><p>Hope you enjoy this next chapter, Hope I finish the next chapter before next week. </p><p>I love hearing from you and what you think of the story.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
tiny hairs on the back of Roman’s neck rose, and prickles of awareness danced
between his shoulder blades. Danger stood behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
continued to stare out the window and watched another person’s miniature segment
of life playing out in the parking lot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“This
building is one of the few places where all who enter are changed,” he
commented.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
suppose,” Isaiah replied. “I never really thought about it before.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
turned away from the window and looked at his friend. The lethal man’s
expression gave nothing away. Roman struggled to find the words he needed to
say. And failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
rest of the team has arrived, Captain.” Isaiah’s gaze never wavered. “We’re
here and ready.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bitter
truth burned a hole in Roman’s belly. “Maybe I’m not ready to lead. Maybe I’ll
never be ready again.” Roman glanced around the hospital hallway. “I should
have known something was wrong. I failed.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Get
off your pity pot and trot yourself down to surgery. The doctors will want to
talk to you once they’ve finished.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
body stilled. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You’ve
had your, why is this happening, moment,” Isaiah stated. “Quit treading water
and be the big man.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
raised one eyebrow. “Big man?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You’re
the one we look up to.” A sneer lifted Isaiah’s lip. “Time’s up, Captain. Get
your head out of your ass and be the leader this team and Jimmy need.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But
. . .”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Buts
are for cowards.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Anger
surged through Roman. He grabbed Isaiah’s shirt and shoved him up against the
wall. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
are one of the few people in the world, who can say something like that to me
and live.” Roman jerked Isaiah’s shirt to emphasis his point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Welcome
back, Captain.” A rare smile curved the weapons expert’s lips. “Let’s go down
and see how many times Tristen’s tried to break into the operating room.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
blinked and his anger disintegrated. He realized the debilitating fog that had
rendered him all but useless, had cleared under Isaiah’s brand of sarcasm. His
best friend knew him inside and out and had acted in the way Roman needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah
nodded. “Anytime.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
let go of Isaiah’s shirt, turned, and started down the hall toward the
elevators. Urgency rose and rode him hard. He needed to be available, not
hiding in the corner, for when the doctors were ready to discuss Jimmy’s
condition. Reese and Lee were counting on him. He also had the members of his
chosen family depending on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Update,”
he ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He listened as Isaiah reported the location of
each member of his team. He raised an eyebrow when Isaiah admitted that he’d
sent Morgan and Tatum to the ICU to keep Reese company.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah
shrugged his wide shoulders. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
quiet chuckle drew Roman’s attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
do you say, Carson? Would you have sent Morgan and Tatum to look after Reese?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Isaiah
knows what he’s doing,” Carson answered simply.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
had to agree. He could trust Isaiah to use good judgement in any situation. He
found the idea of Morgan and Tatum assigned to support Reese intriguing but set
those thoughts aside. Right now, his entire focus centered on the surgery ward.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Cold
dread haunted Tristen and turned every passing minute into a nightmare. He
rubbed at the hot rush of tears streaming down his face. Hatred at the
helplessness of the horrific situation threatened to take what little remained
of his control. He couldn’t lose his brother. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
turned toward the door and ran, only to crash into a solid wall of muscle. Arms
captured him in their strong embrace and a heated breath touched his ear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Where
are you going, my <i>anjinho</i>.” The smooth baritone of Santos’s voice
wrapped Tristen in the solid security of home.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
can’t…” Tristen searched to name one of a million things he couldn’t endure at
this terrible moment. He gave up and looked into his husband’s dark eyes,
pleading for the right answers, the right outcome. “Why? Why is this
happening?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
doctors in this hospital specialize in emergency trauma.” Santos’s gentle
fingers brushed away the long tangles of hair sticking to the moisture coating Tristen’s
cheeks. “They will give us back Jimmy and Reese.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
wanted to believe Santos’s claim. His husband had always been straight with him
even when a small fib would have been easier.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“How
can you sound so sure?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos
shrugged one wide shoulder. “It is not their time yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
wasn’t about to question that statement. There were instances that his big
Brazilian husband seemed to know stuff that Tristen wasn’t about to touch with
a ten-foot pole. He’d stay in the here and now and leave the other misty planes
of existence to Santos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Okay.”
Tristen tried to step back and away from Santos. The man seemed to grow octopus’s
arms when he chose, and Tristen remained where Santo held him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Since according to you, Jimmy is going to
make it through this, the doctors won’t mind me checking to see how it’s
going.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
will stay here, my <i>querida</i>.” Santos cupped the back of Tristen’s head
and urged him to rest his cheek against the bigger man’s chest. The man’s
heartbeat soothed his inner turmoil. “Jimmy’s job is to survive the surgery and
yours is to wait for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Patience
isn’t my forte,” Tristen complained. “I hate waiting.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
know, <i>meu amor.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
side door leading to the hallway opened. Tristen turned his head and rested his
other cheek on Santos’s chest. He watched Roman entering the room with Isaiah
and Carsen following. Tristen ground his teeth together. Roman reminded him of
a big cat with his flexing muscles and powerful stride, that all seeing gaze scanning
the room. He held back a bitter chuckle. Yep, he was ready to yank on the
tiger’s tail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s
good of you to finally show up,” Tristen commented.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
face could have been made of stone. “Have you heard anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Not
yet.” Tristen turned in Santo’s arms and face Roman. “You should know that I
talked to my mother, and she said that she had an uncle who died from an
abdominal aneurysm. There were rumors in the family that her grandfather
exhibited the same symptoms before his abrupt death in the barn one morning. Of
course, back then they buried him without knowing why he’d died.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
corner of Roman’s mouth tightened in response to Tristen’s information. One
small reaction to a such a dreadful situation. Tristen wanted to slap him. He
wanted to scream and shout. He wanted Roman to show something, anything, that
he cared that Jimmy was fighting for his life. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Would
he try to go after Roman? Hell no, he wasn’t a masochist, and he planned on
being here for his brother, not lying in a broken heap on the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Besides,
if Roman took a swing at him, Santos would step in. Tristen figured that he and
Santos probably wouldn’t win in a fight against the big guy, and Jimmy would be
pissed that they dared to touch his precious husband.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
call Peggy and James once we know more of Jimmy’s condition,” Roman replied. “Did
you contact Chip and Matt?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Surprise
quenched Tristen’s anger. He hadn’t thought to call his brothers. He supposed
his mother must have, at least he hoped so. Damn, he had dropped the ball.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
go call them.” Tristen left Santos’s embrace and headed for the hallway, glad
to get out from under Roman’s heavy gaze.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Tristen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
voice stopped Tristen in mid-step. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks
for being here for Jimmy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Those
pesky tears blurred Tristen’s vision. “He’s my brother. I wouldn’t be anywhere
else.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We
both value your strength and support.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen’s
lungs locked up. The big man had said what Tristen had needed to hear. The
magnitude of the statement took his breath away and that inner strength Roman
had talked about returned. He would wait for his brother, no matter how long it
took. He would do whatever was needed to help Jimmy through this catastrophe.
Tristen vowed that Jimmy would one day return to his beloved cranky self.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thank
you,” Tristen replied, and meant it. “I’ll go make that call and be right
back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At
Roman’s nod, Tristen left the waiting room. In the hallway he pulled out his
cell and searched the contact list. After finding the name he was looking for
he put the call through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“How
is he?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tattered
emotions cut off Tristen’s reply until the welcome weight of large hands rested
on his shoulders. Tristen leaned back against Santos and took comfort in his
rock, his very own superman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“He’s
still in surgery,” Tristen answered his big brother. “Did mom call you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah,”
Chip replied. “Jimmy is strong, he’ll get through this.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
hope so.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Tristen.”
Chip’s tone changed to take on a hint of defensiveness. “You know I’d be there
if I could. We’re expecting a couple of important new foals to drop any day now
and are in the middle of calving season. You know how it is.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Chip
had taken over the family ranch after their father had a massive heart attack
and moved to the hacienda with their mother. Tristen had grown up working on
the ranch. He’d spent many spring nights helping calves come into the world.
Those messy, literally, shit-filled hours were crucial to the monetary
wellbeing of the ranch. Every calf was worth potentially thousands of dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
may understand Chip’s point of view, but only so far. “You do have a foreman
and capable ranch employees to keep things going for a little while.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Tristen,
don’t nag,” Chip shot back. “It’s bad enough that mom thought I should jump on
a plane the second she told me what was going on. You’re already there, Roman’s
there. What the hell could I do. Besides, dad trusted me to keep the ranch
running smoothly and profitable.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For
the space of one second, surprise froze Tristen’s mind, before it roared into
overdrive. He was more than capable of reading between the lines of Chip’s
excuses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What’s
going on with the ranch?” Tristen demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing.
Everything is fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Right.
Tristen wasn’t buying those tainted goods. “Spill. What happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mary’s
struggling with this pregnancy.” The exhale of a huge sigh came through the
phone. “She’s accusing me of looking at other women. I keep telling her that
her hormones are making her see things, but she’s threatening to pack up the
kids and move back to her mother’s. I can’t afford to pay her off and keep the
ranch if she divorces me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
were so many wrongs with that statement that Tristen didn’t know where to
start. What a boogerass. Leave it to his big brother to stomp his size thirteen
shit-covered boots all over a delicate situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Let’s
see, Mary is eight months pregnant while trying to keep up with a one and a two-year-old.”
Mary had three miscarriages before giving birth to little Emily, and a year
later, scrappy Kingston. “I know you adore the woman, so do your part and set
her up on the sofa with a pillow under her feet, a box of chocolates, and the
TV remote. Strap the kids into their car seats in that big old truck of yours
and ride them around the ranch for a couple of hours. Let them pet a few calves
or play with the latest batch of kittens.” Tristen huffed out a breath to show
his exasperation. Damn, he was the gay brother telling the straight brother how
to handle a woman. Just, damn. “Back rubs are good and forget the divorce talk.
She’s your gift of a lifetime. Show her how much you love her. Think decent
flowers and honest words, not dandelions and platitudes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Such
a small word held so many meanings behind it. Tristen let his lips curve into a
smile. His big brother would be okay. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
keep you posted on Jimmy,” he promised.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks,
bro,” Chip replied. “Take care of yourself. Mom doesn’t need another son
getting sick.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Will,
do.” With that promise, Tristen ended the call.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">After
a moment’s search and a swipe of a finger, he was listening to the ringing of
his next call. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hello.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Did
mom get through to you?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
ground his teeth in frustration. After his little brother had graduated from
high school, Matt had seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Most phone
calls went unanswered and explanations of where he was or what he was doing
were ignored. Tristen had had enough crap. His nerves were shot, and his
patience had left the building.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Fine.”
There was that word again. This time Tristen had stuffed a million frustrations
into those four letters. “I’ll keep you updated on how he’s doing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No
need. I’m almost at the hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What!”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
waited for Matt to repeat what he had said. He couldn’t have heard his brother
right the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
happened to be in the neighborhood when mom called,” Matt stated. “I just drove
into the parking lot.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
would never call he brother a liar, but their mother must have called Matt
almost an hour ago. No way his brother happened to be in the neighborhood. In
the end, it didn’t matter. Matt coming to the hospital to support Jimmy was
important. Seeing his little brother for the first time in years was important.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’re
on the third floor.” Tristen managed to choke out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sounds
good, see you in a few.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos
took the phone from Tristen’s nerveless fingers before gathering him in that
warm haven Tristen would never take for granted. Tristen looked up into his
handsome husband’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Matt
is here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos’s
fingers tangled in Tristen’s hair. “It will be good to see your brother again.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah.”
Tristen caught Santos’s hand. “We’d better get back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos
dipped his head and covered Tristen’s lips with his. As always, Santos’s kiss
swept him away from all troubles and enfolded him in pleasure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
<i>Amorzinho </i>melted in his arms. Santos deepened the kiss. A hospital
hallway may not be the best place for such signs of intimacy, but Tristen’s
needs were and would always come first. Right now, Tristen needed comfort and
the sense of security that only Santos could give him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen’s
fingers twisted in Santos’s shirt. Santos ended the kiss in slow increments and
raised his head. Tristen’s hazel-colored eyes may be red rimmed and swollen
from his tears, but to Santos they were as gorgeous as always.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Come,
<i>Amorzinho.</i>” Santos traced a fingertip over Tristen’s cheek. “Let’s go
see if the doctors have finished with Jimmy’s surgery.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen’s
lower lip trembled. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos
entwined their fingers and led his husband back into the waiting room. He found
Roman with his hands stuffed into the front pockets of his jeans and staring at
a small monitor mounted on the wall. They had been given a card with a number
assigned to Jimmy. A glance at the monitor showed Santos that Jimmy’s number
was highlighted in green, indicating that Jimmy was still in surgery. Blue
would mean he had been moved to the recovery unit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah
sat sprawled in a chair with Carson tucked up against his side. Rhys had
arrived while they were in the hallway. He was curled up in a corner chair and
quietly talking on his phone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At
the other end of the large room a small group of people, all sporting red hair,
sat talking to one another in low murmurs or staring at their phones. Every few
moments, one would look at the monitor mounted on the wall near them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos
decided to usher Tristen to the small sofa next to Rhys when Roman’s body
jerked before stiffening. As one, the team stopped what they were doing and moved
toward their leader. Something was wrong. Santos searched the monitor. Jimmy’s
number was no longer listed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
door to the hallway opened and they all turned. Santos kept a tight rein on his
emotions even as Tristen cried out. His husband broke away and ran into the
arms of a tall muscular man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Matthew
Earl. Tristen’s little brother no longer resembled the skinny uncoordinated
teen who had left for a so-called college years ago. Matt had grown into a man
with a strong body and a hardness in his gaze that Santos saw in the mirror
every morning and in the eyes of his teammates. A glance at Roman showed their
leader assessing their brother-in-law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santos knew what Roman saw. Hard edges not yet
smoothed out by returning to society from the depths of an endless sun and sand
hell. Lighter skin surrounding a mouth and jaws where a thick beard once grew.
A newly shaved head, now covered with only a quarter inch of thick dark
stubble.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Santos
and Roman had kept track of Matt over the years. They knew he had returned from
the Middle East four weeks ago. Their contacts had indicated that Matt, with
the end of his mission, so was his time working undercover for the government.
Santos had no inclination to dig into the incident that had sparked all of
these endings. It was enough that Matt could renew his relationships with his
family and start a new chapter in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
phone on the small desk near the door rang and the lady wearing a light green
hospital smock answered it. She spoke a few soft words before ending the call.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Are
any family of Jimmy Earl Marshall here?” she called out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
one they all moved in front of her with Roman front and center. The woman’s
gaze traveled over them in a slow appraisal. A frown formed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
doctor would like to meet with family members only in the private waiting room
down the hall.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We
are his family,” Roman stated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-75890463839093532322021-09-13T04:56:00.000-07:002021-09-13T04:56:26.784-07:00Chapter Four<p> Good Morning</p><p>I want to thank you for your support in these challenging times. They are much appreciated.</p><p>I have to warn you that the end of today's chapter may have you wanting to throw something. I was taught the goal of a chapter was to end it so the reader doesn't put the book down. To tease them to want to see what happens next. </p><p>Obviously I do well with that concept. I almost included the first paragraph of the next chapter. Almost, but didn't. I will keep posting chapters until the end of the book or I don't have any more finished. </p><p>Have a great week.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stunned,
Roman left the ICU. He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and
made his way down the hall. At the end, he stood in between a pair of
comfortable sitting chairs and in front of a large window. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
vibration and high-pitched ping in his pocket indicated an incoming call. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
gaze traveled over a large parking lot below with its sea of cars and trucks.
So many shapes, sizes, and colors parked between lemony yellow lines. On the
edges of the giant slab of black asphalt, were ornamental trees and shrubs, all
sculptured into pleasing symmetricity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Behind
him, someone cut off a cellphone’s ring. Low murmuring faded as the person
moved away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
observed people leaving their vehicles and rushing toward the hospital’s
entrances. Others carried a suitcase or large bag while taking their time
getting to their destination. Roman watched a man, carrying a plant in one hand
and in the other a string attached to a glittering pink balloon, making his way
toward a shiny SUV. Nothing in the man’s light steps were similar to an old
man, with slumped shoulders and shuffles, dragging and slow, as he walked to
his late model sedan. So many different scenarios and outcomes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Movement
on the left and across the way by the main wing of the hospital caught his
attention. He watched cars, mini-vans, and SUV’s pull into the cul-de-sac in
front of the main entrance of the hospital. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
gaze was drawn to the bright white of a large SUV. He watched a man, wearing a
plaid shirt, jeans, and boots immerge from a dark sedan in front of the SUV.
Roman would know that getup anywhere. Morgan had arrived. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
glass doors of the hospital slid open and Roman recognized Tatum’s shaggy blond
head as he walked out into the sunshine, pushing a wheelchair.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Morgan
walked over to greet his husband, and Tatum took a quick kiss. Tatum must have
said something, because Morgan turned toward the white SUV.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
watched as the members of his team who had been with Lee leave the SUV. After
stepping out of the vehicle, Parker turned back and helped a tall man, sporting
an arm wrapped in bandages and wearing a demobilizing sling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
circumstances aren’t the best, but for the first time in a long time, the whole
team will be in one place,” Rhys observed from beside Roman. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Not
quite. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman thought of Rhys’s statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Flyer
isn’t back from California.” Roman continued to watch cars entering and leaving
the parking lot. One would pull out of a parking space, and another would pull
in. The cycle went on no matter the drama happening inside the building, or
maybe because of the events inside the building.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
just talked to him,” Rhys answered. “He and Styx are on their way from the
airport. He said the airdrop was a bit sketchy. The fire had stirred up the air
currents. The fire captain got on the horn and thanked Flyer for the supplies.
They only have twenty-five percent of the fire contained and in that remote of
an area, anything to make life easier is appreciated.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
didn’t reply. He had exhausted his interest in the subject. He watched a lady
park her truck, jump out, and run toward the hospital. She carried no purse and
hadn’t locked the vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
going to meet the guys, captain,” Rhys said. “I’ll be right back.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
noted that a couple of trucks had turned into the parking lot in quick
succession…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
Kent Beck shoved his hand into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around
Jimmy’s cell phone that he’d picked up off the hallway floor. Shit, the
situation had gone from fucked up to hell in a handbasket.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese
was fighting for his life in the ICU, Jimmy was fighting for his life on the
operating table, and Roman had zoned out. Not that Rhys blamed him. Jimmy was
the chink in the strong man’s armor. He could understand Roman needing to take
a few minutes to process Jimmy’s collapse and the nurse’s announcement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Turned
out that the gray haired, bespectacled guy in the ICU was a Vascular Surgeon
who was checking on one of his patients. He recognized Jimmy’s symptoms and the
imperative need to get him to the operating room. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
the suspected tear of an abdominal aorta aneurism was the correct diagnosis,
minutes could decide the either positive or negative outcome. Rhys was no
medic, but what little he knew of that type of aneurism, if Jimmy made it
through the surgery, there could be serious questions of quality and length of
life expectancy. Damn, just damn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
hurried to find the guys. He needed to update them on the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
left the elevator and spotted the group surrounding Tristen. His first glimpse
of Lee had him adding another challenge to the shit storm. Lee’s pasty white
and sweaty skin, and hunched shoulders screamed pain to Rhys. The man needed to
be in a hospital bed, not a wheelchair. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey,”
Rhys said as he walked up, and received greetings back from the group.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tatum
nodded at Rhys. “I’ve been explaining Reese’s condition and Jimmy collapsing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Any
news on Jimmy?” Isaiah asked Rhys.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
edginess, that strangling his insides and shouted that their world was out of
control, calmed when Rhys looked into Isaiah’s steady green-eyed gaze. The big
man, with the teardrop tattoo at the corner of one eye, was the captain’s best
friend and second in command of the team. Rhys trusted his leadership to guide
the team when they needed his expertise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He’s
been rushed to surgery,” Rhys answered. “They think he has an abdominal aorta
aneurism, and it may have torn. This is life or death stuff guys.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Shit,”
Tatum muttered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Where’s
the surgery waiting room in this joint.” Tristen glanced around. “Hopefully the
nurses are keeping Roman up to date.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Roman
isn’t there.” Rhys met Isaiah’s gaze and tried to convey a million messages.
“He’s still up in the ICU hallway.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
the hell is he doing there?” Tristen bitched. “He should be with my brother.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Santos.”
Isaiah turned toward the Latin tracker. “Take Tristen to the surgery waiting
room. Tristen, call your parents. Tell them about Jimmy and have them get ready.
Once he’s out of surgery and we know more, Flyer can pick them up and bring
them here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
watched Carson slip his hand into Isaiah’s. A hollow pain of loneliness settled
in his chest and he wished his cowboy were here. Rhys went to pull Jimmy’s
phone out of his pocket and his fingers brushed against a small familiar
object. Warmth chased away the emptiness with the touch of Joe’s secret kisses.
Rhys knew he’d find more of the chocolate candies his husband had no doubt
stashed in various pockets and his overnight clothes bag. Man, just when he
thought he couldn’t love Joe any deeper, his cowboy did something to turn
Rhys’s heart into a blob of softer mush.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
removed the phone and held it out. “Tristen, here’s Jimmy’s phone.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks.”
Tristen’s hand shook as he took the devise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
looked up at his husband, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Santos put an
arm around Tristen’s shoulders and together they turned toward a hallway marked
with a surgery sign and an arrow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
noticed that Isaiah’s gaze had turned toward the man in the wheelchair and a
hovering Parker. Sweat soaked through the neck material of Lee’s shirt and his
normally tanned skin had gone from pale to pasty gray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Can
you manage to take him to the emergency department by yourself or do you want
some help?” Isaiah asked Parker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
don’t need any emergency room. I need to be with Reese.” The slurred words and
soft groan that escaped ruined Lee’s objection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah’s
dark eyebrows lowered, and a shiver rippled over Rhys’s skin. Not many people
went up against the deadly weapons expert. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You’re
no good to Reese if you collapse and end up being admitted to a different part
of the hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Not
going,” Lee declared.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
stepped behind Lee’s wheelchair and grabbed the handles. “We’re off. I’ll keep
you updated.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rhys held back a smile as his teammate pushed
a grumbling Lee toward a corridor, marked <i>Emergency Department</i>.
Underneath Parker’s smaller frame and quietness, lie a feisty attitude, when
the long fuse of his temper had run out. Lee may as well give in. Rhys had no
doubts that Parker would deliver him to Reese in better shape than he was in at
the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah
turned to Tatum and Morgan. Tatum encircled the back of Morgan’s neck, pulled
him close, and kissed the side of his face. The tech genius’s eyelids closed halfway,
and a soft smile curved his lips. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Morgan
had flourished over the years under his dominating husband’s brand of loving.
He still had his snarky moments, but most of the time happiness had smoothed
out some of his sharp edges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do
you have a problem going up to the ICU?” Isaiah asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Morgan
looked at Isaiah with one eyebrow raised. “I’m not sure what you’re talking
about. I’m would think the elevator or stairs work just fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good,
don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way through.” Isaiah’s tone hadn’t
changed but his irritation shown through, nevertheless. “Reese needs our
support.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of
course.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
didn’t buy Morgan’s easy agreement. Storm clouds of emotion reflected in the
computer expert’s hazel colored eyes. Morgan had a history with Reese and his
relationship with Lee hadn’t warmed up over last couple of years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do
what you need to do to get inside and visit Reese,” Isaiah ordered. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Morgan
didn’t comment or wait for any more direction. Instead, he saluted Isaiah and
headed toward the elevator doors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
corner of Tatum’s mouth lifted as he watched his husband’s actions before looking
at Isaiah.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’ll
make sure Reese knows that Lee’s is on his way and that the team is here
supporting him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
had no doubts,” Isaiah replied, and his eyebrow raised once again. “About either
of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
watched Tatum nod at their lethal teammate before following his husband. The
next moment the heavy weight of Isaiah’s gaze settled on him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Go
down and meet Flyer and Styx.” The corner of Isaiah’s mouth tightened. “I hate
to do it. I know they want to be here, showing their support, but have them
grab something to eat and go back to the plane. Tell them to camp out there and
have the plane on standby.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Got
it.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
hurried toward the elevators, glad for something to take his mind off missing a
certain cowboy, his boss, the boss’s husband, Reese in the ICU, and the
turbulence he sensed in his teammates that he didn’t think was going to be over
for a long time to come.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*
* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
McKaly ignored the dull ache in his knees and continued to kneel on the thick
exercise mat. He lifted Tolliver’s leg and with a slow, gentle motions eased
the slim leg up, flexing his husband’s hip. With practiced moves, he pushed the
leg toward Toliver’s chest, bending the stiff joint of his knee to a hair’s breath
below comfort level.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
brave husband winced, but no groans escaped. They performed these exercises at
dawn’s early hour every other day in an effort to keep Tolliver mobile. They
would have, perhaps, another half hour of privacy until the members of the
house awoke to start another new day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On
alternated days, Tolliver lifted weights to strengthen his arms and chest
muscles, and they took a long walk. Warmth flooded him as he thought of the
entourage they accumulated as most times as dogs, children and sometimes a baby
may accompany them. The supposed therapeutic exercises turned into great
adventures everyone loved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why
the smile?” Tolliver breath puffed out as Garrett again bent his leg.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
was thinking about the life we have here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Los
Héroes is a special place.” In the morning’s dim light, Tolliver’s gaze danced
from the plants to the pool, and to the glass ceiling of the enclosed courtyard
centered in the middle of the hacienda. “It sure would suck to have to leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
stopped messaging Tolliver’s straining muscles and peered at his husband, not
sure the direction of his line of thinking. “Why do you say that, my wee one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver
held out his hand. A hand that a kidnapper and tormenter had dislocated and
broken every finger. Garrett grabbed a bottle of warming lotion from a small
bag filled with supplies and began trying to sooth the damaged joints.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sure,
Tristen’s a drama queen, but that call to his mother was brutal.” Tolliver
flipped his hand over and tugged Garrett to lie down next to him. “I thought
she was going to have a heart attack when he told her that Jimmy is in surgery
with a possible ruptured aneurism. Tristen sure swore up a storm when she told
him that her uncle had died from one of those.” The tiny lines fanning out from
Tolliver’s eyes, deepened. “According to Tristen, Jimmy is in trouble and Roman’s
being a dick. I’m not sure Roman or the team would survive if Jimmy didn’t make
it through the surgery. He’s the glue around here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
think we should wait until we have more information before we start packing our
bags,” Garrett cautioned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver’s
big blue eyes widened before the small slender man narrowed his gaze. Desire
tingled in Garrett’s belly. Under his husband’s soft-spoken exterior lay a man
with great insight to human nature, with a bit of fire thrown in that heated
Garrett’s blood into a potent mixture of want and need.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
know what?” Tolliver’s jaw hardened with determination. “You’re right. Everyone
here has gone through mega-shit and survived. Not only survived but grown into
a tight family. We may stumble but we’re not going to let what we’ve built slip
away so easily.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver’s
bottom lip trembled betraying his underlying fear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
cupped his husband’s cheek. “We made it through losing Reese to the beach,
we’ll get through this bump in the road. You and I, as a team, and this family
as a whole are unbeatable.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do
you promise on your grandmother’s big left toe?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
tipped his head back and laughed at the question Tolliver always asked when he
needed reassurance. His husband brought him joy as no other in the world could.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
have my promise, my wee one.” Garrett captured Tolliver’s plump lips in a kiss
and explored his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver
pushed up the edge of Garrett’s shirt and stroked his fingers through the hair
covering his chest and belly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Please,”
Tolliver whispered against Garrett’s lips.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
rubbed his nose against his lover’s. “What are you asking me for?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You,”
Tolliver replied. “All of you, inside and all around. Fill me. Love me. Give me
a few minutes of normal before we have to face the craziness again.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett’s
cock went from zero to <i>hello baby</i> in three seconds flat. Not bad for a
man in his fifties. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
slender, fragile husband knew Garrett’s hot spots. Tolliver’s busy hand dipped
under the waistband of his pants and brushed over that sensitive hallow spot
next to his hip. Tingling goosebumps rose and pre-come dripped.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver
skimmed his finger over the tip of Garrett’s cockhead before pulling his hand
out of Garrett’s pants and licking the wetness. The act sent blood pounding and
his cock throbbed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
made short work of Tolliver’s shirt and pants. Not wasting a second of their
alone time, he leaned over and sucked Tolliver’s slim cock deep into his mouth.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver
arched his back and groaned. Garrett used his tongue to caress the smoothness
of his wee one’s hard shaft. One long intense suck and spurts of cum coated
Garrett’s tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
had to let go of his prize when Tolliver tugged his shirt over his head and
tossed it away. Bare chested, he looked down at his soulmate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Their
gazes locked together. “I love you, my wee one.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
love you, too.” The corner of Tolliver’s mouth lifted.” Now, hurry up, one
climax is never enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Greedy,”
Garrett teased. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver
chuckled, “Always.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
shed his pants while Tolliver reached for a bottle of slick, they kept in the
small supply bag. Once he settled down next to Tolliver, he brushed his fingers
down the sweet man’s chest, concaved belly, and over one slim thigh. Tolliver’s
cock had reawakened and now bobbed, hard and needy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Here.”
Tolliver squeezed the bottle, coating Garrett’s fingers with the clear gel. The
bottle shook and sweat shown on his forehead. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
made it his life’s work to see to his wee one’s needs. That Tolliver longed his
loving made the giving all the more special. Time to get down to the good
stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver’s
tight bud gave away under Garrett’s slick covered finger and his fingertip sank
into his husband’s warm tightness. Garrett worked at softening the muscle
guarding Garrett’s idea of paradise. It gave away and his finger slid deep.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“More.”
Tolliver’s pumped his hips.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
granted his husband’s wish and eased in a second finger. He watched his fingers
slide in and out as he fought the overpowering need to bury his cock inside
that sweet hole. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One
more finger had Tolliver squeezing his muscles. “So full, damn, I’m going to
come again.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Breathe,
baby.” Garrett pulled his fingers free and coated his throbbing cock with slick
before moving between Tolliver’s legs and lifting his hips. His lined up his cock
and push inside. “Sweet mother of mercy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver
gasped, “I love it when you talk dirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
ride was glorious as Garrett thrusted deep, prying between the walls of
Tolliver’s hole. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All
sounds faded except the blood roaring in his ears. Tolliver’s legs gripped his
hips, and the small man took his cock deeper. Every plunge in was exquisite and
every pull out heightened the pleasure. The base of Garrett’s spine tingled,
indicated his orgasm was close.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tolliver’s
cry had Garrett looking down to find his husband pumping his cock between tight
fingers as pearls of white cum spurted over his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garretts’s
gut tightened, and pressure built. His balls pulled up and cum barreled down
the length of his cock. The explosion pulled a groan from Garrett as he bathed
his husband’s hole with jet after jet of cum.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Once
he finished, Garrett pulled out and collapsed next to Tolliver. He needed a
moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
boneless Tolliver managed to bend his elbow and wave his hand in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Damn,
we’re good.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Garrett
had to agree. Far off inside the hacienda he heard the faint ring of a phone.
Their small snatch of alone time had ended, and it was time to face the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-85712238049236776082021-09-06T06:16:00.001-07:002021-09-06T10:57:10.535-07:00Chapter Three<p> Happy Labor Day!</p><p>Yesterday family came over for hamburgers on the grill. I'm so glad. Mr. B was having a hard time with being in A-fib again. By the afternoon his heart rate settled and he popped out. Yay!!</p><p>Today will be a quiet day washing clothes, watering plants, and writing. At least I hope it's quiet. We'll see.</p><p>Here's some more of Reese's Return. </p><p>Have a wonderful week.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“On
a scale of one to ten, Mr. Sanchez. What is your pain level?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
opened his eyes and looked at the middle-aged nurse. He decided not to throw in
a wince or groan in response to her question. The lady’s sharp gaze and cool
professionalism told him that she would see through a snow job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A straightforward answer would get him where
he needed to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Seven.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He
watched her touch his fingers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do
you have any sensations in your arm, Mr. Sanchez?” The woman’s gentle touch
traveled over Lee’s wrapped arm encased in a special sling, keeping his arm
stationary against his chest. “Tingling or pricking? If I squeeze your fingers,
can you feel anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
wondered if she was trying to trick him. He remembered the doc who performed
the surgery explaining that the nerve block he’d inserted into his shoulder
wouldn’t wear off for around twenty-four hours. He was sure that amount of time
hadn’t passed, at least he hoped not. He had things to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing,”
Lee answered. Now, if the woman wanted to discuss pain, his side hurt like a
bitch. The knife that had messed up his arm had also done a number on his side.
According to the same doc who reattached what was left of the tendons and
muscles of his arm, had also used a bunch of shiny staples to pull together the
flesh of his side. His saving grace had been that no organs were damaged. Yay
him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
nurse let go of his hand. “I’ll go get your medication. We’ll be changing you
to oral pain relivers soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thank
you.” See, he could be nice even if he wanted to swear a blue streak and demand
she shoot him up with the good stuff before standing out of his way. No need,
at this point, to give away his plans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
door shut behind her with a quiet click. Lee glanced at and waited for the big
black man in the corner to say something. Not much escaped Isaiah Briggs, the
deadly weapons expert for Rescue for Hire West. His presence said that Roman
was with Reese and soothed a tiny bit of Lee’s concerns. Not enough to stop Lee’s
plans. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah
nodded and Lee took that action as an understanding between them. Lee would do
what he had decided, and Isaiah knew what he was up to. He saw that the team’s
tracker, Santos Elbarize, had caught the exchange. Good, as far as Lee was
concerned, they were all on the same page. Mentally he dismissed Isaiah’s
husband, Carson, and Santos’s husband, Tristen. No matter how banged up he was,
the smaller men wouldn’t stop him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t
worry, I think the feeling in your arm and hand should return in about twelve
hours.” Parker Curry Kent, one of the team’s paramedics, reached over and
lowered the bedsheet, and began poking at the skin surrounding the bandages
covering Lee’s side. “So far there’s no indication of infection. They have you
on some powerful antibiotics.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
kept his mouth shut. They had told him Reese was alive and at a different
hospital, but nothing more. Too much time had passed since the attack.
Something must be wrong. Reese had a deep-seated hatred of hospitals, and no
way was he voluntarily staying in one. Whatever the circumstances, Reese needed
Lee, and Lee needed to be with him. They were a team against whatever the world
threw at them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
door opened and the nurse entered. “Okay, let’s give you a little something to
take the edge off and try to keep ahead of the pain. Next time, Mr. Sanchez,
please say something before the pain reaches over the center of the pain chart.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
didn’t bother to answer and watched her insert the drugs into his IV line. He
closed his eyes and waited. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Moments
or hours later, panic surged through his system. He opened his eyes and sat up.
A red hot poker of fire punched through his side. Shit, damn, that hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
withdrew into himself and let steely determination take over. He whipped off
the sheet and ground his teeth together as he shifted his legs off the bed. He
paused and let the fog fade, the room coming back into focus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
are you doing?” Parker stood and rushed over to Lee. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Take
out the IV,” Lee ordered. “Or, I will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Lee.”
Parker placed his hands over Lee’s. “There’s a good chance you are going to be
discharged by this afternoon. Wait until the doctor releases you. You’re going
to need the meds he prescribes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Reese
won’t wait and if he’s incapable of leaving the hospital, he needs me there.”
Lee kept his gaze unwavering as he looked at the smaller man. “I’m leaving now.
Help me or get out of my way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
call Roman,” Tristen threatened from his chair next to Santos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
lifted one eyebrow at the pretty man. “Do you think I care?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
should,” Tristen replied. “If it weren’t for Roman and Jimmy, we wouldn’t be
sitting here and babysitting your sorry ass.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
nodded toward the other side of the room. “There’s the door. After you go
through it, leave it open for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“If
you were in the hospital, </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">anjinho,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> nothing would stop me from being at your side.”
Santo’s ran a finger down Tristen’s cheek. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Tristen stared at
his husband, a soft smile curving his lips. “Even if he manages to walk out of
here and get to the hospital, they probably won’t let him into the ICU. They
only let Roman see him for fifteen minutes every hour.” Tristen glanced at Lee
and sniffed. “I don’t know why he always has to give everyone a hard time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee had heard enough. He placed his feet on the
floor, stood, and sat back down. The room twirled around him as sharp daggers
pierced up and down his injured side. An unwanted groan left his lips and he hunched
over in pain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Breathing didn’t matter. Agony, be damned. He
fought to push aside all discomfort and tried to stand again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Sit.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The quiet word seeped through the roaring pain. Lee
opened his eyes to find Carson standing in front of him and holding a bundle of
clothes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Your shirt is missing.” Carson lifted the material
a few inches as if to show Lee what he carried. “It must not have been
salvageable after the attack. I have one of Isaiah’s here that should fit you.”
Carson bit into his bottom lip for a moment before continuing. “Can I help you dress?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee knew Carson’s history. The vicious scars
bisecting his cheek and across his throat bespoke of the abuse he had endured
during a dark time in his life. Lee saw nothing of the pompous, over-confident,
and arrogant man he’d heard Carson used to be, in the meek person before him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee relaxed back on the bed and nodded. “Thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Carsen set the clothes down next to his feet. That
was when Lee noticed the smaller man’s hand and arm wasn’t as coordinated as
the other. He had forgotten that Carsen had lifelong physical challenges, not only
from his abuse but from a plane crash that had killed his abuser.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">After arranging Lee’s underwear and shorts, Carsen
held them out. “Can you lift your foot?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee ground his teeth together as over the next few
minutes pain dragged out into imagined endless hours. By the time his shorts
were up around his hips and Parker had helped remove the sling to jury rig the
shirt around his bandaged arm and body, sweat dripped down the side of Lee’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“As a medic, I have to advise you to remain in the
hospital until the doctor releases you.” Parker adjusted the sling back in
place. “As a husband, I understand your need to be with Reese.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee took a few precious minutes to regroup and let
the drugs still running through his system create that floaty, on the clouds
feeling, that softened the ache in his side. He didn’t dare rest long. Reese
needed him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">He looked at Parker. “I’m glad you understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee reached over and grabbed a tissue from the box
sitting on the portable table next to the bed. One firm tug and the needle in
his arm lay on the bed. He pressed the tissue against the hole welling with
blood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Amid the shouts of displeasure, Lee rose and headed
for the door. He made it to the lobby of the hospital before reality hit. He
had no ride to whichever hospital Reese had been taken to. He reached down into
his shorts pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Are you looking for this?” Tristen held up a small
white bag with the hospital emblem decorating the side. The type of bag used to
store a patient’s keys, phone and wallet. In his other hand he held Lee’s
shoes. Damn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee’s temper simmered before frustration fueled the
embers into flames.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“Give me that.” Lee moved toward the little shit.
He’d had enough of Tristen’s sarcasm and runaway mouth. The room tilted and Lee
caught himself before he faceplanted against the tile floor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Parker grabbed Lee’s uninjured arm. “Santos went to
get our ride. Try to slow your breathing. If you pass out, none of us will stop
hospital personal from wheeling you back up to your room.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">“I’m not going to pass out.” Lee jerked his arm
from Parker’s grasp. “Nothing will stop me from going to Reese.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lee concentrated on the glass doors in front of
him. Once he made it through them, he’d centered his attention on the SUV that
had pulled up to the curb.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">*
* * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
did you say to Morgan?”<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
stretched his legs to relieve his stiff muscles. Too much coffee congregated as
though it were a lead weight in his guts. The previous afternoon and night had
seemed endless. The tiny waiting room outside the Intensive Care Unit only
contained four chairs. Roman had let family members of other patients have
them. Hospital hallway floors were not meant to camp out on. Roman’s body had
decided to object to the misuse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing.”
Roman wiped his hand over his face and waited for the reaction that he knew was
coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy’s
tantrum the day before had been epic when it became apparent that no one wanted
to accompany Isaiah to the hospital where Lee was having surgery. They all
wanted to support Reese, not Lee. His feisty husband had let them have it with
both barrels of spicy language intended to reprimand and instill guilt at their
resentment of Lee. Roman still beamed with pride just thinking of how that
scene had played out. His little bit had been magnificent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What?”
Jimmy pulled away from Roman’s side. “Technically this is a rescue and Morgan
opted out of it. Please don’t tell me that you believed all that garbage he was
spouting about the children needing him and his skills are better suited in his
computer room if we require his services? What a bunch of bunk.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It
doesn’t matter if I believed him or not.” Roman watched Jimmy rub his stomach.
The man had been doing that a lot lately.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
tipped his head to the side. “What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Morgan
gave me valid points for his decision to stay at the hacienda.” The corner of
Roman’s mouth lifted, and he watched Jimmy’s answering sparkle light up his
gorgeous green eyes. “Why would I make him come along when his conscious will
do all the work for me? It didn’t escape my notice that Tatum was on the phone
the entire plane ride. Morgan has moved on from his past with Reese and Lee. He
just hasn’t realized it, yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
sat back against the wall and chewed on his bottom lip. After a moment he
chuckled and shook his head. His gaze shifted and locked onto Roman’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sometimes
you still amaze me,” Jimmy admitted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Warmth
filled Roman’s chest. “That’s why I’m the leader of this team, little bit.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s
not what I mean.” Jimmy’s gaze narrowed. “What blows my mind is that you see
and understand everything when it comes to the team and yet, with me, you’re
blind as a bat.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Surprise
froze Roman in place. Where the hell had that accusation come from. His mind
raced over the last weeks and found nothing out of the ordinary between him and
Jimmy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Before
his could respond, Jimmy’s phone rang. As Jimmy swiped a finger over the
screen, Roman caught a glimpse of Tristen’s name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Be
ready, we’re almost there.” The urgency in Tristen’s tone sent Roman sitting up.
“Tell Roman that Lee’s flew the coop. He refused to stay in the hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
are you talking about? Where are you?” Jimmy demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’ve
turned onto the drive that takes us up to the front doors of the hospital
you’re at,” Tristen answered. “Lee is on some heavy drugs and stung out. Parker
is trying to keep him calm, and Isaiah looks ready to knock him out to shut him
up. Tell Roman to get his hard as nails ass down here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“My
husband’s ass is none of your business, brother,” Jimmy sputtered. “Keep your
eyes to yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What-ev-er,”
Tristen replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
snaked his arm around Jimmy’s waist and stood, taking Jimmy with him. Once his
still arguing husband was steady on his feet, he let Jimmy go and nodded at
Rhys and Tatum, who were already on their feet and waiting. The two men flagged
Roman as he headed toward the elevators. He’d stepped into the small
compartment, ready to take them down to the lobby, when he realized someone was
missing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He
turned around and through the still open doorway he saw Jimmy, standing all
alone where Roman had left him. The cellphone lay on the floor at Jimmy’s feet.
Jimmy’s face shown stark white, and his eyes were wide. His chest heaved as he
gasped for breath, his hands clutching his stomach. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Their
gazes met.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
jumped into action before he thought about it. His senses screamed danger.
Something terrible was wrong with his little bit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As
Roman reached Jimmy, the man’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. Roman caught
Jimmy’s boneless body before he could hit the floor and scooped him up into his
arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never hesitated and whisked
Jimmy down the hall. When he reached the ICU doors, he yanked one open and
raced inside.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
need some help here,” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Men
and women, adorned in white coats and colorful scrubs, swarmed from behind the
large workstation and glass enclosed patient rooms. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A
gray-haired man with round wire rimmed glasses urged, “Sir, bring him this
way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
carried Jimmy into an empty room and laid him onto the bed. He let himself be
pushed backward and out of the way. Instincts told Roman the situation was
dire. His heart cried out a prayer that these people could give his Jimmy the
help he needed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">An
IV was inserted and an oxygen mask placed over Jimmy’s nose. The gray-haired
man listened with a stethoscope to different places on Jimmy’s chest and
abdomen while a woman in scrubs began cutting off Jimmy’s clothes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
fingers tightened into fists, the helplessness of the moment roaring in his
ears. This was his heart. The keeper of his soul. The one who owned every cell
of his being. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He
tried to slow down his breathing. He tried to grasp onto his ingrained
professionalism. To find the calm that had saved many lives. He tried to
comprehend what was going on, and failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One
of the men in white shouted. The words, “shock”, “surgeon” and “stat” filtered
into Roman’s wavering understanding. For the first time in his life, a red haze
of panicked emotions over-rode his usual steely resolve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
people in the room began what seemed a choregraphed motion of movement. The
rails on either side of the bed were lifted. One person started pushing the
rapidly beating heart monitor forward while another grabbed the pole containing
multiple IV bags. A man in scrubs stepped on a lever and the bed began to move.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
arm was grabbed. He looked down to find Rhys urging him to back out of the
doorway.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“We
have to let them pass, captain.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
blinked and stepped out of the way just as Jimmy was wheeled past him. He
reached out and managed a whisper of a touch on his arm. An unwanted voice in
his head said this could be the last time he saw Jimmy alive. Roman shoved that
thought away with a vicious thrust. He would fight the devil himself to keep
his precious little bit, with him, in this world. That voice laughed. Jimmy’s
fate wasn’t Roman’s to control.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Excuse
me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
found a young woman standing in front of him, holding an electronic tablet.
When he couldn’t form a word of polite conversation she continued.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
man you carried in here. Would you happen to know his name?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Jimmy,”
Roman choked out. “James Earl Marshall. He’s, my husband.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
woman nodded while her stylist flew over the tablet’s screen. “Does James have
high blood pressure? Does he take any prescriptions?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No
to both questions. And he prefers to be called, Jimmy.” He would always be
Roman’s, little bit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Does
he take recreational drugs, legal or illegal?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A
spark of anger had Roman asking, “What are you accusing him of?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing,
sir.” The woman met Roman’s gaze and held it. “We aren’t the police. Our job is
to help. We can’t do that unless we have all the information.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
took a deep breath to try and calm his ragged nerves. “Jimmy doesn’t take drugs.
He does have a drink of alcohol socially once in a while.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Is
there any family history of aneurysms?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
heart skipped a beat. “Is that what’s wrong with him? Does Jimmy have an
aneurysm?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tatum
James entered the elevator. The situation with Reese, Lee, and his husband,
Morgan, was about to get a whole lot more interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He
turned and spotted Jimmy’s bent over figure, down the hall. He took in Jimmy’s
ghost white face, the shine of sweat covering his skin, and his hands pressed
against his abdomen. Beside him, Roman burst into action and ran to Jimmy, with
Rhys following.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In
Tatum’s years of medical service, he’d had to make many split-second decisions.
Could he have helped Jimmy in any way? Maybe. On the other hand, Roman had
already rushed the smaller man into the Intensive Care Unit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tatum
let the elevator doors shut and pressed the lobby button. Given the fact that
Lee had surgery the night before and had left the hospital without a doctor’s
consent, Tatum decided his services were better suited, at the moment, to help
with the circumstances he suspected were about to unfold in the reception area
downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
phone in Tatum’s pocket vibrated and he pulled it out. Morgan, with his arms
around their happy brood of a precious blond-haired little boy and four beloved
black children smiled up at him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
elevator doors opened to the lobby as he swept his finger over the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey,
sweets.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
Uber driver is about to drop me off in front of the hospital,” Morgan stated.
“Any news on Reese?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Roman
is the only one allowed to visit him in the ICU.” Tatum left the elevator and
headed toward the front entrance of the hospital. “He’s been going in and
sitting with Reese until they kick him out. Reese is still on life-support,
although he’s starting to breathe on his own.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Okay.”
The tone of Morgan’s voice had grown quiet. “I’m here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
call ended and Tatum paused at the window beside the doors. A dark blue sedan
pulled up to the curb and stopped. The back door of the car opened. Tatum would
recognize those well-worn work boots anywhere. A jean clad leg and the bottom
corner of a plaid shirt appeared. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At
the same time, a large SUV parked behind the sedan. The passenger’s side backdoor
opened, and Tatum watched Parker jump out. As his teammate went to open the
front passenger door, Tatum grabbed a wheelchair sitting next to the doors and
hurried out of the hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-20015653986826636752021-08-30T05:11:00.000-07:002021-08-30T05:11:18.263-07:00Chapter Two<p> The summer has flown by. Schools around here start today or next week. We've been enjoying watching the hummingbirds performing their acrobatics around the feeders. We had a bald-faced wasp problem but Mr. B took out his high powered shop vacuum and sucked them up. I have to say, he enjoyed that too much. lol</p><p>Mr. B is in A-fib again. Has been since yesterday. I suppose we're going to have to call the heart doc. Last week, we were at the doc's, four days out of five. Flipping in and popping out is expected. It's when he doesn't pop out is the problem. That will lead to heart damage and failure. Thank goodness his heart doc is one of the best. </p><p>Okay, here is a little more of Reese's Return.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
finished brushing Twyla’s tail and set the curry comb back onto the shelve. He
scratched the underside of the mare’s jaw before guiding the horse back into her
stall. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“There
you go, sweet thing.” Jimmy unhooked the lead rope from the horse’s halter and
caressed the side of her neck. “You’re exercised and beautiful. Joe will be in
later to give you some grain and tomorrow we’ll take a ride on the south trail
to the pond.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
paused and rubbed the small of his back, wondering if he’d strained something. The
front pocket of Jimmy’s jeans vibrated and began to ring. He pulled the phone
out and read his brother Tristen’s name on the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What’s
up.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tristen
had been talking about seeing the latest Disney movie in town. It had become a
tradition for the twink squad, the smaller husbands of the team, to set aside
one day a month in town for food, fun, and end the adventure at the cinema with
lots of popcorn and candy. Jimmy was more than ready for some de-stress time.
He loved his life and all the people in it, but sometimes the hacienda could
get on his nerves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
rubbed his belly and decided he must be getting an ulcer. He had to admit his
short temper and all-around crabbiness over the last few weeks might be
attributed to the deep ache in his stomach that could stopped him in his tracks
and leave just as fast. Jimmy wondered if he should have it checked out before
the last of Roman’s patience snapped and the big man’s hand connected with his
ass. As off-balance as he felt, a spanking wouldn’t lead to the usual epic, hot
as sin, sexual marathon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
need to get up here.” The distress in Tristen’s tone caught Jimmy’s entire
attention. “An emergency call came in while Carson was in Roman’s office. Reese
is in trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
prick of emotional hurt joined the deep ache in his belly and soreness of his
back. No matter how many people joined the household, there would always be a void
of emptiness left by Reese’s absence. The man needed to come back to the family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
be right there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
took a minute to scroll through his contact’s list on his phone. With a press
of a few buttons, he sent out a text, ordering all the team member’s husbands
to meet him in the hacienda. Within seconds, texts came back letting him know
they were already there and that their husbands had let them know what had
happened. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What
the hell?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew committed relationships had their ups
and downs. His years with Roman tilted toward many goods times with little
troubles between them. Of late, between rescues and the number of children that
had needed a safe place to stay while their adults sorted their lives out,
Jimmy no longer seemed to be Roman’s number one priority. He hated that he felt
this way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
he stalked out of the barn and climbed into one of the hacienda’s utility
vehicles, Jimmy made a decision. After this latest emergency he would be giving
Roman a much-deserved earful and then they were getting away from Los Héroes
and going on a vacation. No phones, internet, or smoke signals would be allowed
on this trip. Just two people, reconnecting. Nothing was more important than
each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
ride through the opening in the stone wall and across the back lawn was short. He
found the kitchen deserted, as well as the rest of the rooms he moved through
to get to Roman’s office. The eerie quiet of the house pissed Jimmy off. When
had he become the outsider?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
opened the office door, ignored the people in the room, and confronted his
husband. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
the hell?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
gaze traced over Jimmy from his dusty boots to his face. The man might as well
have used his hands to explore the secrets of his body. Goosebumps rose. Jimmy
wondered how that happened every time Roman looked at him, even after all these
years. Jimmy hung on to his anger by his fingertips.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Now
that we’re all here, we can get down to business.” Roman touched the wooden
chair next to him that had been Jimmy place since the beginning of their
relationship. “Little bit, come sit and take notes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wait,
what? Roman’s comments implied that he’d been waiting for him? Was he supposed
to be able to read minds now? Had Roman decided to use telepathy when he needed
him? Jimmy sighed. Stating facts at the moment would make him look as if he
were a shrew. Which he wasn’t, no matter what his brother said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
moved to the chair and sat. Beside him, Roman began to speak. Jimmy grabbed his
wand and electronic tablet from the desk’s top drawer and listened to the man
who was his whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
received a call from Lee Sanchez,” Roman stated, and every member of the team
stiffened. “Reese has been attacked at the beach. I assume Lee was also
attacked as he could only talk for a few minutes before a nurse grabbed the
phone and he was taken to surgery.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
hospital are he and Reese at?” Morgan, the team’s computer and gizmo expert
shifted the laptop sitting on his crossed legs to a different position and
began typing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
studied Morgan’s face. A small line between the man’s eyebrows deepened and he
chewed on his bottom lip. There was no love lost between Morgan and Lee. Lee
loved Reese, and at one time Morgan had loved the idea of a romantic
relationship with Reese. That would have never happened. Those two men weren’t
suited. Morgan, and his husband, Tatum, who was one of the team’s medics, on
the other hand, were mates of the mind, soul, and heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Lee
is at the Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.” Roman picked up his pen, twirled
it between two fingers, before letting it drop back onto the desk. “Lee told me
the authorities airlifted Reese from the beach. He doesn’t know where they took
him.” Roman’s gaze narrowed on Morgan. “I need to know the nearest hospital
with a trauma center and a bird landing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Is
it possible that Lee is confused, and they took Reese to Mission Hospital,
too?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
turned his attention to Parker. The team’s other medic sat between his two
husbands. Jimmy thought Parker won the lottery every night when he retired to
the bedroom with those muscley hunks. Yum. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
hand grazed the side of Jimmy’s leg. The small gestured pulled his mind back to
his own husband whose looks and massive muscles outshone, in Jimmy’s opinion,
every man in the room. Now Jimmy wanted to know how the guy knew his mind had
wandered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Reese
isn’t at Mission Hospital.” The conviction in Roman’s tone ended that idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“UCI
Trauma Center and Inland Valley Medical Center are the closest trauma centers
to San Onofre State Park,” Morgan stated as his fingers raced over his keyboard.
“Thanks to a nifty little program I may have stumbled upon, we now have a
genie’s ball to tell us what we need to know. Never again will we hit bullshit
walls like we did the first time Reese disappeared.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of
course, what you’re doing is on the up and up?” Roman asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
didn’t care how many laws Morgan broke. They needed to find Reese.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Morgan
leaned closer to his computer monitor. “According to the information here,
UCI’s bird brought in a victim with multiple stab wounds from San Onofre State Beach,”
Morgan announced while side-stepping Roman’s question. “He was rushed into
surgery where he currently remains. Inland Valley has had no new trauma
patients in the last twelve hours.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Silence
reigned as everyone seemed to be processing Morgan’s statement. Jimmy watched
Roman. The tell-tale twitch at the corner of his mouth and intense gaze told
Jimmy that his husband had a plan in mind with a hidden agenda. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Flyer,
make the arrangements to fly into the airport nearest UCI Trauma Center,” Roman
ordered. “Little Bit, we’re going to need rides and hotel rooms.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
waited for the kicker he sensed was coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Isaiah,
you and Parker will head to Mission hospital and monitor Lee’s condition,”
Roman directed. “Santos, you and I will confirm Reese is at UCI.” Roman’s gaze
scanned the room. “We’ll keep the rest of you updated on what we find.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
sucked in a breath and rested his hand on his belly as a sharp pain stabbed
through his insides. He had suspected that Roman was going to stir the pot
regarding the family’s feelings toward the Reese situation. He hadn’t thought
Roman was going to use an airplane engine powered kitchen mixer to explode the
thin membrane covering the still festering wound of Reese’s leaving Rescue for
Hire. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He
winced as the volume of everyone’s objections grew.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’re
not staying behind.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“When
someone is hurt, we all go to the hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Reese
is still one of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We
are family, and family sticks with family.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
object.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
hadn’t had to raise his voice to gain the room’s attention. Those who had
stood, settled back down into their seats and all of them waited for the big
man to speak. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
held back a snicker. Man, they’d been played by the best of the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
rested his elbows on the office chair’s arms and steepled his fingertips
together.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Who
of you want to go and who stays home?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garrett cleared his throat. The older man ran
the house with expert efficiency as well as cooked meals that would make angels
drool if angels did that sort of thing. If Garrett had something to say, Jimmy
let him. An irritated Garrett could result in multiple meals of dried-up cold
chicken and mushy vegetables. It seemed as if the rest of the gang thought
along those same lines. Everyone looked toward Garrett.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
keeper of the house reached over and entwined his fingers with the frail man
sitting in a wheelchair. Complete devotion and total love shown in the smile
that Tolliver directed at Garrett. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“My
wee one and I will stay and prepare for Reese and Lee’s homecoming.” Garrett
glanced at Jimmy’s parents. “We also have the children to consider. I’m sure
James and Peggy will help.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
heart attack that had ravaged his father’s health was called a widow maker for
a good reason. Not many people survived. James Earl had lived but the toll to
his body had forced him to give up his ranch to his oldest son and move to La
Heroes. Jimmy thought that decision had been a good one. The family of Rescue
for Hire West had welcomed his parents and everyone watched over them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Peggy
Earl nodded. “The two new foster children will need extra attention and school
is still in session for our kids.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Morgan
and Tatum may have adopted Keven and the four Thompson kids but the whole gang
thought of them as theirs. This hacienda of heroes and their spouses were doing
their best to raise them right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
stay and take care of all the animals,” Joe Beck spoke up. “I assume, you are
leaving Norman and Sadie home?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rhys
and Santos nodded at Joe’s question. They wouldn’t need to take their tracking
dogs along to California. This missing person rescue would be solved by a
computer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joe would have his hands full taking care of
all the animals accumulated over the years. Besides the tracking dogs and the
horses that filled the barn, there were the outside cats, one spoiled inside
cat, a couple of guinea pigs, a tank filled with guppies, a Golden Retriever
named Sam, and of course Bentley, the Chihuahua. Yep, Joe would have his hands
full.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Cayman
and I are committed to quite a few jobs,” Seth, one of Parker’s husbands said.
“It will take us a couple of days to rearrange our schedules.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parker
touched Seth’s cheek and his other hand rested on Cayman’s thigh. “Don’t change
anything unless it looks as if we’ll have to stay longer than a week.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Cayman’s
eyebrows lowered. “We want to be there for you, Reese, and Lee.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll
call every day and we’ll decide together if you should join us,” Parker
answered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
could almost touch the love flowing between Parker and his plumbers. He glanced
at Roman. He bet the plumbers would never neglect Parker like someone else in the
room had been lately neglecting him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“If
you all are finished, we have plans to make,” Roman stated. “I want to be in
the air in less than two hours.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
need to call the shop,” Tristen pulled his phone out of his leather vest
pocket. “I’m sure Sabastian will understand that this is a family emergency.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
had to acknowledge that his spoiled brother had done good. After starting
part-time at a clothing store, he had not only worked hard and transferred to
fulltime, he’d also invested and become part owner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’re
going to need two planes,” Flyer said before popping a chocolate kiss into his
mouth. Jimmy wondered if he had stolen the candy from Rhys. Joe was always
giving his husband a kiss candy. So romantic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jimmy
hardly noticed Flyer’s leg bouncing any longer. Okay, that was a lie. It was
impossible not to see that leg’s constant jerking up and down. One time he had
sat on Flyer’s knee to try and stop the habit. Yeah, it hadn’t worked. Flyer
would always be Flyer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We
will split into two groups.” Roman picked up his pen and twirled it between two
fingers. “My group will go with Flyer and after we land, we’ll head to the
hospital to find Reese. Isaiah’s group will fly with Styx and go to Lee.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Styx,
Flyer’s husband nodded. He never said much. Being sucker ambushed by some
homophobic assholes had left him with a voice just above a whisper and a harsh,
gravely tone. It had improved for a while but disintegrated back to what he had
now. That never stopped foster kids from swarming the big, beefy, tattooed and
pierced mechanic. They saw beneath the surface of his bad boy image to the
awesome person he really was.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Now,
who’s going with who?” Roman asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">No
one spoke up. Jimmy knew what they were all thinking. They resented Lee because
they blamed him for Reese leaving the team and living with him on the beach.
Everyone had conveniently forgotten that Reese lost all his memories of Rescue
for Hire and the team. He hadn’t known any of them from a cartoon character on
television. They were all strangers in a strange place to him. Lee had been his
lifeline in a confusing world in which time, numbers, and letters held no
meaning. And yet, the group still resented Lee. All because they hadn’t gotten
the miracle cure they wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
all are assholes,” Jimmy sputtered and jumped to his feet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-46775018155073786962021-08-23T06:35:00.000-07:002021-08-23T06:35:23.480-07:00Chapter 1<p> Hello,</p><p>I'm sitting here and staring at a blank page, knowing I should write something. But what? Why I haven't published anything in a long time? Dealing with Mr. B's health crises? The high's and lows of the last couple of years?</p><p>I can't promise anything at the moment. Life is too uncertain. What I will do is try and give you a snippet of a story I have in progress. I'll try to give you a snippet every week and see how it goes. Who knows, it might inspire me to finish it.</p><p>Unedited !</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
grip tightened on the tongs and lifted the slivers of cooked onion before
loosening his hold and settling the bunch of buttery tanginess onto the meaty dog
snuggled in the bun’s softness. A squeeze of ever-needed ketchup topped the
meaty goodness. With quick, efficient, movements, he wrapped the hotdog in foil
and handed it to the young woman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thank
you.” He smiled and accepted the money before handing back the correct change.
“Enjoy and have a great day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All
the while, Lee Sanchez’s gaze never left the tall blond making his way along
the edge of the beach where the park’s trees met the sand. Instincts sharpened
by years of undercover police work told him that the two men following Reese
and the three guys in the woods, flanking his lover’s every move, were up to no
good. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
hair on Lee’s arms rose when the three guys stepped out of the trees and
blocked Reese’s way. A knife flashed in the late day sun sending Lee into
action. Reese wouldn’t pull out his weapon unless he felt threatened. Lee
grabbed his trusty baseball bat and leaped over the hotdog cart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese
Palmer schooled his expression to remain indifferent and kept his breathing
slow and even. Instincts he didn’t remember, kicked in, from when he was an
elite member of a group of experts who rescued people from natural and manmade
disasters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His neck prickled with
warnings of danger and muscles tightened in anticipation of reaction. He had
become aware of his stalkers, back up the beach after he’d given a homeless kid
a couple of hotdogs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Experience
had taught Reese that besides the fear of the unknown, hunger was at the top of
the list when someone had nowhere to go. A plastic baggy containing a card with
the address of the homeless teen shelter Reese’s friend Arden ran, and enough
money for a cab lined the foil wrapper of one dog. He hoped the boy left the
streets before the sex traffickers got ahold of him. Over the last few years,
Reese’s goal in life had been to help runaways and homeless youth escape the
dangers of the street.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
the situation weren’t so tense, Reese would have chuckled at his thoughts and
the use of the word, years. After the automobile accident, besides losing his
memory, he’d lost any concept of time, numbers and recognition of letters. He
had no idea the length of a year. Heck, he only knew a day began when the sun
rose and ended when the sun set. Whether those events happened on the same day
were still a mystery. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Movement near his side had Reese slamming to a
halt and bending into a defensive crouch. In his hand he held a small knife Lee
had given him for protection. By the sneers on the men’s faces standing in
front of him, Reese would need the blade if he had any chance of getting out of
the situation without serious injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You’re
costing us money, beachman.” The tallest guy flipped open a switchblade. “It’s
time for you to find another place to plant your ass. This is our turf.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
have nothing to do with your money.” Reese swung around and tried to keep the
men from closing in on him. “Leave me alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese’s
side erupted in fire. As he turned to face the threat, the tall guy lashed out
and his knife slashed across Reese’s belly. A jab to his ribs knocked Reese
sideways. A body smashed into him, sending him to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee’s
shout sent hope through Reese. He needed help.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
impact of his body hitting the sand knocked Reese’s breath away. The guy on top
of him raise his arm and Reese stared up at the sharp silver blade of a large
hunting knife.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese
grabbed the man’s wrist and shoved with all his might to stop the knife from
slamming into his chest. The guy’s determination to kill showed in the hate
glittering in his eyes and his thinning lips pulled back to show teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">His
strength waned and his arms started shaking. Pulling air into his lungs became
a hardship. Reese knew he’d been stabbed and sliced up. That he felt no pain
indicated that he was in trouble. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
son of a bitch!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
bat hit the man’s head with a bone crushing force. The telling sound of hard
plastic cracking indicated the fracturing of the guy’s skull. The impact threw
the man off Reese. Lee turned away. In one motion, he jabbed the bat into the
tall guy’s balls and without missing a beat, swung his weapon in a perfect
uppercut to the next guy’s jaw. A different man punched Lee on the side of the
head. Another man, with a small knife, jabbed Lee in the arm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese
tried to rise and help his lover but ended up collapsing onto his side. He looked
down to find the lower half of his shirt torn and drenched in blood. More blood
soaked a jagged tear in his shirt by his rib cage. The pools of red forming in
the sand concerned him. He had nothing to slow the hemorrhaging.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lee
sank to his knees beside Reese. “Please sunshine. Don’t leave me. Help is on
the way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why
would I leave you?” Reese wanted to touch Lee’s face, but his arm wouldn’t
work. He blinked back the gray trying to cloud his vision. “We need to dance
and say goodbye to the sun.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes,
we do, love.” Tears ran down Lee’s cheeks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese
watched Lee’s lips forming words. He found it curious that he heard no sounds,
and then didn’t care as Lee’s beloved face blurred and faded away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
Marshall tapped the end of the pen against the pad covering part of his desk, winced,
and threw the pen down. He refused to give away his thoughts or feelings
through his pen as his superior, Cade Miller, tended to do. All employees of
Rescue for Hire knew how serious a situation was by the extent Cade mangled his
pen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
the leader of a team of experts, located in Nevada, who rescued people from natural
and man-made disasters, Roman took pride in maintaining control at all times. His
men knew they could trust him to remain calm no matter how intense the situation.
Today, any semblance of tranquility had sailed out the window in an explosion
of deep dread. One of his men was in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
didn’t know who or what had happened, but his sixth sense was screaming and
blaring warning bells. He’d already put out a text demanding that his team
check in and all had responded. Still, his radar continued to ping out of
control.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Cade
had confessed to knowing things about his team before they happened. It seemed,
that Roman had gained that gift, or maybe curse. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
reached for his phone. It was time to call a meeting and see who needed him.
Before he touched the device, it began vibrating and ringing. Reese’s name
appeared on the small screen. Tension spiked. Even though Reese had left the
team over four years ago after a devastating brain injury, he was never far
from Roman’s thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“This
is Roman.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Reese
is dead!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman’s
heart dropped and ice incased his soul. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Shit.
This is Lee Sanchez. Reese was attacked and they took him away.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Slow
down.” Roman’s grip on the phone tightened. “Tell me what happened and who took
Reese.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Some
guys ganged up on Reese at the beach.” There was a long pause before Lee’s
shaking voice returned. “They had to air lift him out of there. No one will
tell me where he is or what’s happened to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Didn’t
the police inform you which hospital Reese was being airlifted to while they
were taking your statement of the incident?” Things weren’t adding up in
Roman’s mind. “The hospital should be getting ahold of Reese’s emergency
contact. I’d think that was you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Lately,
Reese has been forgetting his wallet.” Lee’s voice cracked and he cleared his
throat before continuing, “We had a late start this morning and I’m not sure if
he remembered to bring it along.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reese’s
car accident had taken his memories and damaged his brain. Many changes would
continue to happen as his brain created new paths to relearn the intricacies of
life. Some things would never be relearned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
about the police?” Roman kept his tone calm while he pressed for answers. He
noted a slur in Lee’s speech. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
haven’t seen them yet.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">An
unsettling idea popped into Roman’s mind. “Lee, where are you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
at the…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mr.
Sanchaz,” an exasperated voice interrupted Lee. “What do you think you’re
doing? You need to relax. You’re about to have surgery.” There was a small
pause. “Okay ladies, he’s ready for his ride.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t,”
Lee yelled. “I need to…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hello,”
the voice spoke into the phone. “This is Kelly McDonald. I’m a nurse at Mission
Hospital in Mission Viejo, California. Mr. Sanchaz isn’t able to talk right
now.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ms.
McDonald, can you tell me the nature of Lee’s injuries?” Over the edge of a
basinet sitting in the corner of the office, Roman watched the fingers of a
tiny hand flex. “Lee contacted me about the incident, and I hope to get there
as soon as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
sorry, sir,” the nurse recited the standard reply, “I can’t give out that
information.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
had expected the nurse’s answer but had tried anyway. He knew the privacy laws
of the country. Revealing a patient’s medical details could result in being
fired and licenses revoked. As he decided how he could push the nurse a little
to gain any hints of information, he watched the baby kick his little blue sock
covered foot sending the basinet into a gentle rock followed by a cute baby
grumble. The little one would need attention soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On
cue, the office door opened and Carson, the husband of Roman’s weapon’s expert,
walked into the room and went to the house’s latest foster child. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“By any chance can you give me the status of
the other victim in the incident?” Roman asked. “His name is Reese Palmer.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
sorry, sir,” again the nurse responded. “That information isn’t available at
this hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bingo!
By the woman’s answer, she had told Roman that Reese wasn’t a patient at Mission
Hospital. He now had something to work with. Luckily, he had a team of
professionals whose expertise centered on finding people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
thanked the woman, ended the call, and began texting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Has
something happened to Reese?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
hit the send button on his phone, pressed more buttons, and sent out a
muti-person text, before turning his attention to Carson’s quiet question.
Concern glistened in the man’s big blue eyes as he chewed on his bottom lip.
Roman’s critical opinion of Carson had changed over the years. He would always
despise the past intimacy between the small man and his own husband, Jimmy. He
knew people had pasts. Hell, he had his own. What mattered was how they chose
to live out their lives. Carson’s carpenter skills at keeping Los Héroes in
tiptop condition and his affinity to the foster care infants, brought to the
hacienda, here invaluable. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Reese
and Lee have been attacked at the beach.” Roman watched Carson’s eyes widen. He
knew Reese had helped Carson through the trauma of his torture at the hands of
a madman. Reese may have forgotten their closeness, but Carson never would.
Roman reassured Carson, “The team and I are going to head over there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Carson’s
lower lip trembled. “Please, bring him home.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Many
people had begged Roman to find and return their loved ones to them. He always
tried to walk the tightrope of never promising something he couldn’t keep
without dimming hope of a positive outcome. This time, the answer was clear as
glass and easy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
will.” Roman made his answer firm and final.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One
way or another, Roman would take care of Reese. Whether that meant leaving him
to continue to live out his life on the beach, bringing him back to Nevada to
heal, or the horrific responsibility of laying him to rest for eternity next to
his father.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Another
thought niggled at the edge of his brain. As the leader of this team and
family, was it time to enact a decision for the good of them all? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Carson
held Roman’s gaze for a moment before turning and picking up the baby. Roman
admired how Carson managed to handle the child despite the handicap of a weak
left arm. Hell, Roman admired the man’s scrappiness. He’d had to overcome
sadistic torture, debilitating injures from a plane crash, and Roman’s
hostility. The man had endured and in turn, gained Roman’s respect. And maybe,
Roman’s husband, Jimmy, had helped guide him to the conclusion that Carson
belonged in the Rescue for Hire family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
held back a smirk at the thought of how Jimmy’s temper and sarcasm over the
years had led to his hand meeting Jimmy’s delicious ass and the epic sex that
followed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
heavy hand rapped on the office door before the door opened and Isaiah, Roman’s
weapons expert walked in. A hint of a smile formed on the tall black man’s face
when he spotted his husband. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey,
baby.” Isaiah pulled Carson closer and kissed his forehead. “Did you manage to
fix that hole in the wall or has the little one taken all your time?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Carson
beamed up at Isaiah. “The hallway is back to normal. Roman watched the baby
while I set things right.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
Social Services agent had called earlier in the week, and Morgan, Roman’s
computer expert, had brought home a mistreated little boy. Sometimes a child
couldn’t comprehend that being taken to a new place where everyone was a
stranger was better than living with an abusive parent. Outbursts of fear and
anger were understandable. One of these incidents led to the child hacking at
the wall with a hockey stick.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m
sure it’s perfect.” Isaiah’s gaze stayed locked on Carson and gave the man his
entire attention. The big man’s adoration evident. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Carson
glance at Roman before looking back at Isaiah. “You need to help Reese. I’ll
leave you alone to make your plans.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
smaller man lifted onto his toes, kissed Isaiah’s mouth, and left the room.
Isaiah turned to Roman. His thick eyebrows lowered, and deep lines bracketed his
mouth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I
take it Reese is why you sent the text.” Isaiah move to his customary chair at
the side of Roman’s desk. “What’s going on with the medic?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
leaned back in his desk chair and picked up his pen. He’d texted Isaiah first.
The rest of the team would be arriving soon, but he wanted to give his best
friend and second in command a heads up on the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Lee
called and managed, before he was rolled into surgery, to tell me that Reese
was attacked on the beach,” Roman began relaying what information he had. “Lee
didn’t know what hospital Reese was taken to or his condition.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
long low whistle escaped from between Isaiah’s lips. The man sat back and
stared off into the distance. After a moment, he nodded and looked at Roman. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One
eyebrow lifted and a ghost of a smile appeared. “Operation find and bring those
two home once and for all?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“My
thoughts exactly. Now to get the others on board.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“The
love is there, it’s the hurt feelings that need dealing with.” Isaiah chewed on
the inside of his lip for a second before continuing, “Don’t get me wrong.
There won’t be any hesitation of the team in the finding and rescuing. The
aftermath is where I see the problem. Everyone will want to help him with his
recovery. The problem comes in where we’re all protective of our partners and
none of us want to expose them to the pain of losing Reese again.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You
didn’t include Lee in that statement,” Roman pointed out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Isaiah
shrugged one shoulder. “That’s another obstacle. Most resent and blame him for
Reese choosing to leave us and live by the beach.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
agreed with Isaiah’s assessment, but there was one other scenario the man
hadn’t mentioned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Everything
is moot if Reese is dead or dies.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“True.”
Isaiah sat up straight. “But we’re not going to let that happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
door swung open and the rest of the team walked in. Following them were their
husbands. Garret, the hacienda’s manager, and his husband, Tolliver, and
Jimmy’s parents were next to arrive. Carson brought up the rear. His pale face
and too bright eyes magnified his worry and fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
sighed. Time weighed heavy on his shoulders and they needed to get to Reese as
soon as possible. Now, he had a room full of concerned people he had chosen to
be his family and yet, the most important person was missing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
thunder of the soles of cowboy boots against tile floors echoed down the hall
and Jimmy appeared in the doorway. The smaller man jammed his hands on his hips
and glared at Roman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What
the hell?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-26755963934633357262020-12-28T05:57:00.001-08:002020-12-28T05:57:54.077-08:00<p> It snowed last night. Everything is frosted with 4 inches of the beautiful white stuff. I love snow. We are told to expect more snow tomorrow and more at the end of the week. I need to get into town and buy feed to fill the empty bird feeders. A squirrel must have gotten into them as they were full only few days ago.</p><p>Christmas day was a bit chaotic with four dogs flying around while squeaking their new squeaky toys. We had much laughter and too much food. And then the children went home and the house felt a bit empty. Mr. B and I snuggled on the sofa with our 2 dogs sleeping at our feet. Even with all the challenges of our world right now, there are some precious moments.</p><p>Maybe our lives aren't the storybook we've envisioned. I thought I would have many grandchildren and that looks not to be. Yes, it weighs heavy on my mind. But I think the trick is to grab on to the good moments and hold them close so you can pull them out when the bad moments happen. </p><p>My wish is for you to take this holiday season to recognize and enjoy the good moments. </p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-57469217108541708412020-12-04T06:17:00.001-08:002020-12-04T06:17:07.880-08:00<p> Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted here. It's already December. What a crazy and many times overwhelming year.</p><p>For those who are part of Facebook and have joined my fan club, you have seen some of the stories I'm working on. While its wonderful that my imagination is humming right along, I really need to be able to complete an entire story, start to finish. I'm working on that.</p><p>Yesterday, was one of those overwhelming days. Thank goodness I can reach out to fellow author, Stormy Glenn, when this happens. At one point I asked her what I should work on that day. She, of course, said I should write a short story for her ManLove winter addition coming out in January. She's no fool and wants to fill up the month with great stories. I seriously thought about it but ended up working Rescue for Hire West. My Rescue for Hire boys are like a warm blanket to me and their world is another home.</p><p>Technically I need another ten thousand words to complete the story. I laugh at the thought. The story will go another twenty, possibly thirty. Time will tell.</p><p>I wish you all a safe December. Please do what it takes to keep you and your loved ones safe.</p><p><br /></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-60331505408634730582020-10-13T06:06:00.001-07:002020-10-13T06:06:53.284-07:00<p> I'm so glad my daughter is feeling better. She did test positive for the virus but is one of the lucky ones to recover without intense hospital care. My oldest son wasn't feeling well but that turned out to be a 24 hour thing. He's dropping off his dog today and we'll be taking care of her for a few days while he helps with a wedding that he is the best man.</p><p>I'm still working of a Rescue for Hire West story. It's slow but steady. My concentration isn't what it should be. Everyday when I put on the morning news, its enough to unsettle the calmest person and I could never claim to be one of those people.</p><p>Have a great day.</p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-57732745751726174522020-10-07T12:28:00.004-07:002020-10-07T12:28:46.507-07:00<p> If we're lucky, we will find out tomorrow if my daughter has covid. She is showing all the signs. A scene from my WIP is running through my head all day. I'm about to sit and write it down. Hopefully I can incorporate it later into the story.</p><p>I just realized that last year at this time I and my daughter were preparing for an adventure of flying to Albuquerque New Mexico to visit my cousin and attend GRL. After the year we're having, that time seems so long ago.</p><p>I will take my own advice to enjoy the little things. As I write, I will enjoy this warm, sunny day, bright with fall colors. </p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-35466833275047250482020-10-05T06:35:00.000-07:002020-10-05T06:35:33.550-07:00<p> I've been distracted lately and writing has taken a back seat. The politics in the United States is overwhelming. Calm and stableness have disappeared for a long time now. Every week a major happening happens to the point that an event that in the past would cause a major uproar now results in a shrug. </p><p>My oldest son is coming home later this week, for a few days. He will leave his dog with us and travel north to help prepare for a wedding where he is the best man. His dog is a young, rescued German Shepard. She's very nervous and a bit high strung. I hope this goes well with our two dogs.</p><p>My daughter called yesterday. Some of you may have met her at GRL last year. She's sick. We've encouraged her to call the doctor and go in for a COVID test. She has the symptoms. What a helpless feeling. We live over 2 hours away and it isn't safe for me to go mother her with love and chicken soup.</p><p>My middle son is also coming over next weekend. He wants to try smoking bacon with his father. </p><p>On the note of Mr. B. He broke his little toe a few days ago while tearing apart a small wooden shed he built twenty-five years ago. I guess the maul he was using missed a board and hit his foot. It's a beautiful purple.</p><p>Well, I suppose it's time to get dressed and try a little writing. </p><p>Here's a taste of the story I'm working on. (unedited)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
Marshall tapped the end of the pen against the pad covering part of his desk, winced,
and threw the pen down. He refused to give away his thoughts or feelings
through his pen as his superior, Cade Miller, tended to do. All employees of
Rescue for Hire knew how serious a situation was by the extent Cade mangled his
pen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
the leader of a team of experts, located in Nevada, who rescued people from natural
and man-made disasters, Roman took pride in maintaining control at all times. His
men knew they could trust him to remain calm no matter how intense the
situation. Today, any semblance of tranquility had sailed out the window in an
explosion of deep dread. One of his men was in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Roman
didn’t know who or what had happened, but his sixth sense was screaming and
blaring warning bells. He’d already put out a text demanding that his team
check in and all had responded. Still, his radar continued to ping out of
control.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; mso-mirror-indents: yes; text-indent: .25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Cade
had confessed to knowing things about his team before they happened. It seemed,
that Roman had gained that gift, or maybe curse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Roman reached for his
phone. It was time to call a meeting and see who needed him. Before he touched
the device, it began vibrating and ringing. </span></p><p><br /></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-52193434416870856632020-09-25T07:39:00.001-07:002020-09-25T07:39:59.459-07:00<p> Time is flying. I believe its the end of three weeks since I began working on a Rescue for Hire West story. I have to say that I like what I have written so far.</p><p>Mr. B is fishing today. It will be the last time he has his big boat in the water for this season. Next week he will be busy winterizing it.</p><p>Well, I'd better get back to my story. </p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-69912763902724973442020-09-14T06:57:00.002-07:002020-09-14T06:58:42.847-07:00<p> Well, I'm about to start week 2 of writing a RFH story. I like how the story is going. Of course, I wish I could write faster. I also know I have to push that path to writer's block away. </p><p>It's the beginning of fall and I've been out in the woods a couple of times. I've seen gray squirrels and black. A bunny and deer. As soon as the cooler weather is here and the leaves start falling, I'll be spending more time out there. This time of year is my time and I'm lucky enough to be able to do it. </p><p><br /></p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-45606193467294547712020-09-08T12:21:00.002-07:002020-09-08T12:21:40.600-07:00<p> Wow! It's been a while since I've been here. To be honest I haven't had anything to say. I don't want to promise something I can't keep, so I stayed away.</p><p>Yesterday was Labor Day in the United States and I decided to spend it laboring on something I love, or at least I used to love. I worked on a Rescue for Hire story. I refused to think beyond the one day if I would keep writing the story. Now, today is the next day and I'm still working on the Rescue for Hire story.</p><p>Slow but sure the words are coming. Thoughts of the characters are whispering in my ear. The world I created years ago is again opening up. I even had thoughts of Granite County. </p><p>But, I make no promises. There are probably 40 thousand words between now and the end of the story. Then I would have to send it in to the publisher which is a whole different bundle of worms. </p><p>So, I'm taking this one day at a time. Rain is falling outside, and Mr. B is in the basement going through his stuff while muttering about needing to hold a rummage sale. All is good.</p>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-64901386763249998032020-07-23T05:00:00.000-07:002020-07-23T05:00:07.691-07:00Check out Aja and Ciena Foxx's newest addition to the Wilde Wolves series. Of course once I read it I right away wanted the next book. They told me it's in the works. Awesome.<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DHQXXSL?fbclid=IwAR2iZ4puyNAzhN69o2hprwNjg2qDUB4SL0Lkd4SOLJZUleSvs-AqNHXQHmM">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DHQXXSL?fbclid=IwAR2iZ4puyNAzhN69o2hprwNjg2qDUB4SL0Lkd4SOLJZUleSvs-AqNHXQHmM</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0I5HQDk0tkZB7fyD5_mzPpKRz_-kcITlO8YMGkoreWxSXMT17jx8sjoj-btADgcRGZKEqlUcNynu8zjLvzPH7r0h_MXGaZvVW8HfD1-AhYKYUOzhcxpzdvX0QsJ_SyZbco5cPaqpI3k5/s1600/3.+Lone+Wolf+-+Dan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0I5HQDk0tkZB7fyD5_mzPpKRz_-kcITlO8YMGkoreWxSXMT17jx8sjoj-btADgcRGZKEqlUcNynu8zjLvzPH7r0h_MXGaZvVW8HfD1-AhYKYUOzhcxpzdvX0QsJ_SyZbco5cPaqpI3k5/s320/3.+Lone+Wolf+-+Dan.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-54138836658306005822020-05-11T06:39:00.000-07:002020-05-11T06:39:27.446-07:00Day WhateverToday I snipped at the bangs of my hair. I'm smart enough to know that someone who knows nothing about cutting hair should not cut hair while wet. I have to say it doesn't look too bad. On the other hand whose going to see. I am watching the white and silver roots of my hair grow. If this lock down goes on for many more months I will have to cut off the colored blond portions. Gray hair appears early in my family. I made it into my 30's before having to color to cover up. I have cousins that colored their hair in the 20's because they went completely gray. For now a spiffy hat works when I do venture out for needed groceries.<br />
Take care and be safe.Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-10810659226051587942020-04-29T05:47:00.000-07:002020-04-29T05:47:02.423-07:00Today is rainy, windy, and a good day to stay inside. I've been busy this winter growing flowers and vegetables from seeds. In a couple of weeks they will be able to go outside.<br />
We are also watching for the Purple Martens to show up so that we can uncover the bird house. Those house swallows are trying like crazy to take over the house. They are vicious in fights and usually win against the Martens. So we cover the house to try and deter them from using it.<br />
Check out Ciena and Aja Foxx's new story, Denying His Alpha. This is from the Wilde Wolves series. I adore Iren from the story. He's so funny, he had me laughing throughout the whole story.<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087TJP8RC">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087TJP8RC</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RY0rUa7s9ZxlYgJyk6CnrDkXjFob1GUfCQv0QLsVu_IrmNPlp7iHRpPzRHJUwR5iMs7JNT-1IOmhz9zDAVJw9_eYSmC7wws_JdDiaEH3W0z7bgRofwX5Z_JT_m6mt8AF6sXXr_5Sa_57/s1600/2.+Denying+His+Alpha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0RY0rUa7s9ZxlYgJyk6CnrDkXjFob1GUfCQv0QLsVu_IrmNPlp7iHRpPzRHJUwR5iMs7JNT-1IOmhz9zDAVJw9_eYSmC7wws_JdDiaEH3W0z7bgRofwX5Z_JT_m6mt8AF6sXXr_5Sa_57/s200/2.+Denying+His+Alpha.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9018198892116284547.post-72998986033549170302020-04-25T05:34:00.002-07:002020-04-25T05:40:22.298-07:00Today Ciena Foxx's current work in progress is featured at ManLove Fantasies. If you enjoy my work, I think you'll like hers.<br />
You can find it here: <a href="https://manlovefantasies.blogspot.com/?zx=b334e7a1f4e47fda">https://manlovefantasies.blogspot.com/?zx=b334e7a1f4e47fda</a>Bellann Summerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10383979243618235659noreply@blogger.com0