Page 91 of Austin

Beckett rolls his eyes. “The pip-squeak thought she was gonna get you out alone. Gregg and I barely got your ass out of there.”

“Hey, hey, hey. I’m a hundred ninety pounds of solid muscle,” I correct, and the guy actually laughs. “Did you get in a lot of trouble?”

His brows rise. “Remember that, too, huh? I stayed with the car, and the cops arrested me for street racing. Gregg missed the security camera on the Southside of the warehouse when he was scouting. It recorded part of the race, but don’t worry, it was just enough for them to identify my car and not the driver. Since I stayed there, I’m taking the heat. Imagine how shocked I was when a fancy-pants lawyer came rolling into the station and declared himself my attorney.”

“Gregg called Bryce,” I guess, which makes sense, considering why I’m in this particular hospital. “You’re in good hands. And the car?”

“Totaled.”

“So, I guess you won the race?”

He shrugs in agreement. “I did. Though, to be fair, the tire blew. There was nothing you could do. If you weren’t as good of a driver, who knows what could have happened?”

“All right, now, I’m really starting to think those nurses doubled my dose. Did you just pay me a fucking compliment?”

“You tell anyone, and I’ll kill you,” he says seriously, and I believe him.

My eyes close again, but I try to keep them open. “I guess I have to be nice to you. You have my secret.”

He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, shaking his head. “I ain’t gonna get involved with any of that. The Falcon’s secret is safe with me.”

I look at him through one eye. “Why? Yesterday, you were ready to seek revenge and race me to the death.”

“Let’s just say, seeing Jalynn try to pull you out of that car let me know that you mean far more to her than I ever thought. Just be good to her, okay? She’s special. She won’t let you know when she’s having a bad day—or a good one for that matter. Jalynn’s the type to always mirror her actions based on what yours are. You have to watch out for that.”

I smile, knowing that I’ve uncovered some of her little secrets. From times as simple as treating her to lunch when she was having a bad day to giving her the adrenaline rush she needed to holding her while she shared stories of her past and trying to give her brother the prideful victory he needed. There’s still so much more I want to uncover about Jalynn, and I’m confident I’ll get to know her better than she knows herself.

“Is this part of the if you hurt her, I’ll throw you over the Bay Bridge speech?” I ask.

He nods. “Absolutely.”

“Then, I should also take the time to say thanks to you.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

“Saving my life. You’re a real hero, man.”

Beckett bows his head. He knows what he did tonight was more than just putting me in a getaway car. I stay silent, staring at his dark head as he looks down at the linoleum floor.

I give him the space he needs to work through whatever it is he has going on through his mind. Then, my eyes grow heavy, and I fall back to sleep.

* * *

“Back from Tahoe so soon?” I say when I open my eyes again to see Bryce standing next to the chair where Beckett was sitting in what feels like only a minute ago. “Please tell me you got some before you came rushing back here.”

“You wake up from brain surgery, and that’s the first thing out of your mouth?” Bryce asks.

I try to laugh but end up coughing instead, which causes me to close my eyes and roll my head back at the splitting pain that radiates through my skull.

“That’s what you get for talking shit about my sex life,” he says. “Good to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

“Still as charming as ever.” I smile

Bryce drops his head to his chest and pushes his hands deep into his pockets.

“You had me worried there.” Bryce sighs, looking up to the ceiling.

“I know you can’t live without me but no need to cry, big bro.”