Flutters tickle my belly at the new title.
“Xia Foley,” I whisper.
“Hi Ms. Foley, I’m Doctor Thompson. “Mr. Spencer has had twelve stitches to his scalp. He’s lost a fair amount of blood and has a grade 2 concussion. He’ll need to be observed for twenty-four hours and another day or two of rest and recuperation depending on how he feels. He’ll be weak and lethargic from the blood loss, but it’s imperative you remain vigilant to ensure his not exhibiting any worsening of concussion related symptoms like time loss, confusion, or repeating himself. If that starts to recur with any frequency, he’ll need to be brought back immediately.”
I swallow. “O-okay. May I see him?” I’m not sure who I’m asking as I look from the doctor to Stone. He’s got an authoritative air about him. I saw the way one glance shut up a waiting room full of grown men hardened by a tough lifestyle.
“The nurse will be out to bring you back as soon as he’s all settled in. We’ll get you a prescription for some aspirin and get you on your way.”
“Thank you.”
I wring my hands.
“I hate to be meeting this way.”
“Me too,” I say quietly as questions arise in my head like smoke, non-tangible and hazy. Is he part of this gang? How could he keep something like that from me for so long? Did he leave to escape them?
My brain is still working overtime when I follow the nurse leading me back to a room. I step inside and the vest draped over the chair with the Charming patch damns him. I bite the inside of my cheek. Yelling at someone with a concussion would be like a one legged man in an ass kicking contest?pointless. Still, my blood simmers.
“Xia?”
The sight of his buzzed and bandaged hair makes my heart skip a beat. They’ve shaved the left side of his head. His skin is pale, and his eyes are unfocused. I walk over to the bed and take his hand.
“I’m here, Shayne. Your brother called m
e and asked me to come down and look over you.”
“Hmmm.”
“So, it looks like you forgot to tell me something rather important about yourself.”
“What?”
I glance pointedly at his vest.
“Oh, shit.” His brow furrows.
“Not right now. I’m not so petty that I’d leave you like this. But later we will be talking about this.”
He winces. “You’re pissed.”
“Livid. How could you lie about something like this?”
“I-I didn’t lie.”
“No, you just left out some important facts.”
“I had my reasons, Xi. It wasn’t intentional deception. We wanted to keep a low profile. That’s why I came down here as a civilian.”
“You sound like you’re in the military,” I whisper.
“Basically, we are.”
“You didn’t trust me to keep this to myself?” After everything, I told you?
“I had to get permission from Stone first.”
“Permission. God. Is this like a cult?”