Page 67 of Shadow Redemption

“It’s for your own safety.”

“When do you have to leave?”

“I’m not. I’ll be by your side every minute. Your doctor is clearing it with hospital personnel.”

“I can’t stay, Ben. What if I wake up screaming in the middle of the night?”

“I’ll wake you before that happens.” He squeezed her hand. “Another member of Shadow will be on guard at your door until we leave. No one will slip past us.”

“I don’t understand how this could have happened. I didn’t eat anything once we reached the beach.”

“Nico sent off our water bottles for testing at a private lab.”

A soft tap on the door brought his free hand to the weapon hidden under his shirt. Ben moved to block Ruth from the view of the person on the other side of the door.

Trace peered inside. “The orderly is here to take Ruth to her room. He’s clear. No weapons.”

He could imagine how well that search went down. Ben motioned for Trace to allow the man to enter.

A linebacker-sized man pushed a wheelchair into the room with a glower on his face. “I’m Emilio. I’m here to transport Mrs. Slocum to her room.” Emilio pushed the chair to the side of the bed, locked the wheels, and reached to assist Ruth from the bed.

Ben inserted himself between the orderly and Ruth. “I’ll get her. No offense, buddy, but we’re newlyweds. I don’t want any man touching her but me.”

The orderly backed off with his hands raised in surrender. “I have to push your wife to her room. Hospital rules.”

“No problem.” He turned to Ruth. “Ready?”

She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her into his arms.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered against her ear. “No one will touch you unless you want them to.”

He set her in the wheelchair and wrapped his hand around hers. Ben walked beside the wheelchair as Emilio transported Ruth to the elevator and then into her assigned room while Trace trailed behind them. When Ben lifted Ruth into his arms, the orderly raised the head of the bed, then pulled back the sheet and blanket for her.

After settling her on the bed, Ben nodded his thanks to the orderly. Once Emilio left, Ruth relaxed.

“Thank you.”

He bent and brushed his mouth over hers. “I’m happy to be seen as a possessive jerk who doesn’t trust any man around his wife.” Another kiss. “Rest now. I’ll be here.”

She closed her eyes as Ben sat in a chair by her bedside, her hand clasped in his.

Nurses checked on Ruth every two hours. By late afternoon, Dr. Garcia returned and pronounced her improved yet refused to release her until the following morning.

Nico took over the watch from Trace, sending Ruth’s brother-in-law to the hotel to rest. Sam and Joe would take the watch at midnight.

By the time the sun set, Ruth’s eyes were heavy. Ben brushed strands of hair away from her forehead. “Go to sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

“You’ll be so tired, Ben,” she murmured.

“With my teammates in the hall, I’ll nap between nurse visits.”

She looked at him, an unspoken question in her eyes.

He straightened, alert. “What is it?”

“Would you hold me for a few minutes?”

His heart turned over in his chest. “I’d love to.”