Page 35 of Man of Honor
“We're brothers,” he said fiercely.“We don’t move alone. Not anymore.Promise me.”
That got both my eyebrows lifting.“You gonna promise the same?”
He didn’t answer; he couldn’t, and we both knew it.
"Fine," he said, letting out a long, resigned sigh and scrubbing his hand over his face."But come home, at least. Loretta will make you some chicken and dumplings.You know how she loves to fuss.”
I winced and shifted uncomfortably.The weight of Wyatt's stare was drilling through the back of my head.I didn't need to turn around to know he was there, watching silently from the kitchen.He wouldn't weigh in, and somehow, I knew he wouldn't hold me to our agreement if I forced the issue.Still, just knowing he was there settled the restless feeling inside me.
“We made a deal,” I said slowly.“I promised to stay until I’m all healed up.”
Dominic’s expression was scathing.“Brooks is a cop. He's no doctor.”
“Maybe, but I know he'll never let anything happen to me."
Dominic looked like he wanted to puke.He gave Wyatt a disgusted look.I glanced toward the kitchen, amused to see Wyatt wasn't even giving my brother the time of day.His eyes were all for me, gleaming with so much pride it took my breath away.
With a grimace, Dominic finally stood and gave me some breathing room."Have it your way, if that's how you want to play it," he said curtly, fixing the cuffs on his designer shirt.I wondered which sleeve had the dagger hidden—and why it was there in the first place."I'll take care of Mason and Gideon, butdon't expect me to just stand around once things go south with the deputy."
"Gage will never need to watch out for me," Wyatt said stonily.
Dominic's gaze slid toward Wyatt, slow and deliberate, as if sizing him up for the hundredth time and finding him lacking."History says otherwise," he said, razor-sharp with mistrust."You'd better believe I'll be watching.If you give me a reason, even one, I won't hesitate to step in."
He strode toward the door without a backward look at either of us.Wyatt trailed him out and didn't budge until Dominic's Lexus was pulling down the driveway.
"You two really hate each other, huh?" I asked, shifting around the squeaky leather, trying to find a comfortable position.
"Let's just say we're at cross purposes these days." Wyatt strolled over to me and sat on the arm of the couch, tucking a knuckle under my chin to lift my face."You know, you don't need to prove anything to me or your family."
“That’s where you’re wrong," I said, laughing bitterly.
He searched my eyes, then leaned down to kiss me, ever-so-fucking-gently, on my healing mouth."You look better," he said decisively.“Think you’re up for some food?It might not be Loretta’s dumplings, but I can hold my own.”
I considered it. My stomach felt emptier than the Dead End on a Sunday morning.Maybe some food wouldn’t kill me."Yeah, I could eat," I said, glancing down at my blanket covered lap."But I need some pants first."
Wyatt’s grin broadened, turning just a little wicked, and his eyes drifted appreciatively down my bare chest.“This way is better,”he decided, letting his gaze linger on my hardened nipples a beat longer than necessary.“You’re the tastiest looking thing I’ve got in this place.”
I snorted out a laugh, then hissed, clutching my injured side.“Didn’t know you got off on tenderized meat.”
Wyatt’s chuckle rolled over me, warm and rich, just like the look in his eyes.“Call it an appreciation for fine cuts, then.Besides,” he added, brushing his thumb gently over my inflamed cheek, “I don’t mind a few bruised spots.It just means you’re still here with me.”
My breath hitched. Warmth was blooming in my chest, and I was suddenly struggling to breathe properly, but I knew it had nothing to do with my injuries.It was the same glow I used to feel every time Wyatt looked at me.
I was in so much trouble.
He pulled back slowly, letting his fingers trail away from my face.“I’m glad you came to me, Gage," he said, deadly serious.
I forced myself to shrug my one good shoulder.“Yeah, well, I guess I could do worse for a nurse."
“Damn right.” He chucked me under the chin, winked, and then disappeared into the bedroom.A moment later, he was tossing a pair of gym shorts at me.“Here. Don’t say I never gave you anything.”
“Five stars for service,” I muttered, grinning like an idiot.
While Wyatt swept up the broken glass, I shimmied into the borrowed shorts.It wasn’t easy. My limbs didn’t seem to want to bend in any of the normal ways.By the time I snapped the elastic around my waist, I was out of breath and sweating.It took a fewthrow pillows to cradle my inflamed kidneys until they stopped throbbing, but it could have been worse.I was just grateful I wasn't pissing blood.
I sighed, relaxing into the pillows, and watched Wyatt move around the kitchen with a confidence that bewildered me.He cracked eggs into a skillet one-handed, whisking them with a splash of milk and a flick of his wrist.Five years of living alone had taught me to do eggs, but mine always turned out like rubber, not the fluffy golden pile Wyatt heaped onto a plate a few minutes later.He had a way of doing everything like it mattered.No wasted movements. I could have sat there all day watching him.
He was scraping some butter onto a piece of toast when he glanced up and caught me staring.“What?” he asked, giving me a perplexed smile.