Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7), Kaylie Hunter [guided reading books TXT] 📗

monitor so we could watch the video. It wasn’t easy to focus, but there wasn’t much to see. My attacker wore a beanie, pulled low over his forehead and ears, and kept his back to the camera.

“Damn,” Dave said. “He’ll be limping for a few weeks, that’s for sure.”

“I would’ve done more damage if it weren’t for the damn chloroform.”

“This is a problem,” Renato said, nodding toward the monitor. “He’s not a part-time smuggler picking up a side job.”

“I know,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “Santiago sent a professional this time. I got lucky.”

“Email that video to me,” Steve ordered the employee, dropping a business card on the desk.

Tyler helped me stand and took one side as Dave took the other. Renato walked out first, scanning the store, then the parking lot, as they half dragged me to my SUV and loaded me into the passenger seat. Tyler got behind the wheel. Renato and two of his men rode their bikes in front of us as Tyler drove us home. One of our security SUVs followed behind us.

“What do you need?” Tyler asked.

“For my head to clear. Shit. I can’t let Nicholas see me like this.”

“Headquarters?” Tyler asked.

“No way. I don’t need the men at Aces to grill me with questions. Besides, I’m not up to dealing with Grady or Sebrina either. Take me to the store. Katie can babysit my ass until my head clears.”

Tyler turned on his com and radioed Renato and whoever was behind us that we were making a detour. A few minutes later, Tyler pulled up to the back of the store and jogged around to my side of the SUV to help me inside. Farmer was one of the men in the other SUV. He helped Tyler get me in the building, across the inventory room, and into the breakroom.

“Thanks,” I said as they settled me onto a barstool.

Alex walked into the room with his hands pressed to his leather-clad hips. “I would totally be giving you shit for wearing sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt in public if you didn’t look like you’d just lost the war.”

“Just one battle. The war is just beginning.”

“Anything the non-fighter of the family can do to help?”

“Water and a wet rag for my forehead.”

Alex pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator and handed it to Tyler before walking out of the room. He returned a few minutes later with a warm wet rag for my forehead. “Did she see Doc?” he asked Tyler.

Tyler nodded, but he had worry lines creasing his forehead. “Said she’s to be monitored. No driving either.”

“I’m guessing we’re hiding her from Hattie and the kids until she looks less like death warmed over?”

“That’s the plan,” Tyler said, sighing. “I need to make a few phone calls. Can you watch her?”

“Go. I got her.” Alex pulled out the stool next to me and wrapped an arm around me. “Do you need to cry?”

“I’m too pissed to cry. I screwed up.”

“There’s always a first time,” Alex said, chuckling. “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

Despite my headache, I smiled. Then my stomach rolled. “Shit,” I said as I leapt off the chair to the trash can.

Alex held an arm around my waist and used his other hand to hold my hair as I puked. When I nodded that I thought I was done, he helped lower me to the floor. He handed me my water and wash cloth before getting me a paper cup to spit into.

Farmer walked in and wordlessly pulled the plastic bag from the trash can, carrying it out. Alex put a new bag in its place.

“Feel better or worse?” Tyler asked as he leaned against the door frame.

“Not sure yet,” I answered honestly.

“I’ve got Doc on the phone and he’s not surprised you puked, but he wants to know your pulse.”

Alex reached down for my wrist and counted it out as he watched the wall clock. “One ten.”

Tyler relayed the message. “Doc’s sending Haley over to help watch her.”

Alex took my washcloth and rinsed it before warming it in the microwave. When he handed it back, it felt like heaven on my forehead.

“Alex?”

“Yeah, luv,” he said, crouching behind me and rubbing my back.

“I puked on my sweatshirt. I need something else to wear, but I’m not wearing a bra, so it has to be something baggy.”

“Go find her something to wear,” Katie said, walking into the breakroom. “I’ll watch her.” Katie squatted in front of me. “You going to live?”

“Yup. Not ready to get up, though.”

“Let’s slide you back so you can lean against the cabinets.”

Katie half dragged me as I tried to scooch back. It was exhausting moving just those few feet, but the reward was that I could lean against the cupboards without worrying I was going to topple over.

“Explain why the rest of us have guards twenty-four seven, but you thought you were invincible enough to run around town on your own?”

“I fucked up.”

“As long as you know it,” she said, nudging me in the shoulder.

“Careful,” I said, sighing. “I might fall over.”

“If you do, I’m not catching you. You smell like vomit.”

Alex returned with a pair of jeans, a tight Henley, and a loose cardigan. As embarrassing as it was, Katie helped me dress while Alex stood guard outside the door. When I was decent, Alex helped me to my feet and over to the sink, handing me a new toothbrush and some toothpaste. From there, I was moved into a chair so Katie could apply foundation to my face.

Haley arrived and took my blood pressure and pulse again. She said it was improving, but she was ordered to shadow me until it was back to normal. I