Promises Part 1 (Bounty Hunters #1)(36)
When Duke thought about taking another bounty his heart clenched and his stomach rolled. The nightmares didn’t help him feel ready for it, either. Charlie kept asking him to see a psychiatrist, telling him that it was possible Duke might have some PTSD from his experience in that crack house. Duke would wait a while, but if they got worse, he fully intended to take the old man’s advice. He’d never steer Duke wrong.
He’d been sitting there for a couple hours when his side started to ache too much to ignore. Ribs took forfreakingever to heal. That’s where ninety percent of Duke’s pain came from. He had some in his back, but mostly it was those damn ribs. He knew his entire midsection been beaten mercilessly and there was still some internal bruising… All very painful… But he’d heal. He just had to be patient.
Duke shut down his computer and was about to stand when his phone rang on his hip. He picked up and saw Judge’s name up on the display. He hadn’t seen the big guy since he’d been discharged, but he knew how busy he was and Duke appreciated that Judge had ensured that his businesses stayed operational in his absence. Judge was a good friend to him. “Hey, man. What’s up?” Duke answered.
“Hey. You home?” Judge asked in that gruff voice that used to make Duke squirm. But weirdly… Not anymore.
“No. I’m at the office. Just stopped by to one: get out of the damn house, two: check in with Quick, but he wasn’t here.”
“No. I guess not.”
“What do you mean?” Duke said, flicking off the light in his office and locking the door behind him.
“Austin was at the hospital interviewing a witness that’s a patient on the fifth floor. Anyway, he called and told me Quick was there with his son in the Nephrology unit.”
Duke was shaking his head in disbelief as Judge spoke. That wasn’t possible because Quick had a bond he was working on at the courthouse and Vaughan was in Miami. Judge’s boyfriend must be mistaken. Duke finally broke into Judge’s side of the conversation. “He must’ve mistaken them.” Even the words sounded stupid to Duke’s own ears. How could he mistake Quick? And he damn sure couldn’t mistake Vaughan.
“No one can mistake Quick’s big ass, with that long fuckin’ hair and tattoos, man.”
Very true. “Well, how would Austin know who Vaughan is?” Maybe Quick was there with someone else.
“I showed Austin the pictures I took at Charlie’s retirement party and Austin specifically pointed out Vaughan asking who he was and I told him that he was Quick’s son, recently back from school. And Austin never forgets a face.”
“This isn’t possible,” Duke whispered to himself. Why would Vaughan lie? Or maybe he just got home and was checking on… Hell, Duke couldn’t come up with anything right then. Vaughan was at work. In Miami. Judge was still talking and Duke had to stop his internal monologue and listen.
“You know, man. I was skeptical when I saw him all over you at Charlie’s party. I really thought you were trying to get back at me or something… for… you know… and him being younger.”
Duke scrunched his entire face up at the absurdity. ‘Getting back at him.’ Is he fuckin’ serious? “Why the hell would you think some bullshit like that?”
“Chill. Chill. I know. It was dumb, okay. But it seemed weird for Quick’s son to be all over you, dude. You have to admit. But man. Anyone that would donate a kidney to someone else… That’s real dedication, man. The kid is all right in my book. Why didn’t you tell me it was him?”
“WHAT!” Duke screamed, immediately clutching his side in pain. He hadn’t realized that he’d been walking without thinking and was already back in his truck. He turned over the ignition since he was sweating from the heat that had filled the cab in the last couple hours. If he was going to think clearly, he had to cool off and breathe. His ears rang and his heart felt like it would beat right out of his chest and fall onto the floorboards.
“You don’t know,” Judge said timidly.
“WAIT! WAIT A FUCKIN’ MINUTE!”
“Duke, whoa. Calm down, please. I thought you knew.”
Duke could hear Judge cussing and swearing under his breath.
“Are you telling me that Vaughan is the donor?” Duke’s voice was so tinged with emotion and pain that he hoped his words were comprehensible. “Are you sure?”
Judge was saying something, but his voice was muffled like he had his palm over the mouth of the receiver and Duke assumed he was talking to his lover. Trying to clarify some of the information. Then Duke heard, “Just give me the phone,” and the next voice he heard was deep and melodic.
“Hi, Duke. It’s Austin. I’m glad you’re okay, man. Judge was real upset when he thought you wouldn’t make it.”
Duke wanted to tell Austin to get to the damn point, but he listened, trying control his breathing.
“Anyway. Judge told you why I was at the hospital. My witness gets dialysis at the hospital five days a week and I was there talking to him when I saw Quick and his son standing at the nurse’s desk with a couple doctors. I was gonna head over and introduce myself but I thought I’d let them finish flirting with the ladies, because the nurses were going on and on. I mean really gushing over them both. But when the doctor turned and told Vaughan that everyone on that floor loves a living donor and how brave and generous everyone believes them to be, Vaughan was actually blushing. So I knew it was him and not Quick. Especially since his walk was slow and measured when he left, like he’d… like he’d had surgery.”