Revolution (Collide, #4)(55)

"She did," he answered. "And no, we're not going there. We have a task."

"What task?"

"We're headed to the state line."

"What for?" I asked angrily. I wanted to go home and see my wife. I wanted to see her and I wanted to ask her why she let Lighter boy put his lips on her again. She wouldn't lie to me, or cheat on me, I knew she wouldn't. And I knew she loved me, I just couldn't understand this strange…thing…with Daniel.

He finally answered, but it was so low I barely heard it. "We're going there for me to die."

I didn't take his bait. I wanted out of that car, but it was a necessary prison. I held my aching arm to my chest and tried not to groan at the pain that suddenly hit me from being still. The adrenaline had said bye-bye and the pain was settling in. I felt a shudder rack me and felt like cursing. This stupid arm was going to make me go into shock or something. I hadn't been able to clean it. A day and a night…it was probably already getting infected.

Daniel must've heard my complaining. "You're injured."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious."

He frowned. "You need a doctor."

"Nah," I said, but knew that was a lie. I needed to clean this thing. "I'm good."

"I think I should bring you to a human facility that attends to medical needs."

"No hospitals. Last time didn't go so well for us," I told him, remembering Marissa and I with Billings.

"You may not have a choice. What good would it have done for me to have come to save you if you die from infection?"

"Point well made, Lighter boy," I groaned. I hated that he was right. "Maybe we'll just stop in for a quick visit."

"I have your back. No need to worry," he assured and I swore, if he patted me on the back like some 'Good ol' Chap' I was going to go ballistic on him. But he didn't, he just kept right on driving. I leaned my seat back, throwing my good arm over my face and let him navigate.

I wasn't sure what his angle was, but he wasn't getting any unnecessary chatter from me.


He told me that he had stopped by the store bunker and the place had been trashed. All the food and supplies were gone. Even Piper, who'd been left in the back room, was gone. I didn't know what to make of that.

A while later I felt him slowing down. He was eyeing a small clinic. He pulled in and put the car in park. "How did you learn to drive anyhow?"

He looked at me as if that were a strange question. "I learned from the humans, of course."

"Ok," I said and raised my eyebrows in sarcasm. "Well, I'll be back, champ."

"I am coming with you," he insisted and in a stupid move, put his hand on my good arm.

I glared at him. "You're gonna need a hospital for your own arm if you don't let go."

He lifted his hand. "I am sorry, but I am coming with you. I will make sure you make it safely back to your Lillian."

I shook my head. "Whatever, man." I leaned over and opened the door. It creaked loudly in the empty parking lot. He got out, too, and we made our way to the automatic doors.

I hadn't thought about the mess I would look like to her; my bloody jacket wrapped around my neck, holding up my bloody arm. I was dirty, head to toe and who knew what else. The woman gasped and covered her mouth with her hands in a true Oh, no! face. She ran around the counter and took my good arm immediately.

"What happened to you?"

"Boys being boys," I drawled.

She didn't laugh. She dragged me back to one of the rooms and plopped me on the table. She was short and a little plump, but had the sweetest little face. "Let me take a look at what you've done to yourself," she scolded. "What were you doing? Camping with a bear?"

Daniel had followed us in and he watched her hands move with interest. "Uh…" I tried. "It was more like sandhill bogging. Got in the way. Whatya gonna do?" I tried the smile, but she wasn't having it.

She frowned, her hand on her hip. "My… Well, I guess I'll get the doctor to take a look at you. You're going to need some antibiotics and a fresh bandage," she peeled the jacket away and grimaced, "and this has to be cleaned. There's dirt and sand scrubbed almost down to the bone," she scolded again.

"Can't a guy get some sympathy around here?" I joked. I pouted my bottom lip out and saw her eyes glance at my lip ring. "I'm an injured man."

She smiled, but it was out of tolerance. "Well you're just a scoundrel, aren't you?"

"If I say 'yes' can I have a lollipop?"

She outright laughed at that and I grinned inside. I still had it.

"Oh, shush, you." She went to peek out the door and then opened it wide to let the doctor in. It was then that I steeled myself. He was about to scrub this sand out of my wound. The wound that had already started to heal.

Things were about to get ugly.

Next thing I knew, we were talking about what happened, he was taking a little look see, then Doctor Sly had stuck me with a needle in the arm and I was going down fast. He leaned over and smiled smugly. "See you in a bit," he taunted. I wanted to punch him, but the sneaky sleep he'd given me was quick.

So my brain dreamed of Lillian and our honeymoon, our first night together. Gah…I remember gripping her hips, bones very obvious, but sexy and right in my hands. I remember all the noises she made, all the times she grabbed the back of my neck and begged me not to stop…