Play for Keeps (The Devil's Share #6)(13)
I looked to the door, shocked to see Dash standing there. I thought he’d still be at home, pissed at me and positive that he was right and I was wrong. I got up and took his outstretched hand, letting him lead me out of the room. I stayed silent, not sure what to say.
“The guys and I are leaving for a few days, we have some stuff we need to take care of. We need to get away for a bit.”
I jerked back. “What? You’re leaving? Is this because I wanted to postpone? Are you that mad at me? I left so now it’s your turn?” I was suddenly panicked. Had I fucked things up that bad? Was I that terrible?
He took both my hands in his, kissing my palms. “No, baby, not at all.” He sighed. “As soon as you slammed that door, I realized how wrong I’d been. You’re right, I was selfish.”
I’d felt guilty as soon as I drove out of the compound. I’d never left like that before, never left in anger. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t something I’d ever do again. “Why are you leaving? Where are you going?”
He sat down and pulled me onto his lap, wrapping his arms around me and putting his chin on my shoulder. “Smith needs his mom’s ring. And his mom hid that ring somewhere at his dad’s house.”
“In Louisiana? Are you insane?” Smith hated even getting too close to the state line. I doubted he’d be game for going back to the house he grew up in. Not to mention he didn’t like to leave Dilly to go to the grocery store, let alone leave her in the hospital on bed rest. “What are you planning on doing? Hog-tying Smith and throwing him in the trunk?”
“He wants to go.” Dash kissed my neck. “He needs to do this, Kitten. And you know it.”
He wasn’t wrong. Smith ran from his demons, and that’s why they still had a hold on him. Why he was still in therapy. Why he clung to Dylan like a security blanket.
“What about Dilly?”
“Smith gets the shakes when he has to hang in a hospital. You girls will be better company for her anyway.” He turned me so we could see each other’s faces. “What do you say? Will you stay with Dill? Maybe let the nanny hang with Halen a few hours during the day? You could all take turns, take different shifts so she doesn’t have to be alone.”
I grinned, wide. “Or. We could go all Dash Conner on their asses.”
He laughed. “What does that mean?”
“We offer to pay an ungodly amount of money to get her hospital room moved to her bedroom at the compound.”
***
It worked. Three hours later we were all camped out at Dylan and Smith’s house. Everything wouldn’t fit in their bedroom, so we had the living room furniture moved so all the hospital equipment, Dilly’s bed and monitors were right where they needed to be. There was a doctor we were paying to come out twice a day and a nurse who would be by in between for a couple of hours at a time. They showed us what to look for and we promised that Dylan would never be alone. It helped that she was a PA, and that she knew what everything was and how it all worked, not to mention when she’d need help.
“Okay. If there is anything you guys need, please call us.” Dash was hugging Halen to his chest, kissing her chubby little cheeks over and over again. “And make sure the security system is activated at all times. And I want all four of you working from home until we get back.” He pointed directly at me. “That means you, Kitten.”
I smiled, holding my arms out wide, encompassing the large living room. “We all packed bags. It is slumber party at Dilly’s nonstop. We aren’t leaving her alone and we won’t leave the compound. And if we need anything, we’ll call you guys.”
Luke had Harlow sitting in his lap on the couch, his arms around her tight. “I called Chase and let him know we’d be out of town for a few days. He can always come out here, he’s just twenty minutes down the road.”
Chase was the head of the Devil’s Share security when they were on tour, and he’d bought a house in Austin after the final leg of the last tour was over. He’d decided to start his own personal security company, and they were slowly becoming the most sought after people in the business. They were the only ones Riffraff used.
I took Halen from Dash and kissed him deeply, not caring who was watching. “You guys be careful too.” I gave him a serious look. “Watch out for each other.”
He smiled, clearly catching my drift. “Of course, Kitten.” He grabbed the back of my head and kissed my temple. “All right, boys, let’s load up.”
Jacks grabbed Landry and Bryan into his arms. “Family hug.” He squeezed them tight. “Landry, be good for B, okay?” He pointed at Crash, who was in the dining room wrestling with Louie. “You two please don’t break anything.” Then he looked over at Dagger. “Dags, I’m sorry, buddy, but you’re going to have to keep those puppies in line while we’re gone.”
Landry giggled when Crash came bounding into the living room, clearly understanding that Jacks was talking about him. “He’s always good. Right, Momma?”
Bryan’s face lit up. “Of course, sweet girl.” He certainly wasn’t. Crash was a menace. But Bryan would agree to anything Landry said when she added Momma onto the end.
Smith put his hands on Dylan’s belly, bending down to place a reverent kiss there. “I love you both.” He stood up and kissed her lips. “Are you sure you’ll be okay? I don’t have to go, cher.”