Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(17)

“Good. Ready to get out of here,” Jackson replies.

“I bet you are,” he says, examining the wound on his shoulder, and I see Jackson’s hand clench. “Everything is really healing well. There are no infections and your leg looks a lot better. You need to start your therapy and we want you to start getting mobile. I could see you going home as soon as next week.”

“Thank God. I need to get the hell out of this bed.” Jackson’s entire demeanor changes. He’s animated and starts to throw the blankets off himself.

“Don’t we want to take this slow?” I ask hesitantly. Taming him is going to be impossible.

Dr. Allison smiles. “Yes, this won’t be an easy road, Jackson. You have injuries on both sides of your body. Your left shoulder will be the biggest issue. It has to remain immobile for another week or two. Our goal is for it to heal without further injury. Also, you can’t bear any weight on your leg yet, and without use of your arm, you won’t be able to use crutches. There will be a lot of things that will require someone to help you.” The doctor looks at me.

He scoffs and says, “I’m sure I’ll manage just fine.” Jackson turns his head, clearly frustrated.

“I’m sure you could, but you’d also be right back in the hospital with another surgery,” the doctor states matter-of-factly.

I lean in and grasp his hand before he looks up at me. “What did you think, babe? You were shot. Three times,” I remind him gently. “You’re going to have to take it easy so you don’t end up back in here because you screwed up your leg again.”

“I’ll be fine, Catherine.”

“Yes, you will, because you’re not going to fight me on this.” I smile and tilt my head letting him know I’m not playing around. He can be defiant all he wants, but he’s not going to hurt himself because he has to be all macho. We see where that got him.

Mark laughs, “I see who wears the pants in this relationship.”

Dr. Allison steps in before Jackson can reply to Mark. “Jackson, there are some things that will either be too painful or flat out impossible with your injuries. We can arrange a live-in nurse or you can stay with friends or family.”

“No,” is his only reply.

“Then we can arrange for you to be transported to a rehabilitation center,” the doctor answers smoothly while writing something on his chart.

Jackson looks at me and his eyes say it all. He’s extremely unhappy. This is a man who fights through pain. He has no desire to be laid up and babied. “Well?”

I laugh at his one-word question. “Well, what?”

“Well, am I going to stay with my parents or do you want to stay with me?” he asks and lifts his brow.

“Are you going to be an *?”

“Aren’t I always, according to you?” Jackson says with a half-hearted laugh.

I giggle and kiss his cheek. “I guess I’ll stay with you, but you’re going to owe me.”

“Like I don’t already,” he chuckles and squeezes my hand before turning toward the doctor. “Okay, when can we get back to the States?”

“Let’s get you up a few times and then we’ll start talking about release and ways you can move around safely.” Dr. Allison closes his chart and heads out the door.

Mark walks over and puts his hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to book my flight back home. There are still issues we need to go over and things we need to take care of. Natalie needs some help too.”

Jackson’s face falls and his entire body tenses. “I need to call her. We need to do something.”

Mark nods. “I already had them send his body Stateside. I transferred money over, but knowing you, you’ll do more. She’s probably ready to have the baby any day, so I’d like to at least be there. I know her family is there, I just feel like he’d want …”

“Go,” is all Jackson says and Mark once again nods.

“The private plane is here so you can get back home that way.” Mark squeezes me to his side and kisses the side of my head. “Take care of him. Slap him if he’s a dick, which I’m sure he will be.”

“Hands off her if you want to keep them,” Jackson warns.

Mark laughs at his threat. “Funny, dickface. You’re so scary lying in bed wearing a pretty dress. I could haul her over my shoulder and you couldn’t stop me.”

“Try me.”

Trying to diffuse the excess testosterone pulsing through the room I put myself between the two of them. “Okay, okay. Both of you are badasses and ohhh so scary.”

They both burst out laughing and Jackson pulls me on the bed.

“Oh, Kitty. You’re so cute,” Mark says and ruffles my hair. “He isn’t scary at all. Neither are you. But seriously slap him, and if he’s really being a f*cker you can poke his shoulder.” Mark laughs and Jackson glares at him.

“Don’t you have a plane to catch?” Jackson’s question is harsher than I’ve heard him with Mark.

“Relax, he was a perfect gentleman when you were unconscious.” I stand and give Mark a hug.

Mark pulls me close to which I can hear Jackson grumble behind me, but Mark was a great friend through this time. He was strong when I felt weak, and he gave me faith that when Jackson woke, we’d find our way. Sure, he gives me hell too, but that’s par for the course.