Page 24 of Donovan's Men

“I’d rather not, if it’s all the same.” I placed my plate and soda on the coffee table. “How can I help?”

“Go back in time and improve my reflexes so she doesn’t shoot anyone?”

Nothing I hadn’t heard from many victims before. “Not in my power. I don’t have a time machine. And what if you tackled her and her shot wound up being more precise?”

He eyed me.

“I’m not saying things aren’t bad—but you and Cole are alive. You’re both going to recover. That’s pretty damn lucky, considering she shot you both.”

His glare spoke volumes. Still, he held my gaze a moment longer before looking away. “Yeah, could you put the blanket over me?”

I spotted a crocheted blanket that’d seen better days. I snagged it, then laid it across him.

He settled. “Now, if I didn’t have to piss eventually, I’d just stay here all night.”

I pointed to my bottle.

He yelped a laugh. “Uh, no. My mother’d kill me.”

“Well, is she expected home soon?”

Did he, like me, have a parent living with him? Or I had until recently.

That pang hit hard and sharp.

His face turned into a mask. “No. She’s dead. I was…being flippant. That was wrong of me.”

“You’re having a bad day.” I almost picked up my plate before I turned to him. “Have you taken your meds?”

He growled. Not a good growl.

“Right. Are they in the kitchen? Bathroom?”

“Kitchen.”

“And would you like a glass of water?”

“I want a beer.”

“Well, I’m certain that’s contraindicated with your meds, so I’ll get you mineral water.”

Before he could respond, I headed to the kitchen.

“Can you make it a soda? You’re having one.”

I chuckled to myself as I sorted through the pills and counted out the number prescribed. I recognized the antibiotic and was pleased to see they were giving him decent painkillers. Hopefully, they’d help him sleep tonight.

When I returned to the living room with his pills and soda, I found him with his eyes closed.

Am I supposed to leave? No, he needs his pills…

As I was about to rouse him, he stirred. “Yeah, sorry.”

“No worries. Let me help you.”

With a bit of coordination, he managed to swallow his pills and take a swig of soda to wash them down.

I tried not to gag.