Page 106 of Wade’s Wrath

“Now I definitely want to know,” he said.

“Too bad,” she breathed.

He headed toward the door. “Tomorrow, sweetheart.”

“Asshole,” she breathed under her breath. Ripper stopped, not sure that he had heard her correctly. He turned slowly, and Sarah's eyes widened. For half a second, she looked like she thought she'd gone too far.

Ripper grinned. “Now you sound like Harlow.” Sarah laughed, and he walked into the hallway before he could enjoy that sound too much. He made it halfway to the elevator before he stopped and looked back through the open doorway; he could see Sarah eating the cinnamon roll.

His phone vibrated, and he pulled it from his pocket. It was Butcher. Ripper answered. “Prez.”

“You at the hospital?” Butcher asked.

Ripper frowned. “How the fuck do you know?”

“Because you've been there every goddamn day,” he said.

“Who told you?” Ripper asked.

“Everybody.” Fuck. Butcher laughed. “You got a problem, brother?”

“Nope,” Ripper breathed.

“Bullshit,” Butcher said.

Ripper pressed the elevator button. “She gets discharged tomorrow.”

“Where's she going?” Butcher asked.

“That's why I'm calling,” Ripper said.

“You didn't call me, asshole,” Butcher said.

“Was about to,” Ripper said.

Butcher laughed again. “We've got rooms.”

“I told her that you’d say that,” Ripper said.

“She willing to stay at the club?” Butcher asked.

“Don't know.” The elevator opened, and Ripper stepped inside. “But she needs somewhere she feels safe.”

“We'll make it happen,” Butcher promised.

Ripper nodded. “Good.”

The doors started closing. “Ripper,” Butcher said.

“What?” he asked.

“Don't fuck this up,” Butcher ordered.

His jaw tightened. “Not planning to.”

Butcher was quiet for a moment. “She isn't ready for whatever the hell is happening in your head.” Ripper stared at his reflection in the elevator doors. He knew that better than anyone.

“Nothing's happening,” Ripper lied. Butcher laughed so hard Ripper pulled the phone away from his ear. “Fuck you.”