Promises: Part I (Bounty Hunters Book 1) (10 page)

Duke gritted his teeth at the pain in his back. Was that the kidney pain? He wanted to peer down at the collection bag hanging on the side of his bed, but he had a feeling that would probably hurt like a bitch to accomplish and he wouldn’t like what he saw. It would probably contain little to no urine or be full of blood. The stitches in his head were starting to itch like crazy, and the knot on the back of his head was pulsing a steady beat like an out of tune bass drum. He reached his right hand up to rub at the wound on his left cheek and ended up banging his cast on the bedrail. Fuckin’ fuck! He was trying harder and harder not to push that morphine button. He hated the way he felt when he did and he wanted to be alert if Vaughan came by.

He picked up the remote with his good hand – that hand had an IV in it – but at least it wasn’t covered with rock hard plaster. Maybe finding something half-decent on television would turn his mind off. His conscious thoughts were a persistent loop of unanswered questions that he flat out didn’t want the answer to, but lying there ignorant wasn’t making him feel better. What would dying feel like? Would he eventually be so bad off that he couldn’t have company? When would Vaughan stop coming to see him? Would he stay until the end? Would he even know his loved ones were there? Fuck. Stop already!

A light tapping on his door cut off his internal war. He didn’t say anything as the door was slightly pushed open and somehow – instinctually— he knew who it was. Knew it was Vaughan. Could smell him before his body even made it all the way into the room. Duke closed his eyes and let the wonderful scent take him someplace that wasn’t a hospital room. After a few moments he felt the bed dip beside his left thigh, then a gentle caress along his check.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

Duke slowly opened his tired eyes. Vaughan was truly a sight. If he’d ever needed something beautiful to look at during all the ugliness he was experiencing… it was that moment. He was in a perfectly tailored suit; he knew it, because he was just able to make out the glittering gold cufflink inside the cuff of the crisp white shirt. He looked so polished and put together. Duke wanted to yank that pristine pink and gray striped tie until Vaughan was completely on top of him. He sighed silently. That would never happen. He’d never feel Vaughan on top of him, inside him, pounding the anxiety of a hard day away.

“Duke?”

The sweet sound made him realize he’d closed his eyes again.

“Duke.” Vaughan looked at him with so much admiration that it caused his chest to hurt even more.

“I’m okay,” Duke finally croaked. His mouth felt horrible, like he’d eaten a sheep. Dry and parched. “I’m better now that I’m seeing you.”

“Good.”

I wouldn’t say good. “Were you at work? How’s your new job?”

“It’s a job.” Vaughan skated over the question, immediately changing the subject. “Has the doctor been in today?”

“Um.” Duke cleared his throat again and saw Vaughan reach for the cup of water that sat by his bed. He placed the straw to his lips and Duke didn’t know how he felt about that. But that damn cast did make it hard for him to maneuver the small cup. Still, he didn’t want to appear helpless in front of Vaughan. From what he understood, Vaughan had looked up to him. Admired and lusted after him. Now Duke was nothing more than a useless lump of man lying in a hospital bed with failing kidneys, waiting to die a quick but agonizing death. He took a small sip only so he could speak a little better and waited for Vaughan to put the cup back. “No. Not that I remember. I think he may have come in this morning.”

The look on Vaughan’s face was a mix of fear and anxiousness, but Duke couldn’t be exactly sure because it was gone in an instant. Before he could question it, there was another knock on his door. He was hoping it wasn’t another visitor, because there were things he needed to talk to Vaughan about. He was going to tell him that he would’ve given him a chance. That he would’ve let him woo him… and fuck him good. He probably would’ve let that last point hang in the air unsaid, but he wanted Vaughan to know before he left this earth that they would’ve had something wonderful, but Vaughan needed to go on with his life. He didn’t want him coming to the hospital anymore. Duke was a done deal.

“Hey, Duke. How you feeling today?”

Oh great. It was his doctor. He sure sounded extra cheerful. Well at least someone’s life was going well. “Good afternoon, Dr. Chauncey.”

“Duke, I have wonderful news!” Dr. Chauncey smiled.

Duke tried to sit up a little higher, again wincing at the pain in his back. Vaughan put his hand on his arm. His face was completely impassive, but Duke’s heart was pounding. Good news? What could it possibly be? Surely his kidneys hadn’t healed on their own.

“Are you okay, Duke? Did you push your morphine drip to—?”

“Doctor, just spit it out. I’m fine. What’s the news?” Duke almost growled.

“We have a donor. You go in for surgery Friday.”

Duke’s mouth dropped open. He turned and looked at Vaughan and he wore the exact same expression before finally, a slight smile curved his lips.

“Oh, my god. Are you serious?” Vaughan gasped.

The doctor looked at Vaughan for a split second before turning back to Duke. “I wouldn’t joke about that. I’ve scoured every database in the country, Duke. We have a perfectly healthy, compatible kidney for you.”

“Jesus Christ,” Vaughan breathed. “He’s gonna live?”

Duke didn’t know who to look at. He felt like he might be dreaming, but he hadn’t taken too much morphine, so he couldn’t be hallucinating. “Dr. Chauncey. Are you telling me that my name came up already?”

“What I’m telling you Duke is that there’s a kidney available and it’s yours if you want it. What do you say?” Dr. Chauncey’s expression and words were stern but kind.

“Fuck,” Duke whispered. “Yes.”

“Good, very good.” His doctor smiled. Duke thought he saw him throw a quick wink at Vaughan but he could’ve been wrong. “Friday it is.” Dr. Chauncey walked out, leaving Duke completely awestruck.

********

Dr. Chauncey was right. Duke had inquired how and why, but he didn’t press the issue. The good doctor had said it easily. There was a kidney available, do you want it or do you wanna play twenty questions? Dr. Chauncey almost made it sound like he’d done something underhanded and the less Duke knew the better.

Vaughan had played his part, though. The shocked and flabbergasted look. He should get an Academy Award© for best clueless performance in a potential lover’s hospital room. He squeezed Duke’s hand, kissing each knuckle. But the moisture building up in the corners of his eyes was completely genuine. He was so happy the doctor didn’t wait to give Duke the good news, because he looked like he really needed the lift. It was like seeing him had put Duke in a worse mood. He hoped that wasn’t the case.

“You must have been praying hard for a miracle. I sure was.” Vaughan leaned down and kissed Duke’s forehead. “This is amazing!”

“It’s fuckin’ unreal. How the hell? I’m sure there are people in front of me who have been—”

“Hey,” Vaughan whispered, cutting Duke off. “Your prayers have been answered. Don’t question it… just say thank you.”

Duke smiled. “Yeah. But who do I thank god for sending? Is the donor dead? If so, how I can thank her family? Is she alive? How do I thank her?”

Him. Thank him. 

“Are you nervous?”

“Hell, no,” Duke replied to Quick. As soon as Vaughan left, he’d called Judge, Charlie, and Quick to tell them the amazing news. Duke hadn’t smiled, or laughed in days, but after telling his friends, it damn near sounded like a house party instead of a hospital room. “I’m just ready to get out of this fuckin’ place and live life, man.”

“Fuck yeah!” Judge’s deep voice was deafening in the small room, so no one was surprised when the charge nurse came in with her hands on her ample hips and a thunderous scowl on her round face.

Duke laughed hard. Way too hard for his still very sore ribs. But fuck it. He’d heal and he’d live. Fuck it all! Charlie placed a gentle hand on Duke’s shoulder, urging him to calm down.

“Hey there now, boy. Ease up. Don’t want you to have to postpone the surgery because you done injured something else,” Charlie said, a playful gruffness to his tone.

“I think that’s our cue, fellas. We better head out before this nice lady loses her religion behind us roughnecks.” Quick smirked, throwing the nurse a wink that made her frown smooth out and her plump cheeks turn a rosy pink.

Good ole Quick. Always smooth.

“I’ll bring my stuff over to your place in the morning, Duke, and head over here after,” Charlie informed him. Duke nodded. Charlie had immediately volunteered to stay with Duke while he recovered. Even though the doctor said the surgery was not as invasive as in the past, there would still be a recovery period, not to mention Duke still had only one useful arm, fractured ribs and a slowly healing concussion. He’d secretly hoped that Vaughan would volunteer for that position, but he knew that it was way too early to hope for that. They hadn’t even had a date yet. Besides, Vaughan also had a new job to excel at. The beautiful man might find a healthy young stud working around all those police officers and hotshot attorneys.

As his guys cleared out of the room, Duke’s last thoughts weighed him down. Vaughan hadn’t come back like he’d promised. Quick told him Vaughan was working on a very big case, while still trying to visit Duke. He’d felt like shit. He hadn’t exactly welcomed Vaughan when he’d first shown up earlier. He’d been ready to tell Vaughan to stay away until Dr. Chauncey delivered the great news. His cell phone rang beside his bed and Duke had no clue how long he’d sat there lost in thought.

Vaughan’s name showed up on the caller ID and Duke’s heart fluttered. He juggled the phone with his bad arm before he got it under control enough to answer. “Hey,” he said quietly.

“Hey yourself. How you doing, handsome?”

Oh, god. Vaughan’s voice was like a soothing balm. It was late in the evening and Vaughan had thought about him. Thought enough to call him. “I’m doing, ya know. Your dad just left a little while ago.”

“I know. He told me he was heading over to see you. He hasn’t sounded so happy in ages. But. Enough about him. I need to talk about you. I’m so anxious for this to be past us so we can get back on track,” Vaughan declared softly.

Duke cleared his suddenly dry throat. “Back on track?” Jesus. Was Vaughan still considering them? Damn, he hoped so. The man could make him fly like nothing else, and all he’d done was say a few romantic lines, and briefly brush his lips with his.

“Yes.” Vaughan’s voice was dark and deep. “You still owe me a date, handsome, and I fully intend to collect.”

Duke smiled. “Well, I like to pay what I owe.”

Vaughan let loose a sadistic chuckle that had Duke’s balls tingling. “Oh, you will pay. Over. And over. And over, honey.”

Duke had to take a few calming breaths. Getting an erection with a catheter was never pleasurable. Yeah. Mornings sucked. “Jesus, Vaughan.”

“Mmm. Okay.” Vaughan’s laugh lost its seductive edge. “I’ll behave… for now.”

Duke sighed, wishing Vaughan had been able to stay longer today, but he said he had to get back to the office. He hoped he’d get to see his gorgeous face before they wheeled him into the OR in the morning. He felt like such an old man. The whole mess had happened because he was working hard and ended up taking on three people by himself. Some may consider him brave, but he felt foolish.

“Why are you so quiet?” Vaughan spoke up.

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

Truthfully
. “You. Me. Us. The Surgery. Life.”

“That’s a lot.”

“Yes, and it’s complicated.”

“Hopefully, I’m the easy part.” Vaughan’s grin could almost be heard.

“Actually you’re the most complex. I want to understand you… but.” Duke tried unsuccessfully to say what he meant. But anytime he was faced with Vaughan, he couldn’t understand what the man wanted with him? Duke was much older, set in his ways, needy and under-loved, starved for affection and on top of all that… he was laid up. What the hell was Vaughan thinking?

“But… you still don’t get why I want you, huh?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be cynical here.”

“Well, you’re not doing a very good job. You’re amazing, Duke. I’ve watched you for years.”

Duke snorted.
Amazing? How?

“You said I could have a chance. You said – when you thought you were dying – that you would’ve given me a chance. But now that you’re gonna live—”

“
Might
live.”

“
Gonna
live,” Vaughan said sternly. “Are you rethinking this… us?”

“Vaughan.”

“For the love god, Duke. I’m doing every—” Vaughan stopped midsentence.

“Doing what?” Duke prompted when Vaughan paused. “What are you doing?”

“Praying every minute that you haven’t changed your mind.” Vaughan’s voice had gone to that sweet, low timbre that Duke loved. That he couldn’t refuse.

“I haven’t.”
Baby. How can I?
“I’ll give you as much time as you need.”
Just don’t hurt me, Vaughan.

“That’s what I needed to hear.” Vaughan laughed before sobering quickly. “Sweetheart, I’m gonna come by and see you pretty early and then I have a flight to catch at nine. My job is sending me on assignment already. Can you believe that?”

Duke frowned. Vaughan sounded weird. Unsure.
Assignment
. “Where are you going?”

“Um. Miami. They want me to go with the lead attorney to interview a witness that left the jurisdiction. It shouldn’t take more than a few days, and then I’ll be right back by your side. I promise. My dad said he’d keep me posted, since I’m sure you’ll be concentrating on recovering.”

“Of course. I’m glad your job is entrusting you with so much responsibility already.” Duke’s gut twisted. He wanted to see Vaughan’s face before and after his surgery, but he guessed that wasn’t going to be possible. The man had to work, right? But wasn’t this more important? He had to stop this. This needy shit. That’s what ran Judge off. Vaughan couldn’t hold his hand every minute. Duke was scared, though. He’d admit it to himself, if no one else.

“Yeah. I was pretty shocked. Anyway. Don’t worry about that. It’s late. Focus on getting as much rest as you can and I’ll be there bright and early to give you a kiss before you go in for surgery.”

“That sounds like something to look forward to.” Duke smiled, trying hard to sound convincing.

“Night, handsome.”

“Goodnight, Vaughan.”