I looked at Alix, who nodded. “Rita and Karla together, we can take care of ourselves.”
“Okay, if you think so,” I said, happy that Alix was willing to go out without a bodyguard like Vince around. After my attack, I was worried she’d be even more shaken up than she’d been when Sydney assaulted her. “Be careful, and come back if you get a chance. You guys are going to miss the lemon-flavored ice cubes they’re giving me for dinner. Practically a feast for a guy after my surgery.”
Alix leaned over and gave me a kiss, earning an appreciative whistle from Rita. “Our first one in public.” She giggled when she stood up. “Wish it had been in a more romantic setting, but I’ll take it.”
“When I get out of here, we’ll do just that,” I said. “In the meantime, help Rita, and stay safe.”
After they left, I turned my attention to Vince. “Think you can do something more above board for me?”
“Sure, Kade, what do you need?” he asked.
“I need you to go down to Dad’s law firm. Try to talk to one of the senior partners. Explain that I just want to try and talk with Layla, and see if they’ll be willing to mediate. Then, see about renting a hotel room. I plan on getting the hell out of Southern California as soon as the doc says I can.”
* * *
Doctor Harrington was true to his word, and I walked out of the hospital two days later at eleven twelve. Vince had already pulled Alix’s BMW around, it being the largest car at our disposal. “You get to be chauffeured,” he said, holding the door open for me. “Also, I was able to get your bags from the place in Laguna. Sorry I couldn’t do more.”
It was the best Vince could do on short notice. Layla had rebuffed the offer, but had at least allowed Vince, who in a bout of playing it by ear had started negotiating with her, to get some clothes for the both of us. Alix had more than enough, but all I had to wear was what I’d been stabbed in and a hospital scrub top after my shirt was declared a total loss after Alix had tried to stem the loss of blood from my midsection with it. Thankfully, I’d been wearing dark shorts, or those would have been a loss, too.
“Excellent. By the way, where have you booked us a room?”
“It’s not the Beverly Hilton, but it’s near the hospital and has a view of the ocean. I know you like that,” Vince said. “Also, they have rooms that are nearly the size of a decent apartment, and not a lot of walking needed to get around. Useful for you right now.”
The San Pedro Doubletree was like Vince said, not the best hotel I’d ever been in, but not the worst either. The suite came with a king-sized bed in the main room, along with a balcony and a view of the ocean. “Hotel staff should bring up a cot for me to use in the other room later,” Vince said. “Sorry, but I wanted to stay close, keep you two safe.”
I was touched at Vince’s insistence that Alix and I get a room to ourselves, while he still was close enough that I’d be protected at all times. “You know you don’t need to do that. But anyway, I’m going to take a real bath,” I said, rubbing my grungy neck. “The hospital refused more than a sponge bath, and I’m feeling sticky and straight up nasty. Doctor Harrington said that the stitches are secure enough and the wound is healed enough that I can do that. Then, we wait and see what Rita can get for us.”
“I’ll give you privacy for that,” Vince said. “Just promise you’ll keep the door double locked?”
“We will,” Alix said, coming out of the bedroom. “That bed does look nice. Not as good as the one at home, but a lot better than Rita’s couch.”
“Hey, you’re the one who insisted that she use her bed last night,” Vince said with a laugh. “And you both did better than me. Her carpet isn’t exactly a memory foam mattress. I think maybe I’ll go for a jog on the beach or something. The Queen Mary’s near here, maybe they do tours or something.”
Vince left, and I sighed. “He’s being overprotective.”
Alix laughed softly. “You mean like how I’ve been treated for the past three days? I haven’t been left alone by Vince or Rita since my little fugue.”
“Speaking of which, come here,” I said, opening my arms. Alix came over and we held each other, just the two of us for the first time since I’d been stabbed, drawing comfort from each other. There was no need for words, no need to say anything other than to communicate through embrace and touch what we needed to say.
Eventually though, Alix pulled back and smiled. “You do need a bath, though. No offense, my Lord, but you stink.”