Maxwell, Mardi - Zane's Choice [The Doms of Club Mystique 4] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Mardi Maxwell

  “Tall for his age,” Jenna said, “and smart.”

  The door swung open and a teenager pushed a cart into the room with a pile of linens on it. “Somebody order pizza?” he asked.

  Cassie held up her hand and the boy lifted the drape on the side of the cart and pulled out six pizza boxes.”

  “Set them here.” Cassie patted the rolling cart at the end of the bed, then handed the teenager a wad of cash. “Did you bring it?”

  The teenager laughed, then reached down and pulled out two bottles of sparkling grape juice and held them up.

  Addison laughed then sat up. “I’ll go get some cups and ice from the nurses’ station.”

  The teenager pulled out a small tub with a bag of ice in it and a stack of cups. “No need. I brought them. You wouldn’t believe how many pizzas we deliver here every week.” He set them next to the food, then left.

  Addison grabbed the first box and opened it while Cassie filled the glasses with ice and juice. They each had a glass in their hands when the door swung open again and Cade, Jackson, and Logan walked in. Ravyn smiled when she saw Harper on Logan’s shoulders. When he saw her he let out a squeal of joy and nearly jumped down.

  “Whoa, easy there, Harper. Your sister is hurt and you have to be careful. Okay?”

  Harper nodded, then said, “Okay, Uncle Logan.”

  Logan let him down and he ran over to the side of the bed and grabbed Ravyn’s hand. She leaned down, pulled him up onto her lap and hugged him. “Oh, baby, I’ve missed you so much.”

  “I’m not a baby,” Harper said, then giggled. “I’m a cowboy. See my boots?” He stuck his feet out and clicked his boots together.

  “Great boots, Harper,” Ravyn said, admiring the black-and-brown boots on her little brother’s feet. She stood him up and checked him over like an anxious mother. He was dressed in blue jeans and a T-shirt with a superhero on it. When she ran her hands over his tummy, he wiggled, then giggled, and she hugged him tight as tears filled her eyes.

  “Do you hurt, Ravyn?” Harper asked as he carefully touched her bruised and swollen cheek.

  “Just a little. I’m better now that you’re here.” She hugged him again, then looked over his shoulder toward Cade, Logan, and Jackson. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  They nodded, then Jackson grabbed Jenna and sat down with her on his lap. Logan settled Cassie on his lap while Cade pulled Addison from the bed and took the chair Marisol offered him. Marisol perched on the end of the bed and began handing out the pizza.

  Ravyn offered Harper a bite and he sniffed it, then bit the tip of the slice off and chewed it. He smiled and opened his mouth again. She laughed and held him on her lap, unable to believe that he was finally free and safe. He finished off almost a whole slice of pizza and part of her juice, then snuggled down on her lap and fell asleep.

  She ran her fingers through his hair and smiled at him, then looked up and met Cade’s eyes. She took a sip from her glass, then licked her lips. “After I married Charles, he took me to Colombia. He kept me there so he could force my father to hand over his corporation. My father came to see me and he met Mendez’s sister Maria. It was her house we were living in. They fell in love and she got pregnant and had Harper. Mendez had her killed because he said she was no longer valuable to him.” Ravyn blinked her eyes to clear the tears from them. “I raised Harper. After Charles had my father killed, he brought me back to the States, but he made me leave Harper behind. He would let me see him several times a year.” She glanced around at them. “My father didn’t hand over control of the corporation to Charles. He was forced to give Charles guardianship of Harper, because Harper owns everything. The house, the company, all the money, everything.”

  Cade threw his head back and laughed. Addison shushed him, but too late. Harper sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

  “Dolman just did himself in,” Cade said. “He’s had control of the corporation for seven years. That clears you of any wrongdoing, and there’s no way he’ll ever convince a judge that Harper has been in partnership with Mendez.”

  Ravyn smiled. “When I saw Harper ten months ago, I told him I was going to send a friend to rescue him. I’d heard rumors about you and Thor, Cade. I intended to ask you to help me, but then Zane and I got involved, and Charles accused me of working with Mendez. Then Mendez started threatening me. He sent a message that he would let me know when he wanted me to confess so Charles could be released. He said if I didn’t then he would ki—” She glanced at Harper and saw him watching her intently.

  She brushed her hand over his hair again and smiled. It looked like someone had hacked away at it with a knife. Harper reached up and touched the medallion hanging from the collar around her neck.

  “Did Papa give you this?”

  Ravyn was startled, then realized Harper was talking about Zane. “Sort of, Harper, but just for a little while. When he’s better, I’ll return it to him.”

  “It’s pretty.” Harper let it go, then climbed down. “I have to go.”

  Logan laughed. “Through that door, buddy. Do you remember what I taught you?”

  “Yup,” he said. “Seat up, seat down. Don’t forget to wash my hands.”

  “Yup,” Luc said, then chuckled as Harper clomped into the bathroom. “That kid loves the noise those boots make.”

  The room door opened and Doc walked in, followed by Dr. Stephens. Doc smiled and flipped through the boxes of pizza, then chose a slice. “Thank you, I don’t mind if I do,” he said, then laughed. “Better grab some, David, or these guys will eat it all.”

  Doc leaned against the end of the bed while he ate. “Zane is doing very well, Ravyn. The bullet nicked a vein. I got the bullet out without too much trouble. The knot on his head is the reason he was unconscious. He’s awake now and complaining about a headache. Since he’s a Ramsey, I’d say he’ll be up and running around in a few days.”

  Ravyn felt a rush of relief. She’d been so worried about Zane. Now that she knew he was going to be okay, every injury she had made itself known. Her eye ached and her head and face were throbbing. Eating, and smiling, had reopened the cut on her lip and it stung. Without warning, she felt herself sinking into the pillow as she lifted her hand and grabbed the collar around her neck.

  She saw Dr. Stephens standing over her with a concerned look on his face. She tried to reassure him but only managed a small smile and one mumbled word. “Tired.” She sighed, then let herself drift away.

  * * * *

  The next morning when Ravyn walked out of the bathroom after showering, she found McCabe sitting by her bed, working on a laptop. Deuce sat next to him, sipping a cup of coffee while he worked the crossword puzzle in the paper. Thor sat on the end of her bed, eating her breakfast.

  “Was that for me?” she asked Thor.

  “It was getting cold.” Thor smiled at her. “The nurse said she’d have another one brought to you.”

  Ravyn tied the belt of her robe, silently thanked Addison for bringing her some clothes, then sat down on the side of her bed and reached for the covers.

  “Here, let me get them,” McCabe said. “You want to sit up?”

  “Yes.” Ravyn grabbed the sheet and pulled it up as the bed rose behind her. McCabe adjusted her pillow and she thanked him.

  Dr. Stephens entered the room, glanced around, and said, “Give me a few minutes, guys.”

  McCabe stood up. “We ran a check on the doc. He’s okay, Ravyn. Deuce, let’s step out.”

  Deuce folded the paper then set it on the chair. “You want breakfast now, Ravyn?”

  “Yes, please, Deuce.”

  Thor strolled toward the door. “I’ll see if we can get four breakfast trays.”

  “You already ate,” Deuce said.

  “I’m a growing boy,” Thor said as he passed through the door.

  “We’ll be right outside the door,” McCabe said, then grinned at her and followed Thor with Deuce on his heels.

  Dr. Stephens waited until the doo
r closed, then stepped closer to her. “How are you doing this morning?”

  “Better. My eye still hurts, though.”

  Dr. Stephens shined a light in her eye. “The swelling is going down, but you’ve got a nice shiner there.”

  “How’s Zane?”

  “Giving the nurses fits. He’s demanding to see you.”

  “He can move around?”

  “Not yet, and I told him when he’s discharged he’ll have to use a cane for three to four days.” Dr. Stephens smiled. “That was a battle I wouldn’t want to fight again.”

  “He can be a total as—uh, mule.”

  Dr. Stephens smiled. “I told him he could see you only if you agreed to see him. Do you want to see him?”

  “Sure. I need to thank him for saving my little brother’s life before I leave.”

  Dr. Stephens wrote on her chart, then slipped it back into the holder. “If you have pain, use an over-the-counter pain reliever.”

  “Okay.”

  Ravyn’s thoughts moved to wondering what Zane was up to as Dr. Stephens continued talking about her condition. She only heard him say she should be okay before she wondered how she was going to convince Zane to remove the collar. Her attention was drawn back to the doctor when he cleared his throat.

  “I’ll write the orders out before I discharge you later this morning,” he said.

  After he left, McCabe entered with a wheelchair. “We’re going to see Zane. Hop in.”

  Ravyn decided she might as well get this over with now, so she slid off the bed, stuck her feet in her slippers, and sat down. She smoothed her hands over her hair and wished she had a pair of sunglasses. She knew she looked as good as she could, all things considered, but there was no ignoring her swollen lips, bruised cheek, and black eye.

  Deuce held the door open as Thor stood guard. As soon as they were in the corridor, they surrounded her. Two men in dark sunglasses with dark stubble on their faces held the elevator doors open. Once inside, McCabe pushed the button for the fourth floor, then stood to her right.

  The two new guys had the same color hair as McCabe and Deuce, and they were the same size. “Are you Cin and Ace?” Ravyn asked.

  The one on her left turned around and his lips curved upward. He pointed to his companion. “That’s Ace and I’m pure sin, Princesita.”

  “Cut it out,” McCabe said. “She’s wearing Zane’s collar.”

  Ravyn felt the tension in the elevator increase. “What’s going on? Why are you guys so tense?”

  “We’ll let Zane explain that to you,” Thor said as the doors slid open.

  A minute later, she was sitting by Zane’s bed. The room was crowded by the time they all got inside. “Where’s True and Trey?” Ravyn asked.

  “Around,” McCabe said.

  Ravyn nodded, then looked back at Zane and caught him staring at her. “You wanted to see me?”

  “Have you been told about the threats Mendez has been making?” Zane asked her.

  Ravyn felt the blood drain from her cheeks. She shook her head, then wished she hadn’t as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She tightened her hands on the arms of the chair. “No, what’s he threatening to do?”

  “We’ve got him on the run. While he was here going after you, Juan Rios and his men attacked his main compound. They destroyed, it along with most of his warehouses, but he still has access to his bank accounts. We’ve managed to shut down access to your father’s corporation, and they’re on the run.”

  “They?” Ravyn swallowed, fearing the worst news was yet to come.

  “Mendez managed to break Dolman out of jail last night,” Zane said. “They attacked the ranch this morning.”

  Ravyn cried out. “No, no, oh god. Harper? Addison and Jenna? Are they okay? What about Cassie and Marisol? Everyone?”

  Deuce put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

  “They’re all safe and nobody is injured,” Zane said. “My brothers, Mac, and Ben have the ranch secured. The ranch hands are on high alert. They’re all ex-military.”

  Ravyn nodded. “Harper?”

  Zane smiled. “He’s fine. I just spoke to him on the phone. He loves talking on the phone, by the way.” He chuckled. “He’s doing fine and everyone’s keeping him out of trouble.”

  “Okay, then I need to get him.” Ravyn looked at McCabe. “You said something about a safe house. Could Harper and I go to one now?”

  McCabe glanced at Zane then back at Ravyn. “We’re taking both of you to the ranch as soon as the doctor makes the arrangements for Zane to be discharged. Jenna has everything set up for him at the ranch.”

  Before Ravyn could protest, McCabe added, “It will be more efficient and safer for all of you to be at the ranch. You’re still in my custody but I’ve made arrangements for custody to be transferred to Zane an—”

  “Oh, hell no.” Ravyn stood up. “I know how the Ramseys work.” She glared at Zane. “Somehow the woman always ends up stuck at the ranch and then the next thing you know, she’s spending the rest of her life forgiving a series of bad decisions and bad behavior by one of you. That is not happening to me”—she crossed her arms over her chest—“and, that’s final.”

  Thor chuckled. “She’s got you there, Zane.”

  “Shut up, Thor,” Zane said as he struggled to sit up then let out a groan of pain and dropped onto his back. He groped for his leg.

  Ravyn rushed to his side and grabbed his hand. “See what you’ve done now? Why can’t just one of you be sensible? You’ve probably torn your stitches.” She looked at Thor. “Don’t just stand there. Get help.”

  Thor sent her a you-can’t-be-serious look, then shrugged and sauntered toward the door. “I’m going to check on the breakfast trays. If I see a nurse, I’ll tell them the idiot in this room did something idiotic.”

  Ravyn ignored him as she turned back to Zane. “Are you all right? Does your leg hurt?”

  Zane grimaced. “I just moved wrong.” He adjusted his leg. “Could you adjust the pillow, princess?”

  “Sure,” Ravyn said then folded the sheet back, but was careful to keep most of him covered. She gently lifted his leg, then moved the pillow and let his leg rest on it. “Is that better?”

  “Much better, thanks.” Zane smiled at her, then patted the bed by his hip. “Sit here and let’s try to have a conversation about what we need to do to keep you and Harper safe. Okay?”

  Ravyn nodded, sat down, and couldn’t keep herself from brushing his hair back from his forehead. Of the five brothers, Zane was the best looking, she decided. Cade and Jackson were masculine and tough looking, although Jackson was definitely calmer than Cade. Luc and Logan were gorgeous but puzzling, and she sometimes didn’t know how Cassie coped with them. Zane, on the other hand, was sophisticated. Well groomed, comfortable, and sexy in suits. He was her idea of a hot, wet dream, if only he wasn’t so, so…She glanced at him and saw the look of satisfaction in his eyes. Damned arrogant and self-assured. She smiled at him. If there was one thing she knew how to deal with, it was a man who thought he had her where he wanted her.

  “So what do you think we should do?” she asked Zane.

  “I think you should stay at the ranch. We have it secured and there are plenty of people to keep watch.” Zane sent her an encouraging let’s-be-rational look. “That way, McCabe and his brothers can look for Mendez and Dolman and we won’t have to spread our assets so thin.” He held up his hands. “But it’s up to you.”

  Ravyn smiled again then patted his arm. “Well, of course, I’m going to stay at the ranch, silly.” She giggled, then touched the collar around her neck. “I meant what do you think we should do about this?” She held out the medallion.

  “What’s wrong with it?” Zane asked.

  “It needs to be removed.”

  “I lost the key when I was shot.” Zane shrugged. “I guess we could get a locksmith to remove it, if that wouldn’t embarrass you.”

  A silky brow drifted upwa
rd as he talked. She smiled then looked at the other men in the room. “I can’t believe one of you can’t pick a lock. Help a girl out here?”

  “What do you need help with?” Thor asked from the door as he pushed a large cart with several dozen breakfast trays stacked on it into the room.

  “Picking the lock on her collar. I lost the key when that guy was trying to kill me,” Zane said.

  “Poor baby,” Ravyn said with another pat. “But, really, being a Ramsey, you should be used to people trying kill you by now, huh?”

  “That’s true,” McCabe said.

  “True can pick locks,” Deuce said. “The rest of us are all thumbs.”

  Ravyn smiled and patted Zane again. “Then we’ll have True do it when he has time. Until then, I’ll just have to work around it.” She slid off the bed and sat down in the wheelchair. “All of a sudden I’m really hungry.” She licked her lips and watched the men in the room watch her tongue sweep from side to side. She heard a growl from Zane and looked down, smoothing her robe over her knees. Thor was right. It was fun fucking with a Ramsey.

  * * * *

  Three evenings later, Ravyn carried a tray up the stairs to Zane’s room. When she pushed the door open with her foot, she heard Harper giggle, then say, “Oh, Papa,” before he giggled again.

  “There should be one more, son,” Zane said.

  Ravyn searched the room for Harper and saw his booted feet sticking out from beneath the bed. “What’s he doing?” she asked.

  Zane looked up, then grinned. “I dropped my cards and they scattered everywhere. He’s getting the ones that went under the bed.”

  She frowned at the stacks of chips on the bed. “Are you teaching my little brother poker, Zane?”

  “Well, er, sort of, but I’m really using the cards to teach him to count.”

  “Yeah, right.” She set the tray down, then pulled Harper out from beneath the bed by his ankles. He giggled and she hugged him. “Its dinnertime and Aunt Addison is waiting for you downstairs, Harper. Be sure to wash your hands first, okay?” Harper whooped and ran out of the room. Ravyn smiled, then turned back to Zane. “Can you scoot up a little?”