“Thanks, Doc.”
He shook Candy’s hand, and I watched him go. I felt sick inside as Candy gave me the tiniest smile. “Well, that could have gone better, Rex, but like he said, we have to wait. We knew this was a possibility.”
I nodded, jerkily, feeling like I wanted to cry. I really didn’t want to lose it in front of the boss, but if I did, I knew nothing would change between us. The one thing I didn’t want to read in his expression was pity, and thankfully that was absent.
“Do you feel like seeing the guys? They’re all outside, champing at the bit.”
I smiled. “Yeah.”
He nodded. “Oh, and Mr. Adams is here.”
I frowned as memories came rushing back, hitting me like a ton of bricks. Dance Hall Boys. Cachi. The cartel. I’d promised Cachi I’d pick him up from work. That’s why I’d been at the club to begin with. I shut my eyes tightly, picturing the gorgeous man I’d fallen so hard for. I opened my eyes and looked at Candy.
“Cachi’s here?”
He nodded. “He insisted we bring him here after the cartel put a hit out on all the valets and their families.”
I felt my eyes widen. “What?”
“We went to his house to take him, his mother, aunt, and uncle into protective custody, but he insisted on coming to the hospital the moment he learned what happened.”
“So…he’s been here—”
“For two days,” Candy said.
I couldn’t believe it. “Two days?”
“We’ve all been worried, Rex, but that man has been utterly beside himself.” I knew Candy well enough to sense his honesty. My friend rarely hid his feelings about certain situations. When Nash and Joshua got involved, he’d sat Nash down and told him what he thought about him falling in love with a man he was protecting. And when Wes had become the man in Patsy’s life, he’d talked to him about it. The way he was talking about Cachi now, made it clear to me that he understood the two of us meant something more to each other than mere friendship.
I swallowed hard. “He’s been worried, huh?”
Candy nodded slowly. “He hasn’t changed clothes, has barely slept, and if it weren’t for Joshua forcing him, I don’t think he would have eaten anything at all.”
“Joshua’s here?” I asked in surprise.
He nodded. “And Wes. Like I said, Rex, everyone has been sitting on pins and needles, waiting for you to wake up.” He hesitated, staring at me long and hard before speaking again. “Do you want to see him? I can send him away to join his family at our safehouse if you say no. It’s okay. He’ll be safe there until we get the cartel goons who ordered the hit on the valets. And we think probably you. Whatever you want, brother. You just tell me.”
I held my breath for several seconds then tore my gaze away from him, looking down at my useless legs. “I-I…he’s been waitin’ huh?” He nodded. “Does he know…about the…damage?” I said slowly.
Candy nodded solemnly. “He’ll know about everything the doctor said in a few minutes. I’m headed out there right now to talk to everyone.”
I digested that for a minute before making a decision. “Lemme see Cachi first, and then the guys, okay?”
Candy smiled. “Good. When I’m done breaking the news, I’ll send him in.”
“Thanks, boss. Really, thanks for everythin’.”
He squeezed my forearm. “You’re my brother, Rex. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I hope you know that.”
“I do, Candy. Thanks.”
He nodded, and I watched him leave the room before shutting my eyes. I knew what I had to say to Cachi was going to break his heart.
Just like it was breaking mine.
I opened my eyes when the door slid open again. Cachi was silhouetted in the doorway looking like he was afraid to come close to me and for the first time since I’d known him, I felt sick about it. I didn’t want what we’d started to end, but I couldn’t see a way forward, not with everything that had happened.
That bastard, Wallace, had allowed Cachi to be put in terrible danger just because he’d been trying to prove he was part of the cartel. The FBI had done that to him, and now, he and his whole family were in danger because of something my own agency had done. I felt guilty as hell about it.