Uncaged Love Volume 5 Read Free

came for him, waiting on news about you and Colt. He didn’t fight it. Just went.”
    “He saved us,” I say. “If he hadn’t come…”
    Buster sighs. “It looks bad for everybody. Big mess.”
    I feel so tired. “Have you seen Colt?”
    “I’m not family.”
    God. The Cure, Colt’s father, must be here somewhere. “His dad?”
    “I haven’t seen him. But I’m sure he’s around. Probably has lawyers all over the place.”
    “Maybe you can call Killjoy?”
    “Nate is trying to get him. He’s been up here too, snarling at everyone.” Buster gives a feeble smile. “Trying to make sure they fix you up right so you can get back in the cage.”
    I glance down at the sling. “I couldn’t move my arm before.” I wiggle my fingers.
    “Blood loss. They don’t think any damage is permanent.”
    I realize something. “How come you know about me? You’re not family either.”
    He shrugs. “I lied.”
    My eyes prick with tears then. Buster doesn’t even know my real name, but he’s playing like he’s my dad. “Thank you,” I say.
    He stands up. “Somebody’s got to step in for Jo.” He lays his meaty hand on mine.
    “Did someone tell Zero?”
    “He’s been here too. He keeps leaving these.” Buster leans over to a cabinet near the head of the bed to pick up a Styrofoam container. It’s the kind they have at the cafe where Zero works.
    “I don’t know what he puts in them, but they look kind of strange.”
    He pops open the lid. Inside are two pieces of bread with all sorts of spreads and meats and vegetables in between.
    “It’s a randomwich,” I tell Buster. “It’s our thing.”
    Buster closes the lid. “I’m sure he’ll be back with another one soon. I keep telling him you can’t eat them right now. But he brings them anyway. Probably helps. We feel helpless.”
    I look around the room. I have no idea how any of this will get paid for. I don’t have insurance. I don’t have anything. I spot a vase of flowers that look expensive.
    Buster follows my gaze. “Those are from Brittany,” he says.
    “Did she come here?”
    “No. They were delivered.”
    I figure she didn’t have anything to do with Lani or Annie. Not after what happened. Spying is one thing. And maybe even intimidating. But not a street fight. Or thugs. Not her style.
    “You should probably rest a bit,” Buster says. “I’ll be here until Nate comes. We’re taking turns.”
    My jaw aches from the effort of not crying. “You don’t have to do that.”
    Buster settles back in his chair. “Sure we do. Somebody’s got to look out for our Jo.”
    I lay back on the pillow. I have to get well. I have to get up. And I have to find a way to get to Colt. I need to look out for him.

Chapter Three  

    I’ve barely walked around the room for the first time when a man in a dark police uniform knocks on the door. Nate is here now, and his lips clamp down on the cigar with annoyance when he sees the officer.
    “She’s barely been awake two hours,” Nate bellows.
    I’m feeling panicked. The police. Of course they’d come. But I’m not Jo Jones. My ID, wherever it is, is fake. I know I got fingerprinted when I got my original driver’s license when I was sixteen. They can find out who I really am.
    I wobble a little. The nurse who is holding my arm frowns at the officer. “I don’t know if she has medical clearance for a police interview.”
    I’m hoping she can get me out of this. I don’t want to talk. The nurse leads me back to the bed to sit down. Thankfully they’ve given me two hospital gowns, one opening in the back and the other in the front, so I don’t feel so exposed. The IV is finally out of my arm.
    “You just get on out of here,” Nate says to the officer.
    The detective glances with a bit of apprehension at Nate, who, despite being on the small side, looks intimidating and mean in his trench coat. Nate has bushy gray eyebrows that would bury an ordinary face and have expressions all their own.