Chapter 40

“Kipp?”

“Shh.” I took his hand from where it rested beside his pillow and brought it to my mouth, then probed the space between his fingers with my tongue. His lips parted, and he squeezed my hand.

“Are you sure you’re a good boy?”

“Sir would have a fit if I wasn’t.” I rubbed my thumb over Hyde’s knuckles. And thinking of Sir, was I being too…whatever with Hyde? Reluctantly, I released his hand. “Anyway, you were saying?”

His fingers curled into a fist, and I could have kicked myself for pushing the topic.

“Hyde, you don’t have to—” But I might as well have kept my mouth shut.

“When I regained consciousness, I was here in Martinsburg Memorial, although not in a room like this one, and Tom Chapman was there as well.”

I felt cold. Why was Sir’s lawyer involved in this?

As if I’d asked the question aloud, Hyde said, “He told me he was representing Richardson. If I left town, all my medical bills would be paid and I’d be given a check for a hundred thousand dollars.”