Free ChoosingHisChristmasMiracle by Charlie Richards

Ailean. Jared didn’t even hesitate. He pushed Raul right inside and hit the appropriate button for parking level.
    “You weren’t really trying to sneak out of here, were you, Raul?” Ailean asked dryly.
    Raul grinned through the throb beginning to permeate his body. “Naw, Doc, I got my release papers. See?” He held up the referenced sheets.
    Ailean’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. “I’d force you to go back to your room, but I find myself giving you grudging respect for actually getting away with it.” He scowled. “That is, at least, as far as the hospital is concerned.” Sighing, he rolled his eyes and actually smirked. “Damn ballsy of you.”
    Jared shrugged. “It’s a hospital, not a prison.”
    The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Ailean gave them a nod, but stayed in the elevator as Jared pushed Raul out, content to order, “Call me or Lark if you have complications, Raul.”
    With a grunt or two of pain, Raul got into Jared’s Porsche. At least, with that, he hadn’t needed help. Sighing, he settled back in the bucket seat and closed his eyes, trying to will the aches and pains away. Raul wasn’t sure, but if he’d been a betting man, he figured he fell asleep before they even got out of the parking garage.

Chapter Eight
    Sean tickled Lily, making her squeal and kick where she lay on the blanket spread over the rug. He’d known he’d been a bit distracted recently, what with spending all his time at the hospital, and Sean appreciated Raul’s understanding. He smiled, tickling Lily again, thinking how sweet it was for Raul to encourage him to spend time with his niece.
    He glanced at the clock, realizing he probably ought to try to put Lily down before Lisa got there with Abigail. That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about it after he left for the hospital again.
    Sean reached for her, but the sound of crunching gravel under tires made him pause. His brows creasing, he looked at the clock again. No, Sean hadn’t been mistaken. Lisa shouldn’t be there yet. Leaving Lily where she was, kicking happily on her stomach, he headed toward the window and peeked out.
    His brows lifted when he spotted Jared’s Porsche carefully maneuvering around patches of snow. It was a good thing the pack plowed all of its members’ driveways regularly, otherwise the man’s pretty sports car would have trouble.
    Come to think of it, this was only the second time Sean had seen it out in the winter. All the other times, Jared had been riding shotgun in Carson’s SUV. Concern filling him, Sean glanced once at Lily, double-checking that she hadn’t moved, then headed toward the front door.
    He opened it and watched Jared park and get out of his car. That’s when Sean realized someone was in the passenger seat, though he couldn’t figure out who, what with the tinted windows and all.
    Jared closed his door and looked at him. “Oh, good. Help me out with him,” he said, motioning. “He passed out as soon as I gave him his pain meds,” the man continued, grumbling.
    Sean carefully shut the door and headed down the steps, trying not to shiver in the winter chill. “Who?”
    The human stopped in his tracks, his hand pausing on the handle of the passenger door, and peered at him with brows drawn. Then his eyes widened and he started to laugh. “He didn’t tell you?” he got out between guffaws, which just confused Sean even more.
    “Who tell me what?” he asked.
    That’s when Jared, still laughing uproariously, opened the door and Sean realized who was in the passenger seat. His jaw dropped open. “They released him? When the hell…” Sean paused and took at Jared’s grin. The man still snickered. “They didn’t release him, did they? He broke out, didn’t he? And you helped!” he said, pointing between them accusingly.
    Jared shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Ailean knows he left. Besides, it’s not a fucking prison,” he muttered, gripping Raul’s arm and urging the barely