Page 108 of Insidious Heart
“Not really.”So much for lyingorplaying dumb.
Ember sighs. “Look, girlie, I told you before, everyone affiliated with an MC has secrets in some way or another, things they don’t want other people finding out, but you’ve been out cold the better part of two days and—”
“Two days?”I gasp and quickly try to sit up, only to immediately regret it because my head starts to spin and everything from the waist up begins to throb in pain. “I’ve been here for two days?”
“More like two and a half, but you were in and out of consciousness when you first got here.”
“Shit.” I slump back against the pillows, defeated and having to accept the fact that my father is going to kill me for multiple reasons when I finally go home.
Ember reaches out and pats my knee as she pulls her leg under her, seemingly settling in until she gets some answers. “So, tell me whyshit.”
“Why shit?” I frown.
“Yeah, why did you say shit like that?”
“Like what?”
“Likethat,” she says in the same tone I used. “That’s not exactly the response I was expecting.”
I grimace a little because I’m sure it wasn’t, but I go back to playing stupid anyway. “What were you expecting, exactly?”
“You are something else.” Ember shakes her head with a chuckle. “There’s no use in lying, Stevie. You came in here beat to hell; bruises all over your stomach and ribs, gnarly ones around your throat and on your chest. Your lip was fat in two places and there’s a bit of a ring around your left eye. You have a couple broken ribs, one of which punctured your lung, and your head was cracked open. There’s even a cute little row of stitches holding your brain in place.”
My nose scrunches as she laughs a bit. “Ok, your brain wasn’t hanging out, it’s more of a lump that split open, and Harlow only put in three stitches, but still. All of that, plus the cuts on your arm? You were in really bad shape when you got here and you’ve been out ever since.” Then Ember gives me a pointed look. “Unfortunately for a shitty liar like you, more than half of the people hereknowwhat causes things like that, and since Victor was a frantic, screaming mess when he pulled up, we’ve been able to put the pieces together.”
My stomach flips at the mention of his name, and regardless of the way my body hurts, I can’t help the butterflies flapping in my tummy or the heat that stains my cheeks because of it.
“Ah hah,” Ember says with a grin. “I knew there was something going on between the two of you.”
“I… I don’t know what…” I sigh as she shakes her head. “What gave it away?”
“Aside from him flying in here like a bat out of hell?”
I nod, assuming she’s referring to the night of Beau’s party.
“Your reaction to him.” Ember shrugs. “It was different from when you saw Chop and Pope. Familiar. His shit-eating grin didn’t help, but the way you and Victor interacted in those brief few minutes led me to believe you’d already met. Especially when Victor was getting a little loose with his tongue.”
“It was that obvious, huh?”
“Only to me. The boys had no idea, not until you showed up here.”
I look down at the IV sticking out of my hand. “I didn’t know he was going to be there. Or that he had anything to do with the Kings. I was…” Then what she said finally clicks. “Loose with his tongue?”
Ember smiles and looks at me like I’m still trying to pull the wool. “Bonesandghost. For someone who relies so heavily on keeping who he is a secret, Vic got pretty loose-lipped in front of you.”
“So… so everyone…knows?”
“Just the executive committee and those of us closest to it.”
Wow.I definitely wasn’t expectingthat. But I guess it makes sense. Victor is all about keeping his secret and he isn’t really one to brag or anything, but if he’s running with the likes of the WKMC then I’m sure they found out because they had to know for one reason or another. It’s probably better for everyone if the Kings do know. They can put Tor’stalentsto use, and it probably helps keep all parties involved safe.
“While I haveallthe questions about how a sweet young girl like you got wrapped up with a vigilante serial killer, I think it’s more important for me to find out what you remember from before waking up.”
I blow out a breath and nod, thankful I don’t have to get into all that right now. “You’re probably right.”
Ember smiles brightly. “I’m always right, babes, and the more we hang out, the more you’ll see it.”
I’m not sure I’d call thishanging out, seems a little more like an inquisition or something, but whatever. I like Ember; she’s been nice to me from the first time we met, and I’m already fucked since I’ve been here for two days. Telling anyone how I got my injuries seems like small potatoes after going awol on Beau and winding up in his mortal enemy’s territory.
