“Look, you and your club are big on your women and kids and shit, fine, but that also makes you blind to the fact that women can be just as dangerous as any of us,” Arson snaps, clearly irritated. “You think we haven’t had a pretty bitch show up and try to get on our good side to distract us? You want to put your own people at risk, that’s on you, but I’m not about to do the same to our men over a bitch and two brats.” There’s a chorus of agreement from most of the Misfits. I note that Angel, Whip, and Magnum frown at that, but they say nothing.
I don’t even look at my brothers as I say simply, “Then you’re free to leave. We thank you for your assistance thus far. We’ll provide you with a way to get Cobra and his bike home since he’s not up for riding right now.”
The room goes silent, and I can see the shock in Arson’s eyes before they clear and his face hardens. The other Misfits looked shocked that I even dared to say such a thing. “Excuse me?” Arson says carefully.
I arch a brow. “I don’t know how I can be much clearer. You don’t want to risk your men, which I understand, so to make sure that you don’t have to worry about anymore accidents or attacks from Vlad or his men, you’re free to head home. We’re not sending out a woman and two teenagers to their deaths because of a possible threat. We’ve been handling Vlad and his men just fine up until now, and we’ll continue to do so. We appreciate all help, but we’re not in the business of making comfortable decisions for others.” It’s a sharp dig, and one that hits the mark at the flash of fury that covers Arson’s face. “If you would like to stay and help us take down Vlad and his men once and for all, then you have the right, considering what they did to your man. Oh, and before you make your decision, you might want to consider that having Avery and the kids here is also another avenue for us to figure out Vlad’s moves and what they’ve been planning while we’ve been trying to find them. Something we haven’t had until now, and something we’d be stupid to ignore. But, like I said, if you would prefer to not be involved any longer, then you’re free to leave.”
Arson looks like he’s ready to pull his gun and shoot me now. Only he knows that he won’t make it out here alive either. I’m also certain that he’s not going to leave; not if he and Vlad are working together. He glances around at his men, but none of them say a word, waiting for his direction. Finally, he answersstiffly, “Vlad and his men need to answer for what they did to Cobra, so we’ll stay.”
I nod. “Fine.” Then I give him a hard glare. “But if any of you try to intimidate either of those kids or Avery, you’ll be out on your ass.” Arson’s gaze narrows, but he gives a short nod, knowing that he doesn’t have much choice. He’s not running the show here, and he knows it. “Good. Now, let’s get back to this. Vlad and his men will know what’s happened by now and are probably planning to hit us hard soon and we need to be ready.”
And we have to figure out who our rat is before that happens or we might just be fucked.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
HULK
I’m not sure if I should be insulted or amused. I’m going with the latter.
The painin my back is a mixture of what has to be hellfire and acid. Fuck, it burns. If this is hell, this must only be the entrance because I’m sure that there has to be more. Though I’m not sure I can take much more. I shift, trying to get comfortable, but stop when I hear something. A murmur, and then a cool hand on my forehead. God, that feels good.
I force my eyes open, groaning at the pain in my back and the instant pain behind my eyes at the lights shining in my eyes. Fuck, I take it back. This is definitely hell.
“Don’t you dare roll again or I’m going to be pissed,” I hear a feminine voice tell me sternly. Wait, I know that voice. I force my head to lift and I see my angel, Avery, standing next to the bed, hands on her hips as she stares down at me, Rose next to her, a grin on her face.
Avery’s expression fills with relief before she hides it behind one of professionalism. Wait, was she worried about me?
“Considering the last time you did that she almost murdered you, I’d listen to her, baby,” Rose admonishes me lightly, shifting closer so she can cup my cheek gently.
“Sorry,” I mutter, leaning into Rose’s hand, but my gaze never leaves Avery. She’s wearing a pair of her blue scrubs again, but her dark hair flows down around her shoulders.
“Here, baby, have a drink,” Rose orders as she moves away to grab a cup with a straw. I drink down as much as I can, my mouth and throat suddenly parched.
Avery’s lips pull up into a small smile, and she loses some of the stiffness as she also shifts forward, grabbing something over my head. “I almost had to restrain you to keep you from tearing out all the stitches and trying to kill Medic. Your fever has finally come down, and we’ve been giving you fluids and IV antibiotics, but you’re going to need lots of rest before you’re back to full strength.” She presses her stethoscope to my chest, bending forward slightly. Her face is a mask of concentration, and I can’t look away. She’s so close, I’m tempted to reach up to touch her.
When her gaze finally come back to me, they hold mine intently. There’s a thick sense of something between us, something shimmering just under the surface. She adjusts her hand slightly, and the press of her fingers on my chest grounds me. They flex just slightly, like she’s trying to feel my heart beating not just listen for it. I want to reassure her, let her know I’m fine, but then she pulls back and says, “Well, your heart is still beating nice and strong, so I think it’s safe to say you’re going to live.” I clamp down on the urge to grab her and pull her back.
I frown, a vague and hazy memory filling my mind of me hauling Avery into my arms and holding her close. Wait, did I dothat? I watch her, not seeing fear on her face. Maybe it’s just a hallucination? Something my fever-addled brain cooked up?
Rose perches herself on the edge of the bed, drawing my attention as Avery steps back and starts fiddling with other things a few feet away. “You had me worried, my boy,” Rose chides, her hand coming up and gently brushing across my forehead. “But I knew you’d make it back to us. You’re too strong to let those bastards keep you down.”
I give her a tired smile. “Pretty sure it was touch and go a few times, but I knew that you’d find me.”
“You can thank Avery for that,” Rose says, looking over at Avery with an expression of pure adoration. “Without her, we might not have found you in time.”
Avery looks over at me, and says drily, “Oh, I don’t know, Rose, this guy was already trying to get himself out of there when I got there. Something tells me he’d have figured something out.” She walks back to me, the water in one hand and something else in her closed fist. “I’ve got some mild pain meds for you to keep the worst of the pain and discomfort off. Are you going to be a good boy and take them, or do I have to force them down your throat like I did last night?” Rose snickers at that.
I frown. “What do you mean you had to force them? Wait, how long have I been out?
“We’re approaching a week. You had a major infection from the state of your back, and we thought we might lose you a couple of times, but you always came around. Though, that doesn’t mean you were an ideal patient. The last twenty-four hours, you’ve had moments of what we assumed were lucidity, but then when we tried to get you to take your meds, you refused and tried to get out of bed.”
“Actually,” Rose corrects with a shit-eating grin, “the only way that you were able to get him to calm down and take the meds was to climb in bed with him and let him hold you for aminute. Then he was a perfect patient and did everything you wanted. Well, other than trying to roll onto your back after chucking the pillows and stuff we put there to prevent you. Then you were a pain in the ass and Avery wanted to put one of them over your face because she had finally gotten it perfect.”
My gaze instantly goes back to Avery, guilt hitting me. She was trying to make me comfortable and I undid all her hard work? “I’m sorry. I won’t do that again, angel.”
She shakes her head. “Not your fault, big guy.” Suddenly, she shines the brightest light possible in my eyes.
Fuck, that hurts.
