If they didn’t agree with me on this, I might have to fucking fight them. My body was still healing from Max’s torture. My shoulder was as weak as a baby deer, my knee barely functioning, my fingers torn from clawing at the rubble. I might not be at my best, and I wouldn’t be for a while, but I could get a few good punches in. Yet, to my surprise, both of them nodded in agreement.
“Wil?” Wynn said into the receiver. Meanwhile, Leona hobbled on one leg to pull on a new shirt and leggings. I met her outstretched arm to steady her. “Wait. What’s going on?”
All of us turned to face him, listening intently. “The Irish were hit tonight,” he relayed.
“What?” Leona gasped. “How? When?”
“When Fallon was at the club with us. Precision attack. They lost two of their bars and one of their weapons warehouses. They’ve had a few injuries that Willow needs to tend to.” He looked at Leona. “Fallon and her crew went back to Philadelphia. They send a message that our friendship still stands, but they can’t lose their territory.”
Max. He was too goddamn smart.
“When Max and Elio tortured me, he told me they knew the Irish were helping us,” I said. My vision went glassy as I remembered how it felt to be strapped to that chair. How much rage and pain had coursed through my body with his every word.“He must have thought we’d turn to them for help again, and he struck first.”
“Damn it,” Leona grumbled, pressing the heels of her palms to her eyes. She sat on the edge of the bed.
“All right, Wil,” Wynn continued. “Do what you need to do. Before you go, can you consult on an injury?”
He passed the phone to Leona, and she answered all of Willow’s questions before Leona put her on speakerphone.
“Seems like a concussion,” the doctor said through the phone. “Lots of rest. Painkillers. Sleep. Call me if the nausea gets worse, or she experiences any other signs of unconsciousness or amnesia.”
I exchanged a glance with the rest of the guys, lifting my chin and raising my eyebrow in a silent question. A promise passed between us as each nodded. They’d watch her like a hawk, just like I would. At least we could all agree upon that.
“Thanks, Wil.” Wynn picked up the phone and exchanged a few more words with the doctor before they said their goodbyes.
When he hung up, we all turned to face Leona.
“Will you all stop staring at me like I’m a glass doll?” Leona huffed, pushing her way past the rest of us and out of the room. “Ryuji’s way worse than I am.”
“You forget I am immortal,” the dick said when he followed after her. “A mystical dragon that cannot be defeated.”
My jaw clenched. Yes, he saved her life. Yes, I was eternally grateful for that. But Ryuji and I were turning out to be like oil and water. Whatever he did seemed to annoy the fuck out of me, and I doubted we’d ever truly get along.
I promised Leona I’d try to figure out this group thing. So I’d done my best to keep my mouth fucking shut.
“Ryuji likely also needs a doctor, but has refused,” Obi said. The three of us followed Leona. Ciel was mysteriously missing.“For now, his wound is stitched, but I suspect he has multiple broken ribs.”
“See?” Leona said, not even glancing over her shoulder. She traipsed through the house unconcerned and unbothered, like she hadn’t been told she had a serious concussion. “I’m not the one we need to be worried about. Go hover over Ryu instead.”
“Traitor,” he snipped.
“What are you doing?” I said once we’d we made it to the kitchen. God, this was ridiculous. We were all following her like little fucking ducklings. “Willow said you need to sleep. Get back in that bedroom right now.”
She dodged my outstretched hand and pivoted around the island. “I can’t sleep when we need to find Max.”
“Ciel is searching for him,” Obi interjected. “We should rest while we can.”
“And let Ciel do all the work?” She pulled the fridge open and poured herself a glass of water. She was so comfortable in this penthouse, like it was her home. I doubted it would ever feel that way to me. “No.”
“Ciel is an expert,” Obi continued. “He will do his job.”
“I can help him.” She downed her drink, but then blinked rapidly, and braced herself on the counter.
“Dizzy, huh? Still positive you’re fine?” I growled. I took the cup from her hand. “Fuck, Leona. You need torest.”
She was driving my blood pressure through the roof. If we could make it through the night without any other issues, I’d count that as a fucking win. Tomorrow I could relax. And then we could find Max.
That fucker needed to die—and I swore it would be me who strangled him with my bare hands. But not at the expense of Leona’s health.
