by Rebel Hart
His finger pointed between Max and me. “You rejecting him. Holy shit. I’ve never--never, ever seen a girl just--HAH!”
I blinked. “Can we fix him up now so he doesn’t die on your couch?”
Max grunted. “I’m not dying.”
I dumped the stuff on the floor at John’s feet. “We’ll see come morning, I guess.”
John immediately stopped laughing and glared at me. I didn’t know what the hell was so funny, but it seemed like I was the only one taking this issue seriously. And I wouldn't have these idiots botch things because they were laughing while Max could hardly move!
“What next?” I asked.
John nodded his head. “Get out of my way.”
Max sat up. “Or help me get my clothes off.”
I nodded. “I can do that.”
I gingerly helped him out of his shirt and tossed it to the side. The bruising made my eyes water as my hands slid to the belt of his pants. After stripping him down to nothing but his socks and his boxers, I stood back, watching as John scooted up closer to his brother. He reached for the red bottle and popped the top. My eyes widened as he held it up to his lips. He took two long gulps before passing it to Max. And when it took five, I started reaching for the bottle.
Before he moved back and took two more.
“What is this?” I asked.
I finally got the bottle away from Max and passed it back to John.
“It’s whiskey,” Max said with a growl, “and it’s going to help dull the pain while John works.”
John nodded. “It’ll be a nice treat when I drug him up for the night, too.”
I scoffed. “With what? A tranquilizer?”
John picked up the first aid kit. “No. With my lifetime supply of pain medication, courtesy of my chronic pain.”
I paused. “Oh.”
John nodded. “‘Oh’ is right. Now watch and learn, or get back on the couch.”
I stood by the outer arm of the couch and watched as Max laid down against the cushions. With his feet resting against my thigh, I felt his toes curling into me every time John moved to work. First, the split lip. A small butterfly band-aid closed the wound, but not before he rubbed it down with alcohol. Something that made Max wince. And when his hands moved toward his nose, I quickly reached down for the red bottle.
“Hold on,” I said.
I walked around to Max’s face before I opened the bottle.
“Two more large gulps, okay? You can’t risk any more than that,” I said softly.
I lifted his head and counted the pulls. One, swallow. Two, swallow. And another small one, just in case. I settled his head back down and put the bottle off in the corner, hoping and praying Max didn’t buck too much during this. Setting his nose was going to be rough. Even John knew that. And as I looked up at him, I watched him nod.
“On the count of three,” John said.
Max took my hand and squeezed it. Hard.
“Ready,” he grunted.
“All right. On my count. One--SNAP!”
And the roar of pain Max let out watered my eyes.
“Sh-sh-sh-sh, it’s okay. I’m right here, handsome.”
I pressed my lips to his ear and whispered as many sweet nothings as I could. John started from Max’s nose and worked his way down his brother’s body, patching up what he could and poking at what he couldn't. He got ice packs for the bruised ribs. He checked Max for any signs of a concussion. John checked every joint from his toes to his shoulders, just to make sure nothing else was out of place. And when we sat Max upright, my hand slid down the nape of his neck.
Fiddling with something that felt swollen.
“John?” I asked.
Max groaned. “Damn it, that hurt. The hell did you just run over, gorgeous?”
I peered down at Max’s neck, confused by what I was seeing. There were circular indentations with designs that looked weirdly specific in nature. John got up and lumbered around to where he could see, trying to move Max as little as possible.
And when John’s eyes landed on the bruising, he smacked his lips.
“Were the guys wearing rings, Max?”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, they were. Bunch of fucking pussies. Might as well have had brass knuckles.”
John nodded. “All right. I’m going to take pictures of this bruising pattern. They’ve hit you so hard back here that their rings left imprints.”
It boggled my damn mind how these men thought a hospital wasn’t necessary for any of this.
2
Max
The world felt as if it was swirling around me. That’s what pulled me from sleep. My eyes refused to open, and I felt some crusty shit trying to poke my eye out. I coughed, feeling my chest jump and my face explode with pain. And with every part of my body that became more aware of the morning sunlight pouring against my body, the more pain dawned on my conscious mind.
“The fuck.”
I heard birds chirping as the crusty outer layer to my eye finally gave way. It sent involuntary tears slipping down my face. I lifted my fist to wipe it away. With every movement I made, I thought I was going to puke.
From the pain.
“Here, this should help.”
John’s voice seemed far off in the distance. I felt something sink into my upper arm, pinching and piercing, sending my ‘fight’ signals into overdrive. I clamped down onto a wrist and tried to pull whatever it was that was stabbing me out of my damn arm. I felt something bony press down against my major artery in my thigh, causing my head to spin.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
John sighed. “And we’re gone. You always did hate needles, you weird, tattooed little fucker.”
My eyes had a hard time focusing. I got my head turned and gazed around the room. Shit. No wonder I felt like hell. I’d fallen asleep on the couch in the damn living room. I reached up for the curtains to the window beside me and I tugged them shut, trying to get that hot sun off my skin.
“Come on. Let me help you up. I need to see if you can at least sit up straight.”
John’s grip was tight. He helped me up off the couch and sat me up, leaning me against the arm of the piece of furniture. I felt like death warmed over. It had been a long time since I’d felt this kind of physical pain. And as I gazed around the room, my eyes fell onto a curious sight.
Dani, with her legs curled up against her chest, passed out in the recliner.
John’s recliner.
“She wanted to sleep last night with you propped up against her. I told her that wasn’t possible.”
I nodded slowly. “So you gave her your recliner?”
He snickered. “No. She helped herself to it and refused to leave. It’s being held hostage. I expect you to fix that.”
I buried my smile. “Yep. Will do.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you will, loverboy.”
I rolled my eyes as I braced myself against the couch. John hovered around me, holding his arms out just in case I fell or some shit. But I knew I wouldn't. The more I stood, the more stable on my feet I felt. Despite the fact that the pain was excruciating.
At least my heart doesn’t hurt.
I shuffled myself into the kitchen. I needed a cup of coffee and some bacon. Some grease. Something to knock this cloud away from my mind. I leaned against the counter and used my shaking hands to pour myself a mug. I drew in the scent by the noseful, feeling my muscles already relaxing and the pain already slipping away.
“Pain meds look good on you. Just don’t make them a lifetime thing.”
John limped up beside me with his own mug clenched in his hand.
“I’m lucky she was there to peel me off the fucking pavement,” I murmured.
My brother nodded. “Lucky indeed. She says there were four of them.”
I shook my head. “No. Three.”
“Not what she said.”
“Well, she’s not the one that got her ass handed to her by them.”
“From her point of view, s
he says there were three who jumped you, then hopped into a black SUV. And that none of them got into the driver’s seat.”
My eyes found his. “Fuck.”
He nodded. “‘Fuck’ is right. There were four men there. One manning the car.”
I sighed. “It was a hit.”
“Who the hell have you pissed off?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “You mean other than Dad? I can’t think of anyone we’ve pissed off lately.”
John nodded. “I was hoping you could shed light on that, since I’m not much use in that department any longer. There’s no crews you’ve come into contact with? No turf wars happening? No shit like that?”
I shook my head. “No. Nothing like that.”
Then it dawned on me.
“You don’t think…?”
John interrupted me. “Dad’s a fucker, but he’s not that stupid. If he wants something done, he’d want to come watch it for himself.”
“He could’ve been that fourth person. The one in the car.”
“You know that’s not how he rolls. I mean, the garage incident tells us that.”
I paused. “How the hell do you know about that?”
He chuckled. “The real question is how you thought you could keep it from me. Yes. I know Dad sicced his men on you in the garage. But if he was there, you would’ve known he was there. This isn’t Dad. He’s a sick man, but he’s not mental.”
“Says you.”
I chugged back the rest of my coffee and poured myself another mug. I hated this feeling of not knowing. It felt like my head was being held underwater. And when I felt like this, that put the entire crew at risk. My men, who depended on me, were now in danger.
And I didn’t have the slightest clue as to who the fuck was doing all this.
“You need to warn the guys,” John said.
I nodded. “I’ll get to that, yeah. Once I’ve got something to fucking tell them.”
“If someone is after you, you can’t just--”
I held my hand up. “Your reign as president is over. I know what I’m doing. Let me do it.”
He huffed. “Suit your fucking self. But if any of them get hurt or killed because you’re too chickenshit to go to them with stuff like this before you figure it out? That’s on you.”
“What did you just call me?”
“Like you’ve got the energy to do anything about it. Pour yourself another mug while I cook us up some bacon. And eggs. I’m sure your girl’s gonna be hungry when she wakes up.”
“She’s not my girl.”
He snickered. “Could’ve fooled me.”
He did have a point, though. As John rummaged around in the fridge for shit to cook for breakfast, my mind wandered. If these bastards had the bold balls to jump me like that in the middle of a damn college campus, then no one was safe. I was the president of the crew that owned these streets. I called the shots. I made the rules. And if they weren’t afraid to jump me, they sure as hell wouldn't be afraid to jump anyone else.
Did they see Dani at all?
Worry pooled in my gut. If these assholes had seen Dani, she was a target. I shook my head. I should have resisted the urge. I should’ve buried the pull she had on me. Now, not only was Dani a target in my father’s crosshairs, but she was possibly a target to some unnamed entity I had no information on yet.
“John?”
“Yeah?”
I set my mug down. “Tell the others to meet me at the pub. Whoever gets there first can shut it down.”
He snickered. “I thought you were the president.”
I shot him a look. “Just do it.”
He nodded. “Glad you finally came to your senses. But you need to eat.”
“No time.”
“You need something in your stomach other than pain medication and booze from last night. You won’t be able to function with a clear head otherwise. I’m telling you. Eat.”
I blinked. “Something quick. I have to inform the crew as soon as possible.”
“And it’ll do you no good to do that with a swimming head. Trust me on this, Max. I’ve been living with pain meds and booze for years now. I know what works and what doesn’t. Give yourself two scrambled eggs, bacon, and another mug of coffee. You’ll feel better.”
“We need to make sure everyone knows someone is gunning for us. They have to be able to protect--”
He pointed at me with a spatula. “Sit. You look like shit, and you need food.”
“I don’t have time, John. I need to handle my crew.”
“And you will. After food. Go wake Dani. The more you bug me, the slower your food’s going to come up.”
Normally, I didn’t take orders from anyone. Not even my damn brother. But he was right. My head kept sinking deeper under water and my vision was starting to blur again. Plus, my stomach was angry with me. Very, very angry.
“Fine. Maybe just a bit of food,” I murmured.
John snickered. “Let Dani know I’m going to make her a small something, too.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
I lumbered down the hallway and slipped into the bathroom. I had to piss. But I also wanted to take a look at myself. Really do a damage inspection on my body. I stuffed myself back into my boxers and slowly turned around, preparing myself for what I was about to see.
Nothing could have prepared me, though.
“Holy fuck.”
I had a makeshift stint over my nose. The area underneath both of my eyes was black and yellow and a bit purple. My eyes were puffy and red. The deep black bruises against my ribs explained why my footsteps hurt like hell. And when I craned my neck, I saw the soft round marks those gold-ass rings had left behind on the back of my neck.
I’m going to slaughter you all.
I straightened my back and dipped underneath the sink faucet. I chugged mouthfuls of water until my stomach settled down. Then I headed out to where Dani was. Her soft snores made me grin. Her beautiful body curled up against the leather arm of the recliner made my heart slam against my chest. She looked so peaceful. So calm. So settled.
I almost didn’t have the heart to wake her.
“Hey there, gorgeous. Wake up for me.”
I reached down and softly shook her, watching as her eyes fluttered open.
“Hmm? Max?”
I chuckled. “Morning, Daddy’s girl. Time to get up.”
She frowned up at me. “Don’t call me that.”
I paused. “Call you what?”
“Daddy’s girl. Or Bambi. I have a name. Use it, please.”
I nodded slowly. “Oh… kay. Morning, Dani.”
She smiled up at me. “Morning, Max. It’s nice to see you up on your feet.”
“You need to get back to campus for class.”
She stood up. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“You’ll be late for class.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing I’m not going to school today.”
I blinked. “And why not?”
John poked his head around the corner. “Breakfast is up.”
Dani pointed. “See? Breakfast. Can’t leave until I eat, can I?”
I nodded. “Then you’ll after you’re done eating.”
“No, I won’t.”
She said the words so coolly. So plainly. And when John started chuckling to himself, I wanted to chip his tooth to match my own.
“Getting bolder, I see, Daddy’s girl.”
Her eyes flashed. “Don’t you call me that anymore. I’m not some weak-willed little porcelain doll who bats her eyes only for her father. I’m more than that.”
I paused. “Is that why you think I call you that?”
She snickered. “Is there any other reason?”
John poked his head back around. “Hate to break up this little lovefest, but breakfast is going to get cold if you guys don’t come eat. Now.”
I threw my hands up. “Why the fuck won’t people just listen to me?”
Dani mad
e her way into the kitchen. “Because you're talking nonsense right now. That’s why.”
John let out a roar of a laughter that made me clench my fists. Where the hell was my sweet, innocent little college girl?
You’re killing her. She’s almost in the ground. That’s where she is. Because of you.
I started for the kitchen. “Dani, you need to get back to campus.”
She sat down at the table. “Care to tell me why?”
I licked my lips. “Because what’s happening is dangerous, and I don’t want you anywhere near it.”
“And what if I want to stay with you?”
“What if you fail your classes if you start missing them?”
She waved her hand in the air. “Missing one day won’t hurt. I’m two weeks ahead in my homework and my reading, anyway. No tests. No quizzes. I’ll be good.”
“Dani, this isn’t what you--”
“I’m staying with you, and that’s final.”
I looked over at John and he held up his hands.
“Don’t look at me. I’m just serving up food.”
Dani sipped her coffee. “Besides, someone’s going to have to help you around today. You can barely stand up straight.”
I glowered. “I don’t need help standing.”
John cleared his throat. “I mean, you are standing a bit crooked right now.”
Dani held her arm out. “See? Even your own brother sees it.”
I held back a sigh. “I have business to attend to today. Red Thorn business. Business you can’t be part of.”
John butted in. “Have you called a formal meeting? Or an informal one?”
“Will you shut the hell up?”
Dani set her cup down. “Please take me with you.”
That innocent little twang of hers strummed at my gut. Tugged at my heartstrings. I looked over at her and saw her eyes growing wider. Begging me. Urging me to take her along.
“Dani, I can’t.”
“Please?”
I shook my head. “I’m serious. I can’t risk you getting hurt.”
John snickered. “I’m pretty sure the guys like her more than you at this point. They certainly won’t let her get hurt.”
“You’re not helping, brother.”
“I am helping. Just not you.”
Dani nodded. “Thank you, John.”