A weak pressure on my hand pulls me back. Paulie. Somehow, he has the strength to reach out and squeeze my fingers, his grip surprisingly tight.
“I’m sorry, Haven.” His breathing is labored and unsteady, each inhale a ragged struggle. He apologizes again, and this time he sounds wounded, soul-deep.
“I don’t know how it ended up this way, but you have to stay strong for me.” My eyes water, the scene of Ripper’s beating blurring behind a film of tears. I squeeze his hand back, my head shaking. “Don’t worry about it. We’re going to get help. You’re going to be okay.”
He tries to speak more, his lips moving, but I shush him gently, leaning close. It’s impossible to block out the sounds behind us.
“Save your strength,” I whisper, the words choked. “We can talk about it when you get better, so don’t you dare go dying after everything they just went through to get you back.”
They. He. Ripper’s still going through it, even now. The rhythmic, sickening thuds haven’t stopped. And a terrible, confusing truth settles in my chest, cold and hard as stone.
Watching him take that punishment, for me, for my brother… I realize I’m more upset about this, about his silent, brutal submission, than I am about everything I’ve gone through in the last two days. The fear, the running, the terror—it all condenses into this single, horrifying moment, and it has his name written all over it.
A woman with a medical bag approaches. She flinches when she sees the state Paulie’s in, and introduces herself as Leah.
I’m relieved when she’s quick to check him for injuries. Despite how bad he looks, she looks rather relieved. That has to be a good thing, right?
“You’re going to be in pain for a while, pal.” Putting on gloves, she’s pulling out antiseptic-smelling swabs. “But you’re going to live.”
Relief floods me at her words, but I’m back to flinching when I hear another grunted hit in the distance. It’s the sound of Ripper meeting the ground, ending this“punishment.”
Leah gives me a weak smile, patting my hand. “Ripper will be fine. This is… how they do things around here.”
I don’t like it. It’s animalistic. Her grimace suggests that she seems to agree. The way her eyes drift toward Hammer and Warden makes me think she’s worried about them, too.
But they don’t get hit. They get scolded. Their punishments will follow after this “war” is resolved. Hammer’s left to deal with the woman in his arms, and Warden stays close to us, forced to face what could be awaiting him in the near future.
Ripper’s left in the dirt. No one is coming to help him. It’s unfair that they can’t see what good he’s done.
Now that I know Paulie’s going to be okay, I move toward Ripper, my body demanding I be the person to approach him. I haven’t even gotten the chance to thank him.
“Ripper…”
“Tell me I’m still good-looking.” Reaching for me, he grabs my hand as I kneel down to take in the damage.
“You look like a truck hit you.” Telling him the truth, I catch myself sniffing when he groans.
“That’s our Prez. He’s a force to be reckoned with.” Even now, Ripper sounds amazed. He must have a concussion.
“He could’ve killed you.” My voice catches as the worry pours from me. Reaching for him, I carefully touch his bloodied cheek.
Ripper leans into my touch, his smile softening. “Nah. He just had to do what he had to.”
I don’t get it. I don’t get any of this. My poor heart hurts for this man, and I don’t understand why. Seeing him in pain likethis makes me want to take some of it from him so he can suffer less.
“Don’t look so sad.” He lifts his hand, lightly touching my cheek. “Trust me, this is nothing. I’m going to be fine. Still need to cash in that sweet offer of yours.”
“Now isnotthe time to talk about that.” Huffing out my frustration, his boldness helps dry my eyes.
The crunching steps approaching us ruin the moment.
“You. You’re the spy?”
I look up, seeing Judge glaring down at me like I’m the enemy. My heart stills, a trapped bird in a cage of ribs.
Ripper groans, forcing himself to sit up. The movement is stiff, pained. “She’s my old lady. Haven.”
The words hang in the air, like a correction, a clear statement made.
