"Then we'll handle it," Cyrus says, finally setting his phone down. "Same way we always do."
"You should rest," Jinx tells Kade, peeling off the latex gloves. "That arm's going to hurt like a bitch once the adrenaline wears off and I know you won't take the drugs."
I guess that's one vice my twisted knights haven't succumbed to. Even if they're apparently more than fine dealing the shit.
"I'm fine." But Kade's eyes are already starting to droop, exhaustion and blood loss catching up with him. "Just need to?—"
He tries to stand and immediately sways. Tank moves faster than should be possible for someone his size, catching Kade by the arm before he can face-plant into the coffee table.
"Okay, maybe I need to sit down," Kade admits, lowering himself back onto the couch.
"You think?" Jinx shakes his head, already pulling out bottles from the medical kit. "Are you going to be reasonable and try painkillers, too? Since you're having a rare moment of clarity?"
"Painkillers make me stupid."
"You're already stupid," Jinx counters without missing a beat. "That's how you got shot."
Kade flips him off with his good arm, and the gesture is so familiar, sothem, it almost makes me feel like we're back in the RV.
Tank's still holding Kade steady, his massive hands gentle despite their size. The care in the gesture is obvious, the way he's positioned himself to take Kade's weight without making it look like Kade needs the help. Brothers in every way that matters, even if they don't share blood.
I wonder if Tank's hurt too. If there's blood under those clothes that he's hiding because Kade's injury takes priority. If he's in pain but won't show it because that's what he does. He suffers in silence while making sure everyone else is okay.
The thought makes it harder to breathe.
"You should go upstairs," Cyrus says, and I realize he's talking to me. "Get some rest. It's been a long day."
"I'm fine." I echo Kade's words from earlier, and his eyes flick to mine with something that might be amusement.
"That makes one of us," he mutters.
Jinx hands him water and two pills, which Kade takes without argument. The fact that he's not fighting tells me more about his condition than anything else. Kade doesn't accept help easily, doesn't show weakness, doesn't let anyone see him as anything less than completely in control.
He leaves with Tank, and then it's just the three of us again. I stand there for a few seconds, fighting the urge to follow them.
"I'm going to check the perimeter," Cyrus announces, already heading for the door. "Make sure they weren't followed."
"Perimeter my ass," Jinx mutters as soon as he's gone. "Thinks he's in a fucking spy movie."
I snort at the attempted levity, but I'm still shaken from…
All of it.
From running. From what I did with Cyrus and Jinx. From the emotional whiplash of hating Kade's guts one minute and fearing for his life the next.
"Cy's right. You should get some sleep," Jinx says, his hand resting on my shoulder.
The touch sinks me back into my body and I nod, suddenly feeling the weight of the exhaustion settle over me.
I make it back to my room on autopilot and sink back against the door, all the breath rushing from my lungs like a deflating balloon.
Kade got shot.
Tank hates me, as evidenced by the fact that he won't even look in my direction.
I expected as much, but suspecting andknowingare two different things.
And deep down, if I'm being honest with myself, if I thought any of them would find a way to forgive me, it was him. My scarred, gentle giant. My knight in leather and faded denim armor.
