Breaker smirked. “True. But I had to come and help your prez rescue his pregnant woman from her evil drug-dealing husband, so I think we’re even.”
I chuckled. “Never a dull moment.”
He nodded. “Yep.”
My stare went to Saint, looking so tiny and vulnerable in the bed that it brought a lump to mythroat. “I hope we get a quiet few days. Not sure my nerves could stand much more of this.”
Breaker shrugged, his eyes still glued to Kady. It seemed the kid had fallen asleep. Her breaths came evenly, and her chest rose and fell in a relaxed rhythm.
“Doesn’t matter what happens, you’ll cope,” he assured me. “You’ve got no choice, Diablo. You’ve chosen a life full of missions and adventure, and along with that comes something that makes you vulnerable in some ways but also makes you stronger than you could imagine.”
My head tilted, and I asked, “What’s that?”
Breaker glanced at me, his golden eyes soft. “Brotherhood, friendship, the club. You’ll do anything for them, and when you meet your woman, your ‘one’, you’ll fight tooth and nail to keep her safe and happy. You’ll die for her, just like Ice was prepared to.”
The hair on the back of my arms stood up as my mind went to all the jars in my room, lit up all pretty and cute on the shelf. My baby trophies.
There wasn’t a woman in this world likely to accept that. I had compulsions and needs that not even a mother could love, which was why, even though my ma adored me for who I was, I still wasn’t sure she could grow to love that side of me, too.
“Don’t think it’s gonna happen for me, dude,” I argued gently. “I’m not the settling down type.”
Breaker glanced at Kennedy, who rolled her eyes before turning back to me and muttering, “Yeah, brother. That’s what they all say.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
SAINT
My eyes fluttered open to darkness, the smell of disinfectant, and so much warmth that my skin tingled with it.
There was no confusion, no muddled brain, and no doubt about what happened. I knew it hadn’t all been a dream, and I was one hundred percent aware that I was in a hospital bed after Sam—who’d been stalking me for months—shot me and Jacob.
The only thing I didn’t know was how long I’d been here; though, going by my stiff muscles and aching limbs, it had been a while.
I turned my head to the side and saw blue eyes.
But they weren’t the icy ones I desperately loved. These eyes were a pretty shade of cornflower blue.
“You’re warm now,” Kady announced gently.
“Hey,” I croaked, my voice husky from lack of use. I tried stretching my lips over my teeth to smile at her, but I just ended up grimacing as my mouth was so parched.
Slowly, Kady sat up, and that was when I sensed movement from the corner of the room. I turned my head a little further to see Diablo leaning forward and Breaker leaning back in his chair, almost lounging.
“How long was I out for?” I asked.
“Two days,” Diablo replied softly.
I opened my mouth to ask the next question, but the words burned my throat because what if the answer wasn’t what I wanted to hear?
Diablo gave me a closed-mouthed smile. “Iceman’s still alive, but he’s in critical condition. Hendrix called his mom and dad up from New Orleans. They’re in with him. He got hit twice. Once in the side of his stomach, the other time in his chest. The chest shot nicked his lung and went straight through him and hit your shoulder. You lost a lot of blood; had to have three blood transfusions. He’s still out of it.”
The wave of sorrow that hit me was debilitating. I closed my eyes, the pain in my heart almost too much to bear. “I’m glad he’s not alone,” I whispered.
“Neither of you is alone,” Diablo corrected me, then said pointedly, “You’ve both got family with you.”
The door clicked open softly. “Evening!” a deep, sexy voice called out as one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen walked into the room. He approached my bed holding an iPad and wearing a white doctor’s coat and a sexy grin. “Good to see you awake, Saint. I’m Doctor Locke, but the brothers call me Bones.” He dipped his chin to study my face. “How you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot in the chest,” I murmured.
