Abby nods into my shirt, a small, painful sound slipping out. “I just… want to be loved back.”
“You will be,” I promise. “Someone out there is going to look at you like you hung the moon.”
“I hate that Lila couldn’t come with us,” Abby says once everyone pulls out of the group hug. “And I’m sorry you keep getting stuck with all of us girls, Eli.”
“Hey, I don’t mind,” I grin. “Every time I’ve been in a room with more than one Shadow, it’s too intense for my body. Being with you ladies is like a spa day by comparison.”
They laugh, and we go back to pulling inventory from the back room to help Abby set up her shop.
Twenty minutes later, Knuckles’ voice cuts through the space.
“Pizza’s here,” he calls. “Hey, Eli…got a minute? Meet me outside.”
I send the girls a smile and head out front.
But the second I step outside, my stomach drops.
Knuckles is pale and slouching. He’s in pain.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”
“Something’s wrong,” he says quietly. His voice… doesn’t sound like him. “I feel my body shutting down, buddy.”
My heart rockets. I immediately pull out my phone. “I’m calling an ambulance.”
“No, Eli.” He grabs my wrist weakly. “If this is the day I die, I’m not doing it in a fucking hospital. I brought you out here so I wouldn’t scare the girls.”
His breath hitches…then a violent cough rips through him, and he nearly collapses. My eyes widen in horror as he pulls his hand away from his mouth.
It’s covered in thick, dark clots of blood.
“Knuckles,” I whisper. “Please…please let me call someone.”
“No.” He swallows hard, fighting another cough. “Listen. In my house…my bedroom…top drawer of the nightstand. There’s a notarized copy of my will. It explains how I want my assets handled after I die.”
“Knuckles…”
“Just…listen,” he gasps, another fit hitting him. More blood. So much more. “I was gonna talk to Spike about it, but all this shit went down and… Eli, please.”
My tears start before I can stop them. Knuckles pulls me tight against him, arms shaking.
“Sweetheart,” he murmurs gently. Nothing like the loud-mouthed menace I’m used to. “Don’t cry for me. I’ve lived a fun life.”
“Well, well, well,” a voice purrs behind us. “If it isn’t my lucky day.”
Knuckles goes still.
Then his whole body shifts. Rage, swallowing the weakness, turning him sharp and lethal. He steps in front of me, shielding me completely.
“What’re you hiding back there,hermano?”
“I’m not your fucking brother, Cortéz,” Knuckles snarls. Not a trace of the dying man from seconds ago.
Cortéz chuckles, amused. “So touchy. Imagine my surprise when I get out of my car and seeyoudelivering pizza to this cute little shop. Then your boy toy strolls out, and you pull him into your arms. Very romantic. Very adorable. Very stupid.”
Knuckles moves back until my chest hits his spine. Shielding me tighter.
“Tell your goons to back the fuck off,” Knuckles growls.
