Mason shook his head right away. “No. I’m staying. I need to be here when he wakes up.”
That almost pulled a smile out of me. “Okay. But if you need anything, tell one of the guys outside, yeah?”
He nodded.
I laid a hand on the rail of the bed for a moment. Grounding myself. Grounding him.
“We’re with you,” I told Mason. “You and your brother. All the way.”
His shoulders shook once, but he straightened them again.
I moved closer to the bed. Up close, Saint looked worse. Swollen on one side, bruises blooming dark across his jaw and temple. Bandages wrapped his head. The ventilator moved his chest for him. The lines in his arms looked wrong on him. He’d always been the strongest bastard in the room.
Moderate injuries, the doctor had said.
Didn’t look moderate.
It looked like somebody tried to take him out.
I pulled the lone chair up and sat.
Saint’s hand was pale against the blanket. I picked it up anyway.
“Won’t bother asking why,” I said. “I already know.”
The machines answered for him.
“Coward jumped you in the lot,” I went on, voice low. “Couldn’t take you straight, had to use a tire iron. Half the club’s on edge. Your kid brother’s scared out of his mind.” I blew out a breath. “You’d probably laugh at me for getting soft about it.”
I watched the slow rise and fall of his chest.
“We’re handling it,” I said. “I’m handling it.”
Mason shifted behind me. I didn’t turn, but I could feel his eyes on the back of my head.
“We’re going to get answers,” I added, so he’d hear it too. “That I can promise.”
His breath hitched like he was swallowing a sob.
I squeezed Saint’s hand once, hard, then let go.
Mason’s voice came out small. “This is because of the Reapers, isn’t it?”
“I’m not gonna lie to you,” I said. “Yeah.”
“Are you gonna… do something?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t ask what. He didn’t need the details.
Before he could, Wraith appeared in the doorway, expression steady. “Lock,” he said quietly. “We’re done for the night. Everything’s set for tomorrow.”
Didn’t surprise me he knew where to find me.
I stood and gave Saint one last look. “Get some sleep if you can,” I told Mason. “We’ve got men outside the door all night.”
He nodded, lip trembling, even though he tried to hide it.
