“Not making light of it. I’m dead serious. He’s my second, baby. If I’m gone, he’s Prez.”
I shivered. “I’m going to be sick.”
He released me and I rushed for the bathroom. When he tried to help me up, I swatted at his hands. “They shot you!”
“I know, baby.”
I stood and washed my hands, then rinsed my mouth out. “They tried to kill all of us.”
Doc leaned against the doorframe, giving me space. “I’m aware.”
“Did you fuck them up?”
“A couple of them, yeah. Sugar was long gone. As was Snapper.”
“I want them dead, Tristan. Dead. But, like, totally fuck with them before you kill them. Make them hurt.”
He smiled. “Come here.”
I went there, wrapping my arms around him and burying my face in his chest.
“How did your lip get cut?”
Oh, right. My lip. I’d forgotten about my lip.
“I pissed Sugar off.” I met his eyes. “But you knew that already.”
He grunted, closing his eyes.
“Did you see him hit me?”
He opened his eyes again and they burned with rage. “Yeah.”
I slid my hands up his chest. “Thank you.”
He stared at me and I knew he was holding back his anger.
“If you’d come at him then, he would have killed you in front of me. You know that,” I said. “I’m okay and you’re going to get your chance for vengeance, honey, but thank you for not doing anything in that moment to get yourself shot.”
He dropped his forehead to mine. “I’m gonna rip his dick off.”
“Promise?”
He smiled slightly. “Yeah, sweetness. I promise.”
I hugged him. “I love you so hard.”
“I love you, too.” He cupped my face and stroked my cheek. “I don’t like how pale you are. I need you to eat.”
I closed my eyes, taking a few deep breaths to push away the nausea. “I’m not hungry.”
“I’m gonna need you to try.” He slid his phone out of his pocket and answered it. “Hey, Raquel.”
Raquel was his baby sister. She was fifteen years younger than him and the oldest of Doc’s half-siblings. She currently lived in Colorado and was finishing up her degree.
“Jesus, now? Your timing is perfect, darling sister. I’ll send Rabbit to get you.” Doc groaned. “His dick is off-limits, understand? I don’t give a fuck. He touches you, he dies, even if you instigate it. In a heartbeat.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s why I get paid the big bucks. Yeah. Serious as a heart attack. He’ll be drivin’ my truck. Okay. Bye.” He hung up, and after sending a text, he slid his phone in his pocket. “My sister’s coming for a few days.”
“Is that a good idea?”
