Before she could finish her sentence, the front door banged open and my brother walked in practically carrying Aero.
“Oh my god!” I snapped. “What the fuck did you do to him?”
“Shhh, baby,” Aero slurred. “My head’s killin’ me.”
“You gave him a concussion?” I squealed.
“No, sissy, he’s wasted,” Orion countered.
“Tequila,” Aero said with a chuckle.
“Did Needles look him over?” I demanded.
“Yeah. He’s good,” Orion said, and set Aero on the sofa.
I turned on every light and lamp in Aero’s dim apartment and knelt in front of him. “Oh my god,” I squeaked, scowling over my shoulder at my brother. “Is this your doing?”
He grinned. “No. He took a couple dozen or so hits before Dad called it.”
“Get out,” I snapped.
“Lett—”
“Out!” I stood and stomped toward him. “Swear to god, Adam, you need to get your ass out of here before I do something that’ll leave you without the ability to make babies.”
“Okay, that might be going a little far,” Raquel said.
“She used my birth name,” Orion retorted. “She must be really pissed.”
I glared at him and Raquel slid off the barstool and grabbed her purse. “Let’s go, honey,” she said to my brother.
He grinned and walked Raquel to the door. “Scrappy’ll drop your bike by tomorrow, Aero.”
“Okay,” Aero said, and I waved my hands to hurry my brother along.
Once they were clear of the door, I closed and locked it, then went back to my man. “Let’s have a look at you.”
“I’m good.”
“You’re beat to shit,” I countered.
“Best night o’ my life, baby.” He grinned and I noticed his front tooth was chipped.
“Let’s get you to bed. I’ll get you some ibuprofen.”
“Needles gave me something better,” he said. “It’s in my jacket.”
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“No, baby. I’m good.” He tried to stroke my face, but he was so drunk, he missed.
I sighed. “Come on, let’s get you comfortable.”
I helped him off the sofa and we hobbled back to the bedroom where I gingerly removed his clothes. I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face as every layer of fabric removed revealed yet another bruise or cut. Checking every part of his body, I was relieved to see all the hits were above the belt.
“Baby, it’s okay. Don’t cry.”
“It’s not okay,” I whispered. “I’m going to kill them.”
