When I emerge wrapped in a towel, Jamie has laid out clean clothes—a soft cotton shirt, loose sweatpants, and thick socks to protect my bandaged feet.
“Titan sent these up,” she says. “He said you’d probably want comfortable over stylish right now.”
The thoughtfulness puts a smile on my face. “He was right.”
I dress slowly, careful not to pull stitches. Everything hurts, but it’s a dull ache now instead of sharp agony.
Jamie rebandages my feet with fresh gauze. “You need to eat before you take your medicine. I’ll have someone bring breakfast up?—”
“No.” I stand carefully, testing my weight. “I’m going downstairs.”
“Bonnie—”
I take a tentative step, and pain shoots through my feet, but it’s bearable. “I need to see what’s happening.”
Jamie looks like she wants to argue, but she doesn’t. “At least let me walk with you.”
We make our way down the stairs together.
The main floor is quieter than usual. A few brothers nod as we pass, but most are either out on business or catching sleep after pulling guard duty all night.
Jamie guides me to the kitchen where Titan stands at the stove, spatula in hand.
“Well, look who’s up,” he says without turning around.
“Disappointed?”
“Relieved.” He glances over his shoulder and grins. “Made you breakfast. Sit.”
I lower myself into a chair at the kitchen table. Jamie checks my bandages one more time and then excuses herself to tend to other matters.
Titan sets a plate in front of me—scrambled eggs, bacon, toast, and orange juice. More food than I’ve seen in days.
“Eat,” he orders. “All of it. You’re running on fumes and stubbornness.”
“The stubbornness is keeping me alive.”
“The stubbornness is going to get you killed if you don’t fuel it properly.” He sits across from me with his own plate. “Now eat before I force-feed you like a baby bird.”
Despite everything, I smile. “You’re annoying.”
“You love it.”
I do. I love that he can make me smile when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Love that he cares enough to cook for me, to make sure I’m taken care of.
I eat slowly. Each bite settles in my stomach like a small victory. Titan watches me between bites of his own food, making sure I finish everything.
“Where is everyone?” I ask.
“Meeting. Been at it since dawn.” He drains his orange juice. “Savage Legion hit three of our businesses last night. Marcus is pissed you got away.”
“Anyone hurt?”
“Property damage mostly. Broken windows, spray paint, the usual intimidation tactics. But it’s escalating.” His jaw tightens. “War’s coming.”
I finish eating in silence. When my plate is empty, Titan produces two pill bottles from his pocket. “Jamie said you need these. Antibiotics and pain meds.”
I swallow the pills with the last of my juice. The pain in my feet has already started to dull at the edges.
