I stood in the middle of the room for a second and exhaled.
My shoulder pulsed.
Heavy.
I shrugged my jacket off carefully, dropping it on the chair.
Rolled my neck once.
Still only hearing out one side.
I grabbed the ice bucket, wrapped a towel around it, and pressed it to my shoulder.
“Damn…”
That helped.
A little.
I moved to the window.
Floor-to-ceiling glass.
LA looked normal.
Like nothing happened.
Like somebody didn’t just try to take me out.
I pulled my phone out.
That’s when the text came through.
Ares: Air issues with the jet. Can’t see you for two days. Hold ya head up and stay low.
I stared at the message for a second before I set the phone down.
Grabbed the bottle off the bar.
Poured a drink.
Then another.
Lit something.
Took a slow pull.
Let the smoke sit in my chest before I let it out.
Minutes passed.
Or maybe hours.
Hard to tell.
I didn’t sleep.
Every little sound?—
