“It’s delayed,” I tell her honestly. “Dates are being rescheduled. Press statements are out. It’s messy, but not over.”
She nods, absorbing that.
“AndSwift Division?” she asks softly.
There it is.
The question I knew was coming.
And I already know she was going to care about them, even after everything she’s going through.
Chapter Six
EFFA
Mercs cracks his neck, his jaw tight, eyes flicking away from me and then back again like he’s weighing up how much to say. He draws in a sharp breath and decides to rip the bandage off.
“Luke agreed to pay them out for the remainder of the tour and cancel their contract without legal blowback, even though technically, with Jett in jail, they’d be in breach. There’s a clause about him not filing assault charges against me. I know Luminous is going to hemorrhage money toSwift Divisionfor basically nothing because I beat the crap out of that fuckhead, but Effa… he could have raped you. He could have killed you.”
I hold his gaze and give him a calm nod. “Okay.”
His brows pull together. “Okay?”
I can’t help the small laugh that escapes me. “Yes, okay. It’s a lot of money, sure. But if it gets them away from us without a drawn-out legal circus, I’m all for it. And if Luke managed to keep you out of jail, then I’m definitely all for that as well. This sounds like the cleanest way out, Kaden. You and Luke handled it well.”
He studies me like he’s waiting for the explosion that isn’t coming. “I thought you’d be pissed.”
“Nope.” I squeeze his hand gently. “I’m proud of you. You protected me. Luke cleaned up the mess with money rather than causing more damage. That’s not a loss, that’s a strategic win.”
His mouth curves into that sly smirk I adore. He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “I love you. Have I mentioned that?”
Warmth blooms through me so fast it makes me lightheaded. “I love you too.”
The smirk fades, and something more vulnerable replaces it. His grip tightens slightly. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t wake up.”
I smile at him, even though my ribs protest the movement. “You wouldn’t have had a choice. I would’ve haunted you. Very inconveniently.”
He huffs a breath that might be a laugh, but his eyes are still too serious to be one. This man makes me feel alive in a way no machine ever could. Even now, weak, stitched and bruised inside, my body finds its rhythm when he leans close. I close my eyes as his mouth meets mine again, softer this time, more careful.
The door swings open.
Mercs pulls back instantly.
Damn.
I look toward the doorway and see Alana hovering there, trying to smile and failing just a little. “Sorry,” she says quickly. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just… I just needed to see you.” Her voice is thin, stretched too tight.
Seeing her like that hurts more than the broken ribs.
“Alana,” I say gently, forcing brightness into my tone. “I’m okay. Come in. We’re just discussing Luke sackingSwift Division.”
She steps inside and closes the door behind her, moving closer to the bed. “Oh? You were?”
Mercs nods.
Alana’s mouth twitches. “Honestly, I think it’s for the best. I never told anyone, not even Luke, but Trent, the bassist? The way he looked at me half the time was more than creepy… and Jett was an arrogant son of a bitch.”
I blink at her. Alana rarely speaks badly about anyone. So for her to say that out loud means she’s been holding onto it for a while.
