“Tablets,” Trixie demands. “Can I get this needle out of my arm?”
“The fluids and the antibiotics have almost run through. Just let them finish, and I’ll get it taken out. Trix, you had a major beating.”
“You’re lucky to be alive,” I rasp, wondering why my sight’s suddenly gone blurry. Trying to pull myself together, I attempt to lighten the mood. “I’ve been here all night worrying about you, and now I find out you only want me to get close to my son.”
Trix chuckles, then breaks off. “Fuck, that hurts.” She concentrates on breathing for a moment. “I heard your voice, Freak. Not everything, but some. Did I really hear you say you’re going to ask me to marry you?”
Ace’s eyes widen as he looks at me. Well, I’m not going to back down on my word. “Sure did, babe. But I’m not proposing while you're half-dead.”
“Mmm.” Her lips curve, then she turns toward Ace. “That means I’ll be able to adopt you. Our plan worked.”
Ace snorts while my jaw drops. Then I see the twinkle that’s just visible in her half-opened blackened eyes, and know that she’s fucking with me.
I play along. “Yeah, if you want him, you’ll have to be stuck with me.”
Her hand grips my fingers, and she meets my eyes. “I think I can live with that.” Then she smiles. “I love you, Freak.”
“Hey, what about me?”
“Love you too, kid,” she replies to my indignant boy.
“Don’t call me kid,” Ace mumbles.
She turns back to me. “Piero? Is he dead?”
“Not yet, but he will be. Isn’t that right, Dad?”
My eyes narrow. “You’ve been eavesdropping again?” Ace’s shrug is my answer.
Trix fixes her gaze on me. “Freak, he told me he had to kill me as he wants to get married again. To another sixteen-year-old innocent.” At her words, at the implication he intended for there to be another Trixie, another punching bag for him to hurt, my whole body stiffens. I don’t need her permission, but she gives itto me anyway. “Go do it, Freak. Ace will stay with me. I need to know he’s not breathing. Please. End him for me.”
Despite my urgency to rid the earth of Alongi, I’m reluctant to leave, but Bronwyn gives me an encouraging nod. Without actually saying anything, she lets me know Trix is out of the woods and is going to be alright.
I stand, point my finger at Ace, then move it to her. “No plotting against me while I’m gone.” Then, letting my gaze land on Trixie, I lighten the mood. “And I’m not having Smooth marry us.”
I shouldn’t have said that, as she laughs, then immediately groans.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
FREAK
Leaving Trixie is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. But she’s right, there’s a final nail in the coffin that I have to hammer in before we can start to put her past behind us. Alongi has to die. But not until I make him suffer first. Not only for her recent injuries, but for every time he put his hands on her in the past.
Then a thought stops me in my tracks. If he disappears, Trixie will be in the same position he was in, unable to make a legal commitment to me in the citizen world for another seven years. I’m not waiting that fucking long. Having an idea, I detour to Bullseye’s office, pleased to find him there. After entering, I perch on his desk, explain my problem, and suggest my solution.
His eyes gleam. “There’s poetic justice in that, Freak. I fuckin’ love how you’re thinking. Leave it to me. I’ll try and arrange it.”
That done, I resume my previous mission.
When I enter the clubroom, I’m stunned to see how full it is. Some brothers are sprawled out on the floor or couches sleeping, but others are milling around as if waiting for me.
“She’s conscious,” I tell them, then brush my hands through my hair as I shake my head in disbelief. “She’s got a rocky road ahead, but it looks like she’s going to be okay.”
A cacophony of cheers, shouts of “fuck yeah”, hands slapping tables, and feet stomping fills the air, the sleeping brothers awaken, and they join in once they’re brought up to speed. One by one, they all approach, slapping my back or shaking my hand. Most offer celebratory comments, all except for one.
“Thank fuck for that. You’d have been an asshole to be around otherwise.”
As I raise my hand to give Rat the well-deserved punch in the mouth, Saint grabs hold of and stills my hand. “For once, he’s got a point, Bro.” It’s Saint’s grin that calms me down. Especially when he adds, “I’d be the same if anything ever happened to Pippa.”
