It felt wrong to abandon all the plans I’d set. I’d spent theentirety of medical school with the goal of becoming a surgeon. Not just any surgeon, either. I wanted to be one of the best. I wanted to prove I was deserving of everything it had cost Flynn to protect me that night.
To somehow make itworthit.
But Larry’s life was worth it, wasn’t it? The lives of other people like Larry, who fell through the cracks, were worth it. Maybe it wasn’t as glamorous or prestigious. It certainly wouldn’t pay as well. But I didn’t care about money or material things. I never had.
If I took a residency with Dr. Meadows, I could stay in Riverton. I could do some real good.
And maybe I could also build a future with Knight. With my family.
Have ahome.
If that wasn’t worthwhile, I didn’t know what was.
CHAPTER 26
KNIGHT
The next weekwent by quickly. The clock ran down to the fight like it was ticking off minutes of my life.
There wasn’t enough time to train effectively. I’d have to rely on my instincts from years of fighting and my determination to come out the other side.
So, I went to work and took comfort in Aiden and tried not to let myself think too hard about the future. Not until I knew I’d really have one.
Aiden had become warmer and softer somehow. Like he also knew we might be on borrowed time and didn’t want to waste it.
I could handle the fight. I wasn’t worried about surviving my time in the cage. But I had towinor the Serpents would take me out for good. If they lost money on me, they’d be even more brutal in their punishment.
It was a devil’s bargain. I’d either end the night a free man or a dead one. Maybe enduring the jump-out would have been the safer course, in the end. But at least this way, I could go down fighting.
WhenI drove up to the house Friday night, several cars lined the curb out front.
Joyride’s yellow Hummer stuck out like a sore thumb, as always, Ghost’s and Hollywood’s cars alongside it. Flynn’s old Buick was in the drive next to Aiden’s car. Hell, even Tex’s beat-up pickup was here.
We didn’t have any plans to meet up. It wasn’t a Monday, when we usually grilled and kicked back with beers.
That meant they were here for only one reason.
I parked my bike and pulled off my helmet. Flynn was working the grill. Aiden stood beside him, a plate covered in raw meat in one hand.
Hollywood and Joyride sat in lawn chairs beside them, kicked back with beers.
Ghost was leaning against the railing a few feet from everyone else, as usual, and Tex was at the opposite end of the porch from Hollywood. Those two still had to work out their crap.
“You all throwing me a going-away party?” I called as I climbed off my bike.
Waffles raced down the steps, barking a happy greeting. I scooped him up as I headed up the sidewalk, smiling as he licked my face enthusiastically.
“Nah, we’re joining the party,” Tex said.
I carried Waffles back to the porch. “You don’t need to do that.”
“Of course we do,” Flynn said. “If you’re going to risk your life, we’re going to have your back.”
I went up the steps, insides already vibrating with the thought of what was to come. “You’re all on parole. I can’t ask any of you to risk getting busted for me.”
“You’d do it for us,” Joyride said.
“The kid is right,” Tex added. “You alreadyhavedone it for me.”
