“I think you fucking dislocated my shoulder!” he growls.
“You’ll live.” I shrug and he glares, but he knows better than to accept an apology or sympathy from me.
With a wince, he rolls over onto his back before slowly sitting up, gripping his left arm and glaring at me some more.
Walking over, I poke at his shoulder, wincing when I realize it is definitely dislocated. That appeases the monster, and some of the adrenaline fades as I get both hands on him.
“You ready?”
“No, get it over with,” he replies with a grimace.
“Don’t be such a baby.” Smoothly, and without much fanfare, I slide his shoulder back into place, watching as the pinched look on his face eases once it’s done.
“Your brother will give you shit for this,” I tell him as I grab him by his good arm and help him to his feet.
“I’m blaming you when Jayden comes for me,” he grumbles, rolling both arms back and wincing a little.
“I’ll throw the Princess at him.”
“Hey!” Ignacio protests from where he’s sitting off to the side with the other men, watching the spectacle.
I look over at the man and grin. “Don’t pretend you won’t like it, Chaos.”
Ignacio squirms, but doesn’t reply, proving my point for me.
I lose all levity when I look around at our men. “You’re all disappointments,” I tell them. “We have too much shit going on for you to be failures now.”
“Sir…”
I slash my hand through the air, cutting off whatever the dumbass is about to say. “I did not say you could speak. You have not earned the right to speak to me directly.”
The ones who’ve been with me a while shuffle on their feet. I can see from a few of their faces that they’re pissed about being reverted right back to the beginning, after surviving training the first time, but Atticus’s arrival showed we still have work to do.
The silence in the warehouse is thick, until Ignacio stands and moves to stand at my side. “I’m very disappointed in all of you,” he says, speaking to the former Martelli soldiers, now turnedCouncilmen. “You should be grateful I’m not allowed to kick your asses…though I’m sure Tennant would have no problem doing it for me.” He smirks.
I grin. “That I will, Amico Mio. We have work to do, and those who fail their tests? Well, it saves us from having to buy new targets.”
Ignacio laughs, as he and the men get my meaning. I see the fear in those who performed poorly today, while resignation enters the eyes of my more seasoned men. They all know it’s going to hurt. A lot. Especially now, with Ignacio at my side to help catch the things Joel and I miss.
The integration and retraining of all the men we have has gone fine—as well as to be expected when you blendtwo different Families together. Now, though, they’re being retrainedagain. And they’re all distinctly aware that this is their last chance. Failure is not an option. Or I’ll make what Atticus did to the guards look like a love pat.
“You all have your orders, and know what to do. Your training leads will keep us updated on your progress. Dismissed, for now.”
There’s a moment of hesitation before they scatter, some faster than others, and I make a note of who they are, as they’re the ones to watch carefully.
“We should get you home before your jailer has my ass,” I tell Ignacio.
He huffs a laugh but doesn’t argue, not wanting to get on Jayden’s bad side any more than I do.
“I need someone to drive us home,” Joel calls out, limping behind us as we start walking out of the training warehouse.
“Can’t handle the pain, Joel?” I tease.
“Fuck you,” he replies. “Just because you don’t feel pain like a normal person, doesn’t mean getting the shit beat out of you doesn’t hurt.”
I don’t disagree with him, my various bruises are already making their presence known. My face throbs as well, but I’d never let on that Joel, or the few others who took me up on my challenge, had any effect on me.
“I could give you some pointers, Joel,” Ignacio offers. “I took notes throughout all of his fights.”
