“They had bats.”
Ody froze.
They reached the fence, and he helped Mano climb. He groaned in pain, struggling with every movement. When he landed on the other side, he fell to the ground.
Ody climbed over and helped him up. “Come on, the car’s right here.” He opened the back door and helped him stretch across the seats. He rushed to the front, started the engine, and drove off. “Hang in there.”
He spotted an open pharmacy near Pangrati, ran inside, grabbed supplies, then hurried back and kept driving until they reached his building. “Mano... we’re here.” He opened the back door.
Mano’s eyes were closed, his face twisted in pain, one hand gripping his side.
“Come on.” Ody lifted him and helped him toward the entrance. “Just a bit further. We’re almost there.” He guided him into the elevator.
They reached Ody’s apartment, and he unlocked the door. “Lie down.” He helped Mano onto the couch, then hurried to the kitchen and grabbed the pharmacy bag, pulling out painkillers. He filled a glass of water. “Take this. It’ll help.”
Mano swallowed the pill and leaned back.
“Let me check.” Ody lifted his shirt, revealing his abs. No bruises yet, but they’d show soon. “Where exactly does it hurt?” He pressed a spot gently, and Mano winced. “Sorry. Sorry.”
Then he noticed the blood on his lips. “Hold still.” He opened the pharmacy bag and took out a cotton pad. Gently, he wiped the blood from Mano’s lips before dabbing antiseptic onto the cut.
Mano flinched.
“Just a little patience,” Ody said, finishing the job. He wrapped ice in a towel and placed it on Mano’s ribs.
“Ah, cold,” Mano muttered, and Ody gave a small smile.
“I’m holding it as gently as I can,” he said.
A moment later, he took out a tube of gel.
“What’s that?” Mano asked.
“Bruise gel. I’ll give you more painkillers in four hours, but you need to eat first.”
“You’ll... give me painkillers?” Mano blinked.
“Yeah. And I’ll make you something to eat, so you can take the meds.”
“You’ll make me something… to eat?” His brows drew together.
“Someone’s got to take care of you.”
Mano kept looking at him, confusion and exhaustion in his eyes. Care was a word he had almost forgotten.
“You’re staying with me tonight.”
Chapter 12
They held each other’s gaze a second too long before Mano looked away. “I thought you were with your girlfriend.”
“At her place. I’ll call and explain.”
“What are you going to tell her?” Mano asked, giving him a knowing look. He knew Ody didn’t want anyone finding out about Kash.
“I’ll tell her…” Ody hesitated. “When I called you, I told her you’d been hit. I’ll make up an excuse.”
Mano exhaled and turned his head away.
