Page 44 of Inferno

“Yeah.” I knew Danner was likely puzzled at my lack of emotion. But, then again, he’d been a close friend in another life. Maybe he knew exactly what I planned.

Danner gave me a look. “You got what you need?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I do.”

He nodded. “Good luck, Jonah.” He said it like he meant it.

Crews were still working to put out hot spots, though there wasn’t much left to continue burning. Yellow tape stretched wide across the street. Juniper stood at the tape not fifty feet from me.

Her gaze locked on mine from across the distance. The sun was just coming up behind her. Instead of grief or anger, all I saw in her face was… relief. I got off my bike and moved toward her. She met me halfway and threw herself into my arms, kissing me several times before wrapping her arms around my neck and holding on tight.

“I was so worried.” Her confession was muffled against my neck.

“It’s all right. I’m so sorry, baby. So sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry!” She looked back and gave me a fierce look. “I heard what you did. You could have been killed pulling that guy out!”

“I know, but I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t.”

“I know that,” she snapped. “But, oh, my God, nothing can happen to you!”

“It won’t, baby.”

Tiny came up behind her, addressing me. “I’ll take your bike back to the compound,” he said. “Zero can drive you guys in the Bronco.”

I gave him a grateful look. “Thanks, man.”

“Anytime, brother.”

Tiny was right. He was my brother. Same as the other men from Kiss of Death were my brothers. And their old ladies were my sisters. Their children my nieces and nephews. Juniper was part of that tight circle now. My family. And my family protected each other.

That was when I realized that, no matter what happened here tonight, Brett hadn’t won a Goddamned thing.

Chapter Sixteen

Inferno

All it took was one coughing fit in front of Juniper and my ass was in the Emergency Room where everyone was incompetent. After that, I was admitted. The doc in charge was a moron who wanted me to stay hooked up to tubes and hoses from IVs and O2. After that… the charge nurse got assigned to my room. Her name was Lisa, and she said her team was full, but she was making an exception. Just for me. Because of my sparkling personality.

Also, she hoped I didn’t need a catheter because she was out of all but the garden-hose-sized ones and didn’t much feel like running down to the storeroom in the basement. She also said she was also out of lube. That last part was said with a really pleasant smile that gave me chills. After that, I shut up.

The one time I threatened to get up, Knuckles just folded his arms and dared me. “You so much as put a foot on the floor, I’ll break both your legs,” he said. “Stay put. Or you’ll definitely get that catheter.”

I glared at him, but I didn’t get up. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, my throat burned like Satan’s own barbecue and breathing hurt like a motherbitch with each inhale. My lungs had been scraped raw by the smoke and burning chemicals. I knew pure luck was the only reason I hadn’t been hurt any worse. I glanced at the door for what seemed like the hundredth time. Looking for Juniper. My head felt full of mud and bad memories, and I craved the peace I had come to associate with her presence.

After a while, Knuckles shifted. “You want to talk about it?”

I scowled in his direction. “No. I don’t want to fuckin’ talk about it. What the fuck, Knuckles?”

The president raised his hands in surrender. “Just tryin’ to be all sensitive and shit. Hannah says I need to work on that.”

“Well, don’t.” I glared at him. “It’s fuckin’ creepy.”

“She’s on her way. Pretty sure she’s using most of her time trying to make sure your nurse doesn’t poison you.”

I didn’t dignify that with a reply.

I kept glancing at the door. Waiting. I wanted to see Juniper so bad I was nearly mad with it. She didn’t make me wait long. The door to my room opened and there she was. My fucking queen. Looking the worse for wear, but she also looked pissed.