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“Do you want me to go?” I asked.

“No. I want you to bounce them out.”

I shook my head. “Mick, you gotta face this stuff. You let it go, you’re gonna put it off until the wound festers.”

“He’s right, sweetheart,” Gamble said. He looked at Victoria. “Let’s go downstairs. Block and Heidi are waiting for an update. We can come back in half an hour or so.”

Ivy took Nickel’s hand. “I’m going with them. Heidi’s a hoot and I want to—”

Nickel turned to her and lowered his voice. She whispered something back, glided her hand along his stubbled cheek. He closed his eyes and sighed before he nodded.

The three of them left. I wanted to follow them out, but I had a feeling I needed to run interference.

Ricochet propped a hip on her bed and slid an arm behind her shoulders to give her a sideways hug. “I’m glad you’re all right, Mickey-Mick.”

Her eyes rounded and she grabbed Ricochet’s forearm. “Don’t call me that. Not…not for a very long time.”

Ricochet straightened. “Okay…can I ask why?”

She exhaled a stilted breath. “He called me that. Repeatedly, and ruined it.”

Ricochet picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “All right, sis. I’m not gonna call you that, but I’m still so fuckin’ glad you’re all right.”

She exhaled hard. “I am too, Killian.”

We were silent for a few moments. Watching as Mickayla calmed down.

“Are you in pain?” Nickel asked, not moving any closer to his sister.

“Not unless I move, but I want to get out of here. Not prolong things.”

“You need to be honest with the doctors, Mick. Some types of pain shouldn’t be ignored.”

Mickayla’s head bounced with two short nods. “You’re right. Speaking of things that shouldn’t be ignored, you wanted me to get fired from On a Lark?”

“Maybe we should wait—” Ricochet started.

“No, Killian. I need to know what Ryan really thinks, because I won’t work alongside anyone who doesn’t believe I should be there. Even if he is my brother.”

Nickel tossed out a hand. “You’ll just give up, that’s not like you.”

She stared at him. “It’s not giving up if I’m maintaining my self-respect.”

After a beat, Nickel nodded. “Yesterday, when they called for the vote, I agreed. The contract we all signed means something. Otherwise, why bother with it. You started dating a customer.”

Mickayla stared at him. “I’m no lawyer, but he’s a member of the club. The club that provides the financing. Difficult to say he’s an investor and a customer. But bottom line, Ryan, you knew this was my dream. I’ve been planning and talking it up to the two of you since before I got out of college. Good to know who really has my back.”

Nickel shook his head. “I’d say I’m sorry, but we don’t get to pick and choose how we apply a legally binding agreement.”

She nodded. “If he weren’t a member of the club, I’m sure you’d be right.” Her eyes closed and I saw her chest rise with a deep breath before she opened her eyes again. “It’d be good if you left now. I really don’t have anything more to say to you.”

Nickel stared her down for so long, I wondered if I’d have to show him to the door. Finally he left.

Ricochet leaned forward. “Sis…Are you going no communication?”

She looked at him like her heart was breaking. “I should, but I doubt I’ll be able to do that.”

Ricochet dropped her hand. “He was angry and made a snap decision when he voted.”