Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“But… is he safe here?” I asked. Clearly, the hospital wasn’t capable of keeping everyone out. The place was too busy. People could sneak in just about anywhere. I’d been half-paranoid that someone might jump out at me while I was getting my scan done.
“I’m having Levee come to hang with him. He’s in the area anyway, visiting his uncle, so it all works out.”
When the doctor informed me that I wasn’t concussed, and that while I was going to have a hell of a bruise, my cheekbone and eye socket were both miraculously still intact, he offered me some blessedly effective pain pills, then told me to follow up with my primary care doctor before signing my release papers.
“I can walk,” I insisted as Alaric scooped me up, and walked through the lot toward the car.
“You’ve had a hell of a day, let me pamper you a bit,” he said, kissing my temple, before settling me in the car.
With the prescription pain meds doing what the over-the-counter ones couldn’t, I found myself nodding off during the whole ride back to Golden Glades.
The only reason I woke up was because Alaric was pulling me into his arms again, then depositing me onto the bed afterward.
And because I knew I could trust him to take care of Frida, I went ahead and let myself drift off into nothingness.
When I woke up, Frida was beside me on the bed, staring at me with a familiar look.
Anxiety.
“I’m okay, baby,” I assured her, reaching out to pet her head. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Afraid she’s worried about us,” a voice said, making me whip my head over to find two women standing in the doorway.
“I told you this would be creepy,” Sass said, moving past the other woman, Rynn, so she could shoot me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, we were trying to keep the door closed to give you privacy, but Frida was losing her mind, so we let her in.”
“Is everything alright?” I asked, moving to sit up, trying to ignore the throbbing on my face.
“Yeah. We’re just hanging out with you for a bit. Alaric had to… go out,” Sass explained.
“We don’t need to baby her,” Rynn insisted, moving in to sit down at the edge of my bed. “Alaric had to show the fucker who messed up your face what happens when you put your hand on a Henchmen’s woman,” she said, shrugging. “Their protectiveness is annoying sometimes, but also super hot. So… yeah. We’re here to do the whole taking care of you thing while he can’t.”
“I’m pretty sure you could have said that without telling her someone messed up her face, though,” another woman said, coming in from the hallway.
“This is Lark,” Sass said, waving toward the newcomer. “She’s…”
“Remy’s woman,” I supplied. “The one who stole dogs from the underground fighting ring.”
“That’s me,” she said, smiling. “I usually think of myself as a dog person, but your girl here wants nothing to do with me.”
“I’m starting to think she only likes me… and men,” I admitted. “She loves Alaric and Kylo.”
“That could be it,” Lark agreed.
“How are you feeling?” Sass asked, giving me that wincing head tilt, which I felt suggested that I was looking pretty awful.
“Like my face got slammed into a cement step,” I admitted, unable to stop the pout as my hand rose to touch my face. “Is it really bad?”
“Yes,” Rynn said.
“No,” Lark and Sass insisted at the same time.
“I’m starting to think you’re the only one I should believe,” I said, trying to give Rynn a smile, but it hurt too much.
“I’ll never lie to you,” she agreed, nodding. “Want me to bring you a mirror?” she asked.
“I’ll go look,” I said, sliding my legs off of the bed. “What was that?” I asked at a slamming noise in the main area of the house.
“Eddie,” Sass said. “He has some… very strong opinions on the contents of Alaric’s kitchen.
“I bet he does,” I agreed, lips twitching. “He doesn’t even have a sheet pan,” I said as I made my way toward the bathroom.
Lark and Sass were bold-face liars.
I looked like absolute hell.
And I had a feeling that time was only going to make it worse.
The whole side of my face was a smattering of blue and purple, with a darker ring around my eye. Then there was the swelling. That side of my face was easily twice what it should have been.
And I was looking at the damage without my glasses. I couldn’t imagine how bad it was with them.
Allowing for some willful ignorance, I decided against sticking my contacts in. For the time being, I was okay seeing things a little blurry.
“Told you,” Rynn said as I emerged.
“You did,” I agreed.
“How’s your headache?” Lark asked.
“It’s making quite the comeback,” I admitted.
“So, remember how we just went to the walk-in clinic on our way home?” Sass asked, making my brows knit.