“Fuck,” Enzo yells, scrubbing his face.
“Z, this leg is bad. It needs stitches for sure, but it’s gonna hurt. I don’t have anything to numb it,” Nora interrupts.
“Just do it,” I say.
She looks up at Enzo and Brooks. “Fucking patch him up, we’ll finish this when he’s not bleeding to death,” Brooks says, walking away.
They all go outside and Nora looks up at me. “You fucked up, but it was paved with good intentions. You need that girl as much as she needs you.”
I grin and nod. “Yeah you’re right. Now stitch me up so I can get this shit over with.”
The entire process is agony. I feel everything. The needle going in, the pulling of the skin, the tightening of the stitch. My eyes are squeezed shut and I’m doing my best not to scream out in pain.
“Almost done, Z,” she whispers. “I want you to shower when I’m done. Have Harper help you.”
I don’t say anything, just nod. I endure the pain, knowing it’s better than the alternative. I’ll do it all over if it means she’s safe and her father is dead.
A few minutes later, Nora goes to get Harper to help me shower. I want to protest, but it’s pointless. I walk into the bathroom and they stop talking.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing, baby. Come on, let me help you,” Harper says.
Nora leaves, closing the door behind her. Harper sets the shower and I strip the rest of my clothes off. “I’m alright,” I say, when she reaches her arm out to help me.
“I never said you weren’t, but I’m still gonna help you. Don’t be a stubborn ass,” she says, stripping out of her clothes.
I raise my eyebrow and run my greedy eyes over her body. “Oh you can help me, babe.”
She smiles as I step in the shower. She’s right behind me and I can feel her body close. “Not now. I’m gonna wash you and you’re going to handle your business.”
As much as I want to to argue, I know she’s right. I need to handle this mess. So for now, I stand still and enjoy the feel of her hands sliding over my body. My face is stinging from the punches. My arm and leg are burning, but I don’t stop her. She wants to feel needed and it’s the least I can do after all she’s been through tonight. After all I’ve put her through.
She finishes too quickly for my liking, but I do let her dry me. Just so I can feel her a little longer. When she’s done she pushes up on her toes and kisses me. I take advantage and deepen it, sinking my fingers into her wet hair. She moans and I hate that I need to end it.
I rest my forehead against hers and she lets out a sigh. “I’m going to deal with them and then I’m coming to bed so we can finish this.”
I kiss her again and we both get dressed. She goes back into the bedroom and I go out to face the club. I’m limping and need something for the pain, so I grab the pain pills Nora offers, before she kisses my cheek and leaves.
The guys are all in the living room so I sit down. “Alright, let’s do this.”
“We are pissed, no we are fucking livid. You started a war no one wanted. That’s on you. Any blood spilled or lives lost is on you.”
He’s right. This is all on me. Everything that happens now is because of my decision. I should feel bad about that, but I don’t. Not when I know it’s because I need to save Harper.
“You’re lucky you’re my brother’s son,” Brooks continues. Am I?
“We have no choice now, we all know that,” Enzo says.
I grab the beer Kace hands me and hope it helps with the pain. “So we talked while you were in the shower,” Kace says, warning me with his eyes not to argue.
“Tomorrow we will lay low. You’ll have everyone over for a barbecue, keep it laid back and fun. I don’t want anyone worrying about this fucking mess you got us in,” Brooks hisses. “Tomorrow night, you’ll go into Club Kingsley. No one is going to kill you, they know better. Kingsley wants that for himself. Alex will kill the cameras. Porter and Riley will get the accelerants around the building. We’ll keep the rest back and make sure it’s just you and Kingsley. You’ll kill him, no fucking around. Put a fucking bullet in his head. We’ll handle anyone who gets in the way. We burn that fucking place down and let the bodies go with it. There is no other option. This is it, understand?”
I look around at all their faces. No one is pissed, except for Brooks and Enzo. I’m fine with it though, hell they could’ve put a bullet in my head. I tip my beer to them and shake my head. “Completely understand.”
It’s what we should’ve done to begin with. Tomorrow night, Kingsley will be dead. Harper and I will finally be free.
Chapter 22