“What did I do now?” I winced as I stretched to sit on the cherry wood stool. The pain killers were mellow as he said. I definitely needed something stronger.
“Ordering pink shit only an uptight bitch that doesn’t belong here would drink.”
“I see.”
“Like I said, princess, nobody likes you around here. It will be a tough stay.”
I smirked. “Did Dusty tell you to tell me that?”
His blue eyes darkened as he glared at me. “No.”
My drink arrived. Candy almost threw it in my face when she put it down.
Owl shifted his glare at her, and she spun on her heels and dwindled in the kitchen. “Seriously now, when are you leaving?”
The expression on his face harbored on concern. The sincere kind. Too good to believe. “Why? Am I in danger here?” I stifled a snort.
“I told you before. You’re Prez’s old lady. No Night Skull would dare touch you.” He leaned forward and met my stare. “But I think you’re smart enough to understand that it’s not the people here that pose a threat to you.”
I moved my finger around the rim of the glass, looking through the froth, deciding not to drink. Candy might have spat in it. “Thank you for your concern, Owl. But I’m not going anywhere. This is home now.”
The familiar roar of Dusty’s Harley burst outside. Then he padded to the house, carrying a duffle bag. As soon as he spotted me, he smiled and hurried toward me.
He dropped the bag on the floor and practically pushed Owl aside to wrap me in his embrace. Then he gave me a kiss, one that used to melt my panties. “You’re out of bed already?” His glanced turned to Owl. “Can she do that?”
The doctor nodded. “She’s clear. Foreverything. She only needs to take her painkillers and antibiotics on time, and we’re good.”
Dusty’s smile grew. “You heard that, sweetheart?”
“Yeah.” I tried to pull away from him, but his arms were too tight around my waist.
“Where do you think you’re going? I’m never gonna take my hands off you all night,” he whispered in my ear.
Fuck. Did he really expect sex? Tonight? Putting all emotional and psychological damage aside after yet another sexual assault I had to endure, what about the actual physical concerns? My arm was in a fucking cast. My back was a mesh. My hips made audible sounds while I walked. I wouldn’t even start about my vagina.
His eyes trailed on me. Then his brows hitched. “You fucking took off her catheter?”
Owl gave me a “what did I tell you?” look. “No, Dusty. She did. I only showed her a DIY video.”
Dusty grunted as he noticed the Cosmo. “I see you met Candy. Anyone else?”
I didn’t exactly favor Dusty’s overprotectiveness, but I enjoyed it in this instant. It was a pain in the ass but warm at the same time.
I needed warm.I guess.
“Two charming Skulls over there. What are their names again, Owl?” I asked.
“Chain, the dude with the bandana, and Serial, the short guy,” he answered.
“Chain and Serial,” I repeated.
Dusty shot a murderous stare in the direction of the couches. “How’s everybody treating you, baby?” He raised his voice.
“Like I said, they’re very charming and considerate. Especially when I wanted to take a look at the roof. They were thrilled I offered but insisted it was such an easy job for an engineer like myself to bother with, and I should just chill and rest while they took care of everything.” I twisted to see the looks on the men’s faces. Their sweaty, blanching expressions made me smile for the first time since the attack. Precious. “Right boys?”
The two Skulls quickly nodded in unison.
I pointed at the kitchen. “And sweet Candy here didn’t bat an eye when she offered me a beer, and I told her I only liked uptight bitch drinks. She laughed at my joke and made me a Cosmo. She even said she’d be delighted to make me one herself every night.”