Nix
“Nix, wake up.”
The angel called to me, her touch as soft as silk as she ran her fingers over my brow.
“Hmm,” I murmured, leaning into her hand, needing more.
“Wake up, Nix. We’re here.”
Here?
What the fuck?
“Dude, let’s go!”
My eyes flew open to find Zane smirking at me and Harleigh gazing at me with guilt-filled eyes.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I tried to do it the nice way.”
“It’s okay.” I grabbed her hand and lifted it to my mouth, kissing her knuckles.
“Pussy,” Zane grumbled before climbing out of the car.
Harleigh tensed beside me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “We should get you inside.”
The trailer was bathed in shadows as Kye opened the back door to my car and offered me a hand. “Go easy,” he said.
My ribs hurt like a bitch and my kidneys didn’t feel much better. When the masked group had jumped us as we walked to my car, I’d known straightaway who it was.
Denby and his friends. Pretty sure forty-four was the one who hit me while Denby watched on, lording it over me and his crew like some rich boy pussy who didn’t want to get his hands dirty.
I should have known they would be plotting something beyond the bullshit they pulled at the game. But I was just relieved they’d left Harleigh out of it.
Kye pulled my arm around his shoulder and took my weight as I limped toward the trailer, Harleigh trailing after us.
I hated that she’d seen me like this, but my need for her won out over my pride and dignity. Even if my injuries had ruined my plans for tonight.
She was here, in my space, and that was the most important thing.
Zane unlocked the door with my keys and let us inside. Before I could stop myself, I found myself saying, “It isn’t much,” to Harleigh.
“Nix…” Her hand drifted to her throat. “I’ve been in here before.”
“I remember.”
I did.
Every single time she’d stepped foot through the door. Her visits had become few and far between as we’d gotten older. She and my old man didn’t exactly see eye to eye, and she found it difficult to be around the man who repeatedly hurt me.
Kye helped me into one of the armchairs. “Beer, pain meds, or a smoke first?”
“I think there’s some Tylenol in that cabinet.” I pointed to the kitchenette, and patted the roll of the arm, crooking my fingers at Harleigh.
She came willingly, perching on my knee. But I slid my arm around her waist and tucked her into my body.