I scrubbed a hand over my forehead. “No one,” I admitted.
“Jesus, Scooby.”
“Yeah. Not my finest hour.”
“Right. I’m gonna let this slide for the moment,” Sundance said. “But when Jill’s outta danger, you and I are gonna have a sit down, because runnin’ off half-cocked like that was the dumbest fuckin’ thing you’ve done so far!” His voice raised slightly but not enough to shake the room, which was normal when he was pissed. “I need to know you’re not gonna do the same thing when you find Li’L Frisco,” Sundance warned.
My eyes met his, but I said nothing.
“You think I didn’t know about the little birds you have perched all over the city? What kind of MC president do you think I’d be if I didn’t know about shit like that? Besides, I know you. I know you want his blood more than anything, but I need you to promise me that you will not go after Li’L Frisco before talking to me. The peace agreement the Howlers have with the Kings depends on how things play out with that kid.”
I nodded but stayed silent.
“I mean it, Scoob. Promise me.”
I looked directly at Sundance and lied, “I promise.”
Sundance could take my patch, the cops could arrest me, the courts could put a needle in my arm, I didn’t give a shit. I would give my brother the justice he deserved. The man who killed him was going to die by my hand.
* * *
Rowan
Jill’s quiet moan alerted me to the fact she was coming to. Her shallow breathing, however, alerted me to the fact she was in a great deal of pain.
“Jill?” I whispered, checking her pulse. “If you can open your eyes, I can get you some pain meds, but I need to see those irises.” I leaned over her. “Crew really needs to know that his mama’s okay.”
Her eyes fluttered, but I knew it was going to take a little more effort to come out of her sleepiness. Needles walked in and stepped to the other side of her.
“Still out?” he asked, measuring some fentanyl into a syringe.
“She’s coming to,” I countered with a smile. “Just not completely ready to commit.”
Needles touched her arm. “Jilly Bean. Need you to wake up for me, sweetheart.”
She moaned as her panting began again. He didn’t wait for her to completely come to, just plunged the painkiller into her IV.
She relaxed immediately, and he squeezed her arm gently. “Okay, honey, I’ve given you something good, but you still need to wake up for me. If you don’t open your eyes, I’m gonna kiss you.”
Her eyes flew open immediately and she scowled at him. “Eddie,” she rasped.
“Hey, beautiful.” He chuckled. “Figured that’d get your attention.”
“What if she hadn’t opened her eyes?” I challenged.
“I’m no Prince Charming, Rowan.” He grinned.
“He’s also well aware that kissing me without consent would be assault,” Jill muttered.
Needles raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know, you liked it before.”
“Shut it,” Jill hissed. “Ow.”
“Careful,” Needles warned.
“Are you thirsty?” I asked.
She nodded, so I poured her some water and raised her bed, helping prop her up with some pillows.