Page 113 of Massacre Monday

“You’ve got a few bruised ribs. That will take weeks to heal, so be kind to your body. Let your coach know that you can’t practice for at least two.”

“Two weeks?”

“Yes. Besides, these, uh, cuts that youinsistedwere from an MMA match will open back up if you go too hard and fast.” A grimace of pain comes over me as she tapes the last wound and stands back, then flicks off her nylon gloves into a pop-top trash can. “But if you need to report anything to the police, they can access your medical records.”

I snag my T-shirt off the bed behind me, the twist of my torso sending another shock of agony over my chest. “I don’t.”

With a smug grin and narrowed eyes behind her thick glasses, she nods. “Okay, well, take some anti-inflammatories,drink lots of water, absorb some sunshine, sleep deeply, and hug your loved ones. But mainly…try to stay out of trouble.”

“Thank you. Will do.”

All I can think about is how I can’t fuck Penhard and fastfor two weeks. I slide off the examination table and head to the front, where she paces in the ugly motel waiting room. The vision of her makes my heart flutter. She rushes into my arms but is careful to squeeze me gently.

Her warm eyes gaze up at my face. “What did the doctor say?”

“I’m fine. Few bruised ribs and everything will heal.” I wave my new metal braces on my fingers. “Even the digits.”

Pressing her face into my chest, she mutters, “Good. I love those fingers.”

I place a kiss on the top of her head and smile. “I know you do, and I love you.”

“I’m taking you home and making you soup.”

“You’re not participating in Terror Tuesday?”

She sticks out her tongue. “Are you kidding? Who can think about Greek points now?”

Resting an arm over her shoulder, I lean against her as we wander toward the parking lot. “I’m going to tell the senate I fucked up. That I reviewed what happened and you didn’t use a weapon.”

A boisterous laugh comes from her belly as she glances up at me like she’s checking to see if I’m serious. “Why would you do that? It doesn’t even matter to me anymore.”

“Because I want to make it right. You deserve the points, Pen. I ruined it.”

She spins and halts in front of me, pressing her hands into my chest, which aches under the pressure. “You ruined nothing. I don’tcareabout the points. All I want is for you to get healthy. For us to finish up here and move on.”

Finish uphere…I wonder how she must be feeling after seeing the evidence of her brother’s torture room. Finding Nico guarding me.Shootinghim.

If I were one hundred percent, I’d probably have the strength to say something more. This situation needs to be handled delicately, or the entire balance at Northview will shift into derision. Things have always been terse between fraternities and the motorcycle clubs that fill their ranks. But war is something we’ve always avoided for fear of death, or worse, from the society.

Our assignments are to take care of loose ends, and no one wants to become one of those. Brothers who go rogue or take matters into their own hands are the fastest to get shot between the eyes by initiates.

They’ll start with families, the ones closest to you. Make you die last, so you have to watch them burn alive before you meet the gods.

The way my girl hesitates before her next words makes me wonder if she’s thinking the same thing.

“I mean, move on to our beach house…and away from this city.”

A sad smile tugs at the corner of my lips. I need to focus on not being in so much fucking pain before I can figure out my next step. And how I can fuck Pen without cracking another rib.

She’s like a sexy nurse,the way she bumbles about the apartment, situating everything for me. Especially after giving me a sponge bath. If I lean heavily on the pile of pillows behind my back, I can almost take a deep breath withoutwanting to yell in misery. The bandages wrapped around my torso help somewhat, but not enough.

With my broken fingers, I have no use of my hands.

“Here,” she says, easing to a sit next to me, a steaming bowl held out in front of her.

“What’s that?”

“Bone broth, and if you can handle it, some beef and noodle soup for later, too.” She lifts a spoon to my mouth, and I take it, the cramps in my stomach finally settling for the first time in two days.