Page 124 of Misery

"I might not forgive you."

"I know."

"But I might."

Something flickers in his eyes. Hope maybe. "I'll take might."

We go back inside.

Dad's still on the couch, Gwen finishing up with his wounds.

The missing fingers make me nauseous again but I swallow it down.

He's alive. That's what matters.

"How bad?" I ask Gwen directly.

"I’d guess three broken ribs. Severe lacerations. Concussion. Lost three fingers on the left hand—pinky, ring, and middle. Multiple contusions. Dehydration. Blood loss." She lists it all clinically. "He needs a hospital but refuses to go."

"Hospitals ask questions," Dad says. "Can't answer them."

"You need proper medical treatment," Starla argues.

"Gwen's proper enough."

"Dad—"

"I'm not going to a hospital. End of discussion." He looks at me with his good eye. "I'm sorry, baby girl. Sorry you got dragged into this. Sorry I couldn't protect you better."

"That's my line," I tell him. "I'm sorry for what I said at the bar. I was cruel?—"

"You were honest. Maybe I needed to hear it." He reaches for my hand with his good one. "This life, it takes things. Takes time. Takes attention. Sometimes takes blood. But it shouldn't have taken so much from you."

"It didn't take everything."

"No?"

I look around the room.

At my family, damaged but alive.

At the club members who fought for us.

At Oskar, standing guard even now.

Runes approaches, president patch catching the light. "We need to discuss Los Coyotes. Thiago's death changes things."

"They'll want revenge," Magnus says.

"Maybe. Or maybe they'll be relieved. He was unstable. Bad for business." Runes looks at me. "Either way, you might need to disappear for a while. Until we know which way they'll jump."

"No."

Everyone turns to stare at me.

"No," I repeat. "I'm done running. Done hiding. Done being moved around like cargo. If Los Coyotes want me, they can come. But I'm not disappearing."

"Elfe—" Oskar starts.