Page 74 of Nicki's Fight

“Bishop just— he gets under my skin, you know? Like I’m not sure if I want scratch my arm or cut it off…” he murmured. I grinned inwardly and thought about how similar the descriptions were that he and Bishop gave of each other. I realized he was talking mostly to himself, and I think he realized it, too, because he seemed to shake himself.

“Anyway, I wanted to give you this,” he said, holding a business card out to me. “It has my cell on the back. If you run into any problems, just call me. Despite what Devereaux might have you think, I’m not a complete asshole.”

Ah. Back to being “Devereaux,” hmmm?Someonewas trying to distance himself… I chuckled.

“Takes one to know one?” I asked.,

He smiled. “Maybe. Seriously, though… be careful, you and your roommate, both. Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings, especially when entering or leaving the building. I’m in 1A, if you ever need anything, just pound on my door.”

14

Kaine

I slammedan empty glass into the bus tray as the music pounded out around me.

What the hell did Nicki think he was doing? I couldn’t believe he’d made Bishop and Ileave. I was so freakin’ angry I couldn’t see straight.

The club was dark, loud and had that scent of alcohol and sweaty people all kind of rolled into one that every club I’d ever been to possessed. It wasn’t a terribly busy night, which gave me even more time to be angry at Nicki for being so damn stubborn.

“Whoa, Kaine! What’d that glass ever do to you?” Sammie said as she stared at me from behind the bar.

I bit back a growl. It wasn’t Sammie’s fault that I was in a piss-poor mood right now.

I dragged the tray full of dirty glasses and dropped them off in the kitchen before heading back out front. It was late, after midnight, and things had started to wind down.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it, then felt it buzz again. And again. I grabbed it angrily and swiped my code to open it, then froze.

MAMA D: Kids, there’s been an accident. The twins are being taken to City Hospital. We’re on our way there now. Will text when we know more.

WEAVER: Is it serious??

MAMA D: We don’t know yet. The police just called.

BISHOP: OMW

WEAVER: God, I wish I was there! Let me know what’s going on.

BISHOP: Did anyone tell Lee?

MAMA K: I called him. He’s on the way now.

I typed a hurried note and ran to the front.

“Sammie!” I yelled, waving down my boss.

“What’s up?” She asked, concern on her face as she noticed my grave expression.

“I have to go, the twins have been hurt,” I said, waving to the bar. “Can you..?”

“Go! Go! I got this,” she said, reassuringly.

* * *

Luckily the hospital was located downtown, so I didn’t have far to go. I paced the ER waiting area, anxious for some news. Mama D and Mama K had arrived before me, as well as my brother and, to my surprise, Mason Cameron.

My wonderful parents sat huddled together on the uncomfortable chairs of the waiting room. Mama D had her arm around Mama K, and Mama K’s eyes were closed, her lips moving in a silent prayer.

Lee and Mason sat together, their fingers laced together. I was too worried about my other brothers to even wonder. Just as I was joining them, I saw Bishop walking in, his eyes wild.