Page 51 of Perfect Rhythm

NYX

I didn’t blame Shade for his reaction to what we’d just heard. The doctor’s words hit hard, and I knew he was carrying more than just pain. He was drowning in guilt.

“Here,” I said, passing him his wallet as I sat beside him on the curb.

“Thanks. I didn’t even notice I’d dropped it.”

“I know.”

Taking his eyes off the media circus that had been shoved to the parking lot by security, he pulled off his jacket and covered my shoulders. “You shouldn’t be out here. It’s freezing.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, trying to keep from shivering.

I didn’t want to leave him alone. At least, not for too long.

Sighing, he looked over his shoulder. “My bad for how I acted in there. I didn’t mean for you to see me blow up like that.”

“It’s okay. You have every right to feel the way you feel. You’re worried, and I know you feel like this is all your fault.”

He lowered his gaze, his eyes lingering on his hands as he popped his knuckles. “It is all my fault. I never should’ve allowed that nigga Enzo to bait me. He’s been trying to do some shit like that for years.”

“No, this isn’t your fault. This is all on him. He shouldn’t have said what he said.”

“Nah, he shouldn’t have. But it was my job to hold it together and keep y’all safe. I didn’t do that. I made shit worse, and Jassi’s the one paying for it.”

“Don’t do that to yourself,” I whispered. “Don’t carry around that guilt.”

“I can’t help it, Nyx. If something happens to my sister, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Yo, I talked to—” Ocean’s words cut off the second he saw me, his expression shifting to a guarded glare.

It was obvious that whatever he had to say wasn’t meant for my ears.

I glanced at Shade, then pushed to my feet. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”

“You don’t have to stay. I know you’re probably tired.”

I tilted my head, smiling. “Like I said, I’ll be inside.”

He nodded, and I walked back into the building.

I was tired, but he didn’t need to know that. Jassi was just as important to me as she was to him. I couldn’t rest comfortably without knowing she was okay.

Before returning to the emergency room, I stopped to grab something from the vending machine and called Skye.

“How is she?”

“She’s in a coma,” I replied.

“Fuck! It’s that bad?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I can’t believe things got so out of hand. How’s Shade?”

“He isn’t good,” I said while peeking out of the glass doors. “I think Ocean might have figured out who did this to Jassi though.”

“Ocean’s there?”

I nodded. “Yeah, he just made it in a little while ago, and he’s livid.”

“Damn. I need to come up there and make sure he’s okay. Shit, I know he’s not okay.” I could hear her fumbling around. “You know what? I’m going to get changed. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Before I could respond, the line went dead.

Stepping a little closer to the exit, I tried to see if I could make out what Shade and Ocean were saying. But it was hard to read their lips.

All I could see was rage in Shade’s eyes. Then I saw him reach for the gun in Ocean’s waistband and bolt toward the parking lot, but Ocean stopped him. He whispered something in his ear, his words calming Shade down instantly. But his sudden calmness was almost eerie.

“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re right,” Trace said as he stood next to me, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Now that we’ve got that out the way, don’t bother asking him about it. He’s not going to tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s trying to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?”

“From knowing.”

“Knowing what?”

“Anything,” he replied.

“So, you’re saying they know who did this to Jassi?”

“I’m not saying anything.”

“Who was it? At least give me a clue, Trace.”

“I don’t give clues.”

“Well, what the hell do you do?” I blurted in frustration.

He glanced at the candy bar in my hand and smirked. “Go eat your snack, Nyx.”

“But—”

He was gone before I could finish, and I knew better than to go after him.

The person behind Jassi’s accident was about to suffer in the worst way. Shade was going to make sure of it. I just hoped it didn’t cost him everything, including his life.