Page 17 of Retribution

‘Did Joe see me in The Heath?’

‘Not directly. His father was sent footage of you, though. They wanted to know what they were getting, and rightly so.’

‘What exactly did he see?’

John raises a brow. ‘You said one question.’

He turns away. ‘The doctor said you’ll be discharged tomorrow or the next day. My car will bring you home.’

When he gets to the door, he hesitates. ‘If you aren’t a problem for me over the next few weeks, I’ll ensure the date is set after exams in May. You can finish the year.’

He leaves me with that, and I sink into the bed as the door to my room closes.

I get up after a minute and pad across my room to the small bathroom. I stare at myself in the mirror until I hear my door, and I go back into the main room, hoping it’s one of the guys.

Lu comes into the room holding a stuffed bear and a giant balloon that says, ‘Get Well Soon!!!’

‘Dude!’ she practically shrieks when she sees me. ‘Are you okay? I heard about the gas leak, but not until like yesterday. My Pop Pop had us on a Garrett family retreat thing he likes to do every year, and I was stuck there. Fuck, why didn’t you let me know you were in the hospital? Why did I have to hear it from Novelle?’

I grin. ‘Sorry. I’ve been kind of out of it.’

I gesture at the bandage still around my head. ‘You should be glad I remember you at all. I mean, I’ve barely seen you in over a month.’

She winces. ‘Okay, look. Cards on the table. Pop Pop heard I was friends with a Novelle, and he told me to stop hanging out with you before Christmas. That’s the truth.’

I blink in surprise.

‘Oh,’ I murmur, not sure what to say. ‘I didn’t know.’

‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I never fight with my Pop Pop, but I was so pissed that he was acting like that. I mean you’re notJohn, you know?’ She huffs. ‘But, when he met you the other night at the show, he liked you. He told me I could be friends with you.’

She looks uncertain. ‘I mean, if you don’t hate me for selling out our sisterhood like an asshole.’

‘I don’t hate you,’ I say. ‘Of course I get it. I didn’t know your family was…um…you know, into some stuff, until I met your grandpa at the theatre that night. I understand why you didn’t tell me.’

She winces again. ‘I’m sorry about that too. It’s just like. Everyone knows the Garretts in Richmond, and you didn’t seem to, and I sort of liked that. People treat you different, you know?’

I nod. ‘I get it.’

I let out a breath, glancing at my friend. ‘Look, there’s some new stuff happening. My stepfather is making me go live at the Novelle house. The club is pretty damaged, I think, and Joe Banderville has told him to put me on a ‘shorter leash.’

‘What the fuck?’ Lu snarls immediately. ‘Who does that asshole think he is?’

‘A rich and powerful man with lots of resources who doesn’t like hearing the word no?’ I supply.

She cocks a brow. ‘More like an entitled rich boy with tiny dick energy and no personality.’

I laugh. ‘I like yours better.’

She smiles at me a little and then frowns. ‘Where is Shade? The others?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t know where any of them are. I think…’ I take a breath, trying not to break down. ‘I think John made them leave because I’m not allowed to be around them anymore.’

‘No way are they just gonna leave. Come on. They care about you. Some dumb rule isn’t going to keep them away.’

‘Yeah,’ I say, attempting a smile that falls short.

Lu doesn’t understand that John can destroy their lives if he feels like it. He has the power to have them expelled from Richmond U. Probably worse if he’s some kind of crime boss.