Unconstrained

“I appreciate that.” I truly meant those words. The Theriots might be criminals, but I knew what family meant to them, and I knew how significant it was for them to include me in that.

By the time I closed the door behind Lance, Snake had already disappeared up the stairs. I resisted the urge to go after him. He was determined to go, and I needed to let him.

The doctor showed up a few minutes later, and I showed her up to Beau’s apartment.

Snake was eating the few pancakes we hadn’t scarfed down earlier. When he saw her, he wiped the back of his mouth with his hand and hurriedly finished chewing.

“Thank you for coming. Leland got the bullet out and patched me up, so I’m probably fine.”

She gave him a look that said she wasn’t so sure. “Sit down over there.” She gestured to the couch. “And let me see just what kind of job your friend did.”

“I tried to get him to go somewhere and have it looked at.”

She waved her hand. “If he’s as stubborn as the Theriots, then there was no chance of that.”

She pulled on some gloves while Snake rolled up his sleeve. When she pulled back the bandage, she frowned. I expected her to say it was infected or that I had done something wrong. Instead, after a few moments of prodding at it with the tip of her finger—which made Snake stiffen and nearly bite through his lower lip—she smiled. “You did good work. There will be a scar, and it might’ve done better with some stitches, but I don’t think that’s necessary at this point.”

“I don’t care about scars,” Snake said.

“No, I didn’t think you would. I’m going to give you some antibiotics. I want you to take all of them as directed, and I want you to call if anything gets worse. You’re lucky. A few inches higher and your shoulder might be useless now.”

My stomach churned at her words. In so many ways, the incident could’ve been worse. What if it was the next time? What would Snake get into after he left? And why did it matter so much to me to show him he could have a better life?

10

Snake

Once the doctor left, I took one of the pills she’d given me and slid the bottle into my bag. Leland had reluctantly agreed to bring me one of Beau’s shirts since mine was destroyed. I pulled it on over the new bandage, then finally looked at Leland. “Thanks again. This wouldn’t be healing properly if you hadn’t helped me.”

“You’re welcome.” His voice was stiff, and he wasn’t looking at me.

“Leland, I—”

He shook his head. “You told me you’d be moving on, and you’re probably right that it’s for the best.”

My heart was telling me I was wrong, that walking away from this beautiful man was beyond stupid. I might have actually had a chance to be with someone who truly cared about me. Would Leland actually want me to stay? Did I dare ask him? “I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”

“Maybe I don’t care about trouble. Like you said, it keeps things from being boring.”

“I don’t want you in danger.”

“I take it Trigger’s not the only person you had an issue with before you started your sentence.”

“He’s not, though he’s the only one close by.” I lifted my bag onto my good shoulder and took a few steps toward him holding out my hand. “Give me your phone.”

“Why?”

Because for once I wanted a tie. I wanted the chance to come back to where I’d been. Not that I thought I would, but I couldn’t just completely let go. Not with Leland. “Just let me see it.”

He pulled it from his pocket and handed it over. I held it out so he could open it with face ID, then brought up his contacts and added a new one before handing it back to him.

He scowled at me. “What did you do?”

“If you ever get into a bind and really need someone to help you get out of it—someone other than Beau and his mafia friends—call me, and I’ll be there.”

Leland drew in a shaky breath, and I turned to go. If I looked at him for even a few more seconds, I might not be able to get on my bike and ride away. That wasn’t a smart thing to do, not for me or for him.

11

Leland

The next two days were incredibly long. I couldn’t stop thinking about Snake and wishing he’d change his mind and come back. I knew I could call him, but I wasn’t going to. He’d given me his number for emergencies, and missing him so much I was unable to focus on anything wasn’t actually an emergency.

My shitty mood had caused me to fuck up a job earlier in the day. I was staying late, trying to get it done since we’d promised our customer the car would be ready in the morning. Beau was due back that night, and I knew he’d want to hear more about what had happened with Snake. I figured this way he could just ask me when he arrived.