“Axle might kill you if he finds you lying on the bed beside her,” Eve is saying from somewhere in the room.
“Like I won’t hear him the second they all get back. I’ll have plenty of time to move,” Drake tells her, sounding really close to my side. “I want her to think we got married in Vegas and that now I’m the Blackbird king. Should be interesting.”
I’d laugh, if it didn’t hurt so much to even consider. Guess Drake knows who I am now.
“I worry about you sometimes,” Eve says on a sigh.
“Only sometimes? I must be losing my edge.”
Ever so slowly, my eyes blink open to the bright light filtering through the room.
“She’s awake,” Eve says, even as I blink again, trying to adjust my vision to the brightness.
“Is that what it means when someone’s eyes are open? Always wondered about that,” Drake says, grinning at Eve when I look over at him.
Then he turns that dazzling smile on me.
“Afternoon, sunshine. You look like shit.” He says all this with a grin.
“I was kidnapped by a sociopath,” I say with a hoarse, scratchy voice, forcing the words out. “What’s your excuse?”
Drake just grins broader as Eve hands me a bottle of water. I thank her with a tight smile as I start drinking the water, trying not to drink too fast.
“Well, she seems fine,” Drake goes on, then looks at me again and holds up four fingers.
“How many fingers am I holding up?” he asks seriously.
Idly, I take in the fact there’s an IV running into my hand, presumably fluids.
I extend my middle finger to Drake. “More than me,” I say, still flipping him off.
He laughs lightly. “I’d say all her brain cells are probably destroyed, but that likely happened before the blow to the head.”
“Blows to the head,” I grumble, wincing when I feel the pain in my side that reminds me of my ribs. Just cracked—not broken. “Plural.”
I look around, taking in the room I’m in, and a pain catches in my chest.
“Where’s Axle?” I ask Eve.
“They had something to do. They had already gotten the ball rolling on striking back at Herrin and making a statement when we found out about you, and—”
Her words cut off when a familiar face steps into the room, and tears blur my vision as Smitty looks over at me with sad, haunted eyes. He’s almost too big for the doorway, and he ducks his head as he comes in completely and straightens again.
“We’ll give you two a minute,” Eve says softly.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Drake tells her in a bored drawl. “Axle said he doesn’t trust the Family right now, and that I’m to stay put or he’ll make me look as un-pretty as he is.” He shudders dramatically. “I’m too pretty not to be pretty.”
I groan inwardly, rolling my eyes as I swing my gaze to Drake. “Go. We need a minute alone.”
He looks between us, and all jokes aside, looks genuinely worried about leaving me alone with Smitty.
“I’ll leave the door open,” Smitty says tightly, taking a seat in the far corner. “And I’ll stay right here.”
Drake warily stands, and a tear slips from my eye. Smitty looks broken. The man who has been like a second father to me acts like he’s worried I’ll be scared of him. Everyone is treating him like he’s the one who betrayed me.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Smitty,” I say with a stronger voice, the water already helping to soothe the dry throat. “You can come closer.”
Drake glares at me, but I ignore him. Compared to Smitty, I barely know Drake at all. Not that I don’t appreciate the protective vibe that makes me feel safe right now.
Smitty looks down, a tear falling from his eye, and Drake stands to leave. “I’ll be right outside. Armed. I’m a decent shot.”
I vaguely remember shooting Troy in the ass, but I definitely don’t bring that up right now.
I also realize I’m very naked under this sheet. Why am I naked?
Clutching the sheet to my chest, I sit up a little, even though it sends a shot of pain up my spine from the pitiful ribs.
“Don’t try to move,” Smitty says, standing and hesitating to come toward me.
“I’m sorry,” I finally say to him, tears choking me.
His eyes fill with more tears, and he shakes his head.
“I’m the one who’s sorry, little one. My own son hated the Family so much he betrayed you and almost got you killed. And I was too blind to see it coming.”
“You shouldn’t be expected to choose between your family and our Family. I understand if you can’t be a part of Blackbird, and you have my word nothing will happen if you decide to retire.” The words are barely a broken whisper.
He smiles grimly at me. “I’ll be honest. I thought about leaving after I learned of Troy’s involvement. Simply because I don’t trust my judgment anymore. Lathaniel died on my watch. You almost died at the hands of my son.”