Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)

A few people were already waiting, but they took one look at me with no shirt and Kin asleep in my arms with the shirt clutched in her hands, and they kept their mouths shut. She didn’t even stir as I unlocked my apartment door and carried her into my bedroom. But as I placed her on the bed, she moaned and jerked upright, her hand covering her mouth.

I lifted her back into my arms and ran with her to the bathroom. There was barely enough time to get her to the toilet before she was puking again. I carefully placed her on her knees, holding her hair back from her face. As she vomited, I found one of her hair ties in one of the sink drawers and used it to make a semi-decent ponytail.

With my hands now free, I grabbed a washcloth and dampened it with cold water. Placing it on the back of her neck, I grabbed another to wipe her face with.

“Ugh,” she moaned. “Make it stop.”

“Wish I could, baby,” I told her as I filled the glass on the sink with water and offered it to her so she could rinse her mouth. But no sooner had she spat it out than she was heaving again.

Pulling a towel from the cabinet, I lifted her legs and positioned it under her so her knees weren’t digging into the cold, tiled floor. She was going to be there a while from the looks of it.

When she was done for the moment, I helped her take off her clothes and then dressed her in one of my T-shirts and a pair of my boxers, wanting her to be as comfortable as possible. She leaned weakly against me as I pulled the shirt down over her hips.

“Want to try lying down again?” She nodded, and I carried her into the bedroom and laid her down. Covering her up, I went in search of a bucket. Kassa had one in her and Gray’s bathroom, thankfully.

Only when everything was taken care of did I pull off my own clothes and get ready for bed. Climbing in behind her, I rearranged the cool, damp cloth on her forehead and cuddled her close.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” I told her, pressing a kiss to the back of her head. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I thought I was helping.”

She sighed tiredly. “No, I overreacted. You were right. I do need to see him.”

“Not if it’s going to upset you. I only want you to be happy, Kin. I’ll support whatever you want to do.” My arms contracted around her for a moment, my eyes clenching shut as I fought back the emotions that had been choking me when she’d started throwing up earlier. “Just don’t leave me again.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean it. I was just hurting.”

“I know, but you scared the hell out of me,” I confessed. “You had me sweating bullets, baby.”

“You and Derrick seemed more worried about Scott and Shannon than what it would do to me,” she choked out.

“No, baby, no,” I kissed the back of her head again, stroking one hand down her side soothingly. “I don’t give a fuck about them. I just want what’s best for you. If you never want to see Scott, I’ll make it happen, I promise.”

She turned slowly, as if afraid moving too quickly would disrupt her stomach again. Her arms curved around my waist, and she looked up at me. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face was pale. She looked miserable. “I’ll have dinner with them Friday. I’m not looking forward to it, but I’ll see him.”

“Whatever you want, Kin, I’ll support you. I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter 27

Kin

Two days later and I was still feeling like crap. No sooner did I start feeling better, than my stomach would start protesting all over again. But I pushed through because I had a million things to do to prepare for the winter tour that was quickly approaching.

Friday morning, I had auditions with the two bands I thought would sound best with my style. Jace drove me to Aunt Emmie’s office, staying beside me through the whole thing because I was so nervous. The last few days, he’d been pretty great, taking care of me while I was so sick I could barely lift my head. He hadn’t left my side once, babying me so much that I should have been annoyed, but I only loved him more for it.

Walking into the studio where Shane would record the two auditions so I could

listen to them afterward, I set my sheet music on the stand and reached for the guitar case Jace carried up for me. In the other room, I saw Shane and Nik waiting, and I appreciated them both being there for this. As with Jace’s opinion, I valued both the Demons’ as well.

“You look like crap,” Shane’s voice filled the recording booth, his tone laced with concern. “You sure you’re up for this?”

“I’ve been sick,” I told him. “But I’m feeling better today.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I was feeling better than I had been. At least I hadn’t puked—yet—that day. Of course, I hadn’t eaten yet either. I was lucky I was keeping down the sports drinks Jace kept shoving into my hand.

“Well, just take it easy. You don’t want to puke on your new band,” he said with a grin.

I flipped him off and finished setting up. “I’m ready when they are,” I told Nik. “Let Aunt Emmie know.”

He nodded and lifted his phone to his ear, alerting his wife that she could send down the first band.

The next two hours were spent going through some of my playlist with both bands. The first one was an all-guy band that could keep up with me easily. I liked them a lot, and they even had me laughing a few times despite how shitty I felt.