Barbarian (Jericho’s Boys #3)

24. Nico

Nico came awake slowly, a dull ache in his belly and a slight sting in his hand. He could hear the beeps of machines and the sharp smell of bleach that told him he was in the hospital. It must have been worse than Jericho thought. Nico wanted to open his eyes but his eyelids felt like cement. Someone with a sweaty palm was holding his hand. Mal. Definitely Mal. Nico wanted to smile at that, but nothing seemed to be working at his command.

“He’s going to be fine, kid.”

Jericho. He was there, too? Who else had shown up? How long had he been out? His tongue was glued to the roof of his mouth, and his insides were cold. Why were hospitals so cold? Was it a germ thing? It was probably a germ thing.

“That’s what you said three days ago, right before he passed out and didn’t wake up,” Mal said, voice tight.

Three days?

“He’s fine,” Jericho said again. “I know it scared you, but it was a pretty shallow wound. He just lost a lot of blood. His body needs rest to recover.”

“People die of blood loss,” Mal snapped. “That’s why blood transfusions exist. He could have been really hurt. Fuck, what if he’d been really hurt?”

“What if?” Jericho said. “Would it change anything?”

“What?” Mal asked.

Nico could practically see the irritated face he knew Mal was giving Jericho.

“I mean, what would you do if he’d really been hurt?” Jericho asked. “Would you bail?”

“What? What the fuck kind of question is that? I’m never leaving him. Ever,” Mal said fiercely.

Nico’s heart felt like it might rip from his chest and rocket to the moon. He loved Mal so much. His soaring heart suddenly plummeted to his feet. Had he said it back yesterday? What if he’d died without saying it back one last time?

Jericho was quiet for a while. Nico’s heart did a complicated little flip in his chest when he asked, “Does he know you love him this much?”

Mal snorted. “If he doesn’t, then he’s an idiot.”

Jericho barked out a laugh. “Well…”

Hey. Why was Jericho roasting him when he couldn’t defend himself?

“True. He is really stubborn,” Mal said, sounding proud.

“You know he’s not going to give up watching out for people he cares about, right? He’s always going to be the first one jumping into the shit when someone is hurt. That’s just who he is.”

Mal sighed. “Yeah, I know. I just want him to slow down. He spends so much time worrying about everyone else, he has no idea who he is or what he wants to do with his life. Outside of helping you, that is.”

“He’s in school,” Jericho said, words laced with confusion.

“He hates school. His meds aren’t strong enough. And he doesn’t care about any of those classes, so he zones out. You know how he is. He learns better with hands-on training.”

Nico’s chest grew tight. Mal sounded so worried about him. Had anyone other than Jericho ever cared that much?

“He did well when I taught him to work on cars. He picked things up really fast. You’re probably right about him learning a skill or trade over college, but he can do whatever he wants. I don’t want you convincing him to drop out of school.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Mal said.

They both fell silent for a while, and Nico’s mind started to wander until Jericho said, “Do I need to give you the shovel talk?”

“I thought you just did?” Mal countered.

“I suppose I did,” Jericho said. “But never forget I have a murder cabin and a lake full of man-eating fish.”

Mal snorted. “Did you give this shovel talk to Ever or Shiloh?”

Jericho laughed softly. “Well, no. But they’re about as terrifying as two baby squirrels. Nico might call you Bunny, but I’ve seen you kick someone into a meat grinder.”

“That was one time,” Mal said, exasperated. “And Shiloh was the one who ripped that guy apart with his bare hands.”

Nico couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped.

“Nico?” Mal asked urgently.

“Mm,” he managed, voice raw.

He wanted to see Mal so badly, but it took his eyes a while to cooperate. When he finally opened them, the lights seemed to sear his retinas, making him flinch until Jericho turned off the big light over his bed.

When the two of them finally came into focus, Nico asked, “What happened?”

“You were stabbed,” Mal answered.

Nico laughed, then grimaced. “I don’t have memory loss. I meant after I passed out. What happened to Amy? To Casey? Are they okay? Did we really hand her and Jason over to the GTB?”

Mal and Jericho turned to each other, having some kind of wordless conversation.

“Do you want me to leave?” Nico asked.

Mal frowned. “Huh?”

Nico pouted. “Well, I wasn’t sure with the way you two were gazing into each other’s eyes.”

“That’s not funny,” Jericho admonished.

“What happened?” Nico prodded again. “I’m too tired to drag this out of you.”

“Jason’s dead,” Mal blurted.

“Real subtle, kid,” Jericho muttered.

Nico’s brows raised. “What? How? What about Amy?”

“The Red Lotus Clan did what they promised. Adam and August took what was left of him to the representatives.”

“How do you know they killed him?” Nico asked.

“Adam stuck around to ensure they did. It wasn’t a pretty end for him. By the time they were finished, all his insides were on the outside. Avi’s still pouting that he missed it.”

“And Amy?” Nico asked.

Mal looked at Jericho again. “That’s slightly more complicated.”

“What does that mean?” Nico asked.

“When we explained to her the deal we made for her return, she panicked. She said they would kill her when they didn’t need her anymore because she knew too much. Thomas brokered a phone meeting between the Dai Lo and Amy where she ratted out Leo and his gambling venture in exchange for being cut free. Needless to say, Leo is already on a flight back to Hong Kong.”

“What about Frankie?” Nico asked.

“From what I hear, the Dai Lo left him in charge of the gambling halls, but the counterfeiting operation is done,” Jericho said.

“Amy and Casey just get to live their lives now?” Nico asked, shoulders sagging in relief.

Mal nodded, picking up Nico’s hand and kissing the back of it.

“There’s something I still don’t understand,” Nico said.

Mal tilted his head to look at Nico in that cat-like way of his. “What’s that?”

Nico shook his head. “Why did Amy think Jason was holding Casey somewhere?”

Jericho shrugged. “Because he told her he was and she wasn’t willing to risk her only child by questioning him.”

“But then why did Jason have his guys beat you up and claim they were looking for Amy?” Nico asked.

“According to those morons he sent to jump me, he wasn’t looking for Amy,” Mal explained. “He was looking for Casey. He suspected we had her. His henchmen just didn’t know the girl’s name because Jason’s dumb ass never told them.”

“I’m gonna take off,” Jericho said. “I told Freckles I’d grab the kids today. Let me know when they discharge you.”

“Okay,” Nico said, giving him the realest smile he could muster and a thumbs up. Once they were alone, Mal stood. “You’re not leaving, too. Are you?” He hated how panicked he sounded. “I mean, it’s obviously okay if you have work or whatever. Never mind, I’m just still…”

“Do you really think I would leave you, Fidget?” Mal asked, moving to the bed, carefully shifting wires and cords out of his way to slip into bed beside him and pull him into his arms. “I haven’t left since you were admitted. Thomas had to call in a favor because I was breaking the rules by overstaying visiting hours.”

Nico smiled. “I’m pretty sure this is against the rules.”

“Yeah, and scandalous, too,” Mal said. “I had to tell them I was your brother so they’d let me stay.”

Nico barked out a laugh, then instantly regretted it. “Oh, God. It’s going to be embarrassing having to explain this.”

“Why explain?” Mal said, snuggling him closer, kissing his cheek.

“Because I don’t want them thinking my family tree doesn’t fork?” Nico yelped.

Mal shrugged. “Just don’t get hurt anymore and we’ll never have to see them again.”

Nico shook his head but dropped the issue, snuggling deeper into Mal’s hold. “Jericho looked tired.”

“Well, nearly stomping a man to death takes something out of you. I don’t think I’ve seen him that angry. He usually looks so…calm.”

“I vaguely remember him kicking Jason,” Nico recalled.

“Kicking him is an understatement. He saw you bleeding and he lost his shit. I was jealous. But I had to choose between holding you and avenging you. Jericho had it covered. He definitely thinks of you as one of his kids.”

Nico smiled but hid his face in his chest. “Is that why he threatened you with the shovel talk?” Nico asked, words muffled.

“You heard that?” Mal asked. “Were you eavesdropping? I was afraid you would never wake up and you were faking it to snoop on our conversations?”

“Only for a few minutes,” Nico promised. “I wanted to open my eyes but it was so hard. I’m so tired.”

Mal kissed the top of his head. “Yeah, the nurses say that’s normal.”

Nico lifted his head to look at Mal’s face. Was it weird that he missed his face even though he had been unconscious? “Did they say when I can go home?”

“No, but the doctor hasn’t made his rounds yet today. We’ll ask when he gets here.”

Nico yawned, exhaustion taking hold once more. “Okay, Bunny.”

After a while, Mal asked, “Think I should tell my brother that Jericho said he and Ever were as harmless as baby squirrels?”

Nico grinned. “Yes, but we should deploy that information at a key moment when it will work to our advantage.”

Mal snorted. “You’re diabolical.”

“I know, right?” Nico said, then asked, “Are you okay, Bunny?”

Mal frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You looked so pale and upset when you were holding onto me. I wanted to hug you, but I couldn’t even lift my arms,” Nico said. “I know you were scared.”

Mal flushed, his face turning red. “Of course, I was. If you died, I would have had to kill Jason and then myself. That would have really upset my brother.”

Nico’s heart felt like it might explode with love for this silly cat-like bunny he loved more than anything. “That’s both morbid and romantic. I love it.”

“I was actually terrified,” Mal whispered, choking on the words a bit.

Nico rubbed his face on Mal’s chest, wishing he could somehow absorb him into his body so they could be even closer. “I know, Bunny. I’m sorry I scared you. But, on the bright side, being stabbed—twice—does give you a new perspective.”

“Oh, yeah?” Mal asked.

“Mm,” he said. “Makes me not want to waste my time worrying about what might happen later. Right now, all I care about is spending every single day with you.”

“Yeah? And what would we do?” Mal asked, voice fond.

“I want to watch anime and documentaries with you while we eat cake in our underwear. I want to go clubbing with our friends, and get just high enough to not be able to keep our hands off each other, and then go eat diner food at five in the morning. I want to go home every night and let you fuck me and spank me and do dirty things to me in a million different ways,” Nico babbled. And then it hit him. “I want to…”

“You want to what?” Mal prompted.

Nico looked up at him. “I want to drop out of college.”

“Are you sure?” Mal asked. “I know I said it wasn’t for everyone, but it’s not because I don’t think you’re capable.”

“Oh, I know,” Nico said. “I didn’t take it personally.”

Mal was right. Nico learned best by doing. While he would never be satisfied working on cars or becoming a plumber, there was one thing he thought he could spend the rest of his life doing.

“Honestly, I think I want to go to school to be a pastry chef.”

Mal stared at him in disbelief. “Really? Cooking?”

“Baking,” Nico clarified. “And don’t think I can’t hear you thinking about the fact that I can’t boil water. That’s what school is for.”

Nico stuck his tongue out, inhaling sharply when Mal dipped his head and bit it.

“Ew, don’t. I haven’t brushed my teeth in days.”

“I brushed your teeth and combed your hair and gave you sponge baths,” Mal informed him. “Besides, I think we’ve had this conversation before.” He pressed kisses into his cheeks, his temple, his forehead. Wherever his lips would reach. “I don’t care how gross you are, you’re never too gross for me to stay away.”

“Because you love me,” Nico said in a sing-song voice.

Mal caught his chin and forced him to meet his gaze, his voice more serious than Nico had ever heard it. “Yeah, Fidget. Because I love you. I love you more than anything in the whole world.”

Nico swallowed the sudden lump in his throat, blinking back tears. He had to fight to catch his breath to say, “I love you, too. So much. More than anything in the world.”

“Good,” Mal said. “Now that we’ve established that, can we finally get to the happily ever after part? This courtship has been exhausting.”

Nico sighed, carefully turning to wrap his arms around Mal. “We’ve been a couple for two days.”

Mal scoffed, mouth going flat. “We’ve been a couple since the day we met. It just took you a while to catch on.”

Nico knew he was right. He usually was. “Okay, Bunny. Let’s do our own version of happily ever after.”

Whatever that looked like for them.