Chapter 19
AIDEN
I layered chicken, mushrooms, frozen ravioli, and mozzarella cheese—topping it all with cream of mushroom soup—in a casserole dish. It was a bit of a cheat, but it tasted great, and I was fairly certain Knight wouldn’t complain about a meal he didn’t have to make.
I should have taken a turn sooner, but he always beat me to the punch. Even on our one day off together, he’d start dinner—or suggest we get takeout so we could stay in bed—before I thought about what I might do.
I wasn’t sure why he wasn’t home yet today, but I’d seized the opportunity to return the favor.
I covered the casserole dish with foil and slid it into the oven, which was at 320 degrees. Close enough to preheated. I’d just let the casserole cook for an extra five or ten minutes. It really just needed to get hot and thicken—I’d cooked the chicken before putting it in.
I rinsed the skillet in the sink and was just thinking about pulling out a bagged salad when I heard an engine outside.
I smiled and started toward the door, eager to surprise Knight.
That man did so much for other people. I’d noticed he rarely expected anything for himself.
That was a rare quality, selflessness. I certainly didn’t have it.
I’d happily eaten Knight’s food, enjoyed his back rubs, and even let him wash my hair in the shower once—even though I should be taking care of myself.
I opened the door, thinking to call out a teasing greeting about service with a smile. The words died on my tongue when I saw Flynn’s old Buick in my driveway instead of Knight’s bike.
“Flynn?” I called as he got out of the driver’s seat. “What…”
The passenger door opened, and Knight got out. Huh. Maybe he’d gone for a drink and had too much to drive?
I stepped out on the porch, watching as he carefully unfolded himself from the car. He kept a hand on the door—almost as if he needed the support.
Flynn jogged around the car, but Knight waved him off. “I’m fine!”
But he didn’t look fine. As Knight walked toward the house, slightly hunched in a way that screamed pain, his face came into view. I sucked in a sharp breath.
His lip was split and oozing blood, there was bruising along his jawline and temple. His knuckles were busted open and bleeding.
“What the hell happened?” I asked, rushing forward to slip under his arm.
“I’m fine,” Knight said again, sounding worn out. He let me support his weight as we went up the porch steps.
“He got his ass kicked,” Flynn said behind us. “Some bikers jumped him.”
“Bikers? Like—”
“The Serpents,” Knight said flatly. “They want me to come back.”
My heart lurched as I pulled the screen door open. “You can’t!”
“Somebody needs to tell them that,” he muttered as we stepped inside.
“Knight, promise me you won’t go back to them,” I said, fear trickling through me.
He’d just told me how he feared going back. If this was how they invited him, it was no wonder.
“I won’t.” He collapsed onto the couch with a pained grunt. “I wouldn’t leave you, Angel.”
“Angel?” Flynn murmured.
My insides flipped. “It’s not about me. You’re not that guy anymore.”
“Nobody told them that,” Knight said grimly, shifting with a wince. He’d taken more than a punch to the face by the looks of things.
“Hold that thought. I’ll get the first aid kit.”
I retreated to my bedroom to grab medical supplies. When I returned, Flynn was crouched by Knight talking quietly and intensely.
Knight was shaking his head. “Can’t drag anyone else into it. These guys are dangerous.”
“Then let me call Dalton,” he insisted. “He can put out an APB for them if they show up here again.”
Knight looked conflicted. His gaze caught mine as I approached. “What’s that amazing smell?”
He was obviously changing the subject on purpose, but the guy had been through enough for one night. We could talk sense into him after he’d rested.
“I made you dinner for a change,” I said. “Chicken-mushroom ravioli.”
“My mouth is watering.” He dabbed at the bloody cut on his lip. “I hope I can eat.”
“Let me clean you up and we’ll see, okay?”
His eyes held mine. “I just need some ice. I’m fine.”
“He wouldn’t let me take him to the ER,” Flynn said. “But they kicked the shit out of him.”
I didn’t like the bruising at his temple, so I pulled out a penlight. “Just hold still,” I murmured as I leaned forward to shine it into each eye. “Pupils are equal and reactive. No obvious head trauma. But you’d need a CT to know for sure—”
“I’m good,” Knight said. “I didn’t hit my head that hard. I’d know.”
I nodded. “No dizziness? Nausea?”
“No.”
Flynn frowned, a crease of worry between his eyebrows. “I still don’t like it. He could have a concussion.”
“Aiden can watch me.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I can, huh?”
He looked beaten and vulnerable. “Uh, please? I’m sore and tired, but I’ll live. I promise.”
I couldn’t refuse that plea. “Fine. I’ll keep an eye on you tonight, but if I think at any point that it’s necessary—”
“I won’t argue,” he promised.
“Okay, then, let’s take off the shirt and get a look at the rest of the damage.”
“I just got comfortable,” Knight groused. “I’m sure a hot shower will sort me out. I’ve taken a lot of beatings before.”
“Not sure that’s something to brag about.”
Flynn chuckled behind me. “Knight was a street fighter.”
“No kidding?”
Knight grimaced as I gently raised his arm for a closer look at some gnarly road rash. “Didn’t usually include shredding my arm though.”
“You sure you didn’t get in a motorcycle accident?” I glanced between them. “Are you two trying to con me?”
“Funny,” Flynn said dryly.
“I wish,” Knight said. “That would be better, really. But I always ride with my jacket on to avoid this exact scenario.”
I made a sympathetic noise and dug through my kit to find antiseptic wipes and bandages. “Well, the good news is, there’s no gravel actually embedded in your skin. This is more like the skinned knees you got as a kid.”
“Great,” he said without much enthusiasm.
“This will hurt, though.”
He nodded. “Just do it.”
I wiped out the oozing scrapes as gently as I could. Knight went rigid, muscles hard as rock, so I knew it hurt, but he didn’t make a sound.
“It’s okay to swear at me,” I said as I reached for the antibiotic ointment.
“Not your fault,” he mumbled. “You’re helping me.”
I smoothed cream over the wounds, which was a good deal more soothing than disinfectant, then got out a roll of bandages and some tape.
I wound the cotton around Knight’s bicep—from shoulder to elbow—and Flynn leaned forward to tape it in place.
“Okay, now for the shirt.” I grabbed the hem of his tank and pulled it up.
“Always trying to undress me,” he joked weakly.
I glanced back at Flynn, catching his gaze on us. I couldn’t really worry about him figuring out we were more than roommates.
Not more more, just…roommates with benefits. Whatever. Not the time to think about it.
“Can you lift your arms?”
Knight raised them slowly, hissing through his teeth as his hands passed shoulder height. I tugged his shirt over his head and arms quickly, noting the red contusions over his ribs.
There was an almost perfect imprint of a boot on his side. I froze, staring at it, the assault he’d suffered suddenly real. This wasn’t just a fight. This was an attack.
“Those assholes,” I choked out.
“It’s okay,” Knight said.
I shook my head. “You could have broken ribs. You could have punctured a lung.” I leaned forward, pulse jumping, and palpated his side.
He did curse then, but I was too concerned with his safety to be careful with him. “Take a breath for me.”
He inhaled and exhaled. I could tell it hurt, but he could do it. That was the important thing.
“I think they’re only bruised. There’s no way to be certain without an X-ray that you haven’t cracked them, but there’s no malformations to the chest wall and you’re breathing okay.”
“Maybe he should get an X-ray then?” Flynn asked.
“They can’t do anything anyway,” Knight protested. “Ribs just have to heal slowly. Right?”
I hesitated, but he was right. There wasn’t much to do for cracked ribs but ice them, manage your pain, and rest. “Yeah, he’s right. Get an ice pack from the freezer for me, Flynn?”
My brother nodded and went into the kitchen. I cupped Knight’s jaw—the non-bruised part—while he was gone.
“Tell me if there’s anything else? Pain in your lower back?”
“No.”
I shifted my hands to palpate his lower stomach. “How about here? I want to ensure there’s no internal bleeding.”
“Uh, no. But your hands may send my blood rushing other places you’d rather it not while Flynn is nearby.”
It took me a minute to catch his meaning. A sudden wave of anger crashed over me.
“Hilarious. I’m trying to make sure you’re not seriously injured!”
Knight caught my hands as I pulled away. “Hey, hey, Angel. I’m okay. I’m fine.”
“You’re not,” I said, my eyes too hot. I blinked hard. “Stop pretending you’re okay and let me assess you properly. Otherwise, I’m gonna let Flynn drag you to the hospital.”
“Okay. I’m sorry.” He cupped my face. “What else do you need to know, Doc? I’m your willing patient.”
Flynn returned with an ice pack, handing it to me. “I think I’ll leave Knight in your capable hands, Angel.”
“Shit,” Knight said quietly, which summed it up.
I opened my mouth, but Flynn chuckled before I could think of how to put our situationship into words.
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” he said. “You’re both consenting adults.”
I wet my lips. “It’s nothing serious.”
He glanced between us, looking skeptical. “Well, serious or not, you’re both important to me. Take care with each other.”
“I will,” Knight said. “Sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Yeah,” I echoed. “We just…”
Flynn squeezed my shoulder. “No worries. I get how it is. You’re figuring things out. Although…” He shook his head. “You know that I’d understand, Knight. I fell for my boss’s brother.”
“I know,” Knight said quietly. “I would have told you as soon as—” He cut his eyes to me, and it was clear I was the reason he hadn’t mentioned anything.
I’d like to say that I wouldn’t have minded, but I kind of would have. Flynn worried enough about me, and I didn’t want him making more of our relationship than it could be.
“It’s just a bit of casual fun, Flynn,” I said. “It’s not the same as you and Bailey.”
“Maybe not,” Flynn said. “If so, that’s too bad. I think you’d make a great couple.”
“Thanks, man,” Knight said.
“But I think it goes without saying that if you hurt him, all this”—Flynn gestured to Knight’s battered body—“will be the least of your problems.”
“Got it,” Knight said.
“Flynn,” I protested. “I know you don’t believe in violence, and I never want you to kick someone’s ass for my sake ever again.”
“Who said anything about violence?” Flynn said. “There are other ways to make him hurt. But I’m fairly sure if he fucks this up, I won’t have to do anything at all to ensure he suffers.”
“You might be right about that,” Knight said ruefully.
“What?” I asked, not quite following the logic.
Flynn just grinned. “Put him to bed. I’ll check in tomorrow.”
“Thanks, man,” Knight said. “For coming out. For getting me home.”
“Anytime.” Flynn tapped his heart. “We’re brothers, right?”
He wasn’t talking to me. This brotherhood was meant for Knight and other men like him, who’d gone to prison and come out the other side.
“Yeah,” Knight croaked. “Always.”
Flynn let himself out, and I pressed the ice pack to Knight’s ribs, making him flinch.
“Hold this in place,” I ordered.
“Anything you say, Doc.”
Well, at least he wasn’t too injured to tease me. I cleaned the cut on his lip and dabbed some ointment on it.
“Okay, how about some painkillers?”
“I like how you think.”
I smiled as I closed up my kit and stood. I went to the kitchen, glancing at the oven timer. Ten more minutes until it was done.
I got the pain meds and a glass of water. “Okay, let’s get you medicated and fed so I can get you into bed.”
“You going to take advantage of me in my wounded state, Doctor?”
“No,” I said, dropping the tablets into his hand. “I’m going to make you as comfortable as I can and watch you all night to make sure you don’t slip into a coma and die.”
“Sexy,” he said. “Your bedside manner is amazing, Angel.”
I laughed. “Just take your meds like a good boy.”
He popped the pills into his mouth and took the glass of water I offered. He tipped it to his lips and swallowed.
“There,” he said. “Where’s my reward?”
“Reward?”
“For taking my meds like a good boy.” He tapped his lips, the good side. “Kiss me all better?”
I rolled my eyes, knowing that Knight was trying to put me at ease by acting like everything was okay. His injuries had rattled me. Not because I thought they’d kill him—he was going to heal with some rest—but because of the viciousness of these biker assholes intent on getting him back.
I knew violent men. I’d been raised by one. They were unpredictable, uncontrollable. Animals, really.
I bent down and pressed a lingering kiss to the side of Knight’s mouth.
What I had with him was always meant to be temporary. I couldn’t keep him. I knew that.
But that didn’t mean those biker assholes could have him back.