Chapter 14
Fourteen
RHEA
M icah was basically asleep before we even made it off the elevator.
The likelihood that he would remember the fact that Coach G and Blue basically carried him to Recoverie was slim to none, but Delaney insisted his vitals were strong.
The goal hadn’t been to kill him… probably.
Still, I was concerned.
We were all concerned, even Coach G, who I’d immediately probed for his intentions, since if anyone close to Micah had been in on this sabotage, he was the best candidate.
It wasn’t him, though.
I was sure of that.
Everybody was moving: reviewing security tapes, locating Santiago, trying to figure out what the fuck had happened.
I couldn’t focus on that stuff though; my focus had to be here, with Micah.
We got him to one of the private recovery suites, where Delaney checked his pupils again, got him attached to a bunch of stuff to keep up with his vitals, then went straight to prepping whatever cocktail of electrolytes and sugar she thought would get him back to himself.
Coach G and Blue both peeled off to make calls.
Leaving me alone with him.
It was so quiet.
Too quiet.
I wanted more than anything to be in his head, but my gift had never taken me quite that far, to explore someone’s conscience when they were sleeping. I sat on the edge of the bed beside him, hating how clammy his sweaty skin felt, hating the level of exhaustion he was giving off.
It made my chest feel heavy.
Delaney walked in, handing me a pouch.
“He needs to ingest it,” she said. “I’m not comfortable putting anything in an IV until the blood work is done. Which, I’m about to handle, so… get that in him.”
She left again, and I turned to Micah, running a hand over his face.
“I need you to take this,” I said to him, unscrewing the top. “Come on,” I insisted, nudging him.
I could tell by the change in breathing that he was awake, just maybe not enough energy to open his eyes.
“Micah,” I said a bit louder, getting even closer. “I’m asking nicely right now, don’t make me be mean to you.”
His eyes stayed closed, but he groaned. “You’re always mean.”
I chuckled. “Then you know how much worse I can get.”
He let out a little amused grunt, and opened his mouth, eyes still closed while I squeezed the contents of the little pouch—some sweet-smelling gel—for him to swallow.
“See, that wasn’t so bad,” I whispered.
“Don’t shoot me,” he mumbled, already drifting off again.
I just shook my head and stayed there, watching him. I put the pouch down on the bedside table so I could put a hand to his chest, just feeling him breathe.
A moment later, Delaney was back. She slipped a needle into his arm without fanfare, filled a vial, and taped him up like it was nothing.
“I’ll run it here,” she said quietly. “We’ll know what it was within the hour.”
I nodded again.
“You staying?” she asked.
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
She and I had never actually had a conversation about Micah. I didn’t think it was necessary, and she hadn’t seemed bothered enough by the scandal to bring it up.
This was right in her face though…
And she thought it was sweet.
Which was a relief.
She gave me a quick squeeze on my shoulder, then left me with my own thoughts, once again.
So much had happened.
From that first fight night, when we made eye contact, to him touching me in the club.
The phone, the run-in at Reverie.
The keycard.
The fight with Santiago.
And now this.
Drugged mid-fight.
It was strange—I didn’t feel worried in the way I would expect—he’d joked about me having his babies, our future, so I knew this wasn’t the end.
Knew we had time.
But… what was that time going to look like?
It wasn’t just flirting and sparks anymore, there was weight to whatever this was between us.
If sitting at a man’s bedside holding vigil wasn’t serious, I wasn’t sure what was.
When my phone started buzzing, I was quick to snatch it from the bedside table.
Blue.
“Did you find out anything?”
“Okay hello to you too, Sunny.” Blue’s voice was low, serious.
I sighed. “Sorry. Hello.”
“I’m fucking with you,” he said, and I could hear the background noise of people talking, shuffling around, maybe a door closing, and then quiet. “He still out?” he asked.
“Mostly,” I told him, glancing at Micah. “Responsive though. Delaney is running his blood.”
Blue exhaled. “Good. Kingston has people going through security footage, but Santiago dipped before we could lay hands on him.”
“Convenient,” I sighed.
“Temporary,” Blue corrected. “I talked to Ivan, head of the Renegados. This shit wasn’t sanctioned, and he wants it cleaned up. He doesn’t want any smoke with us after we came to an understanding a few years back. He’ll get smoked out. And maybe—never mind. You don’t need to know about that.”
“Right,” I agreed. “I just need to know if I need to be looking over my shoulder, over his shoulder.”
“Nah, we’re gonna stomp this shit out. And that Terrell kid?” he added. “Didn’t know a thing. Ink was fresh. He’s a fan of Santiago, got starstruck… got used for access to the back. Nothing to be concerned about, I don’t think. And we’ll keep eyes on it.”
I nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see me. “Alright. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Micah is family. You staying with him overnight?”
“Yeah.”
“Thought so,” he said. “You’ll let me know when he wakes up for real?”
“I will.”
He hung up without saying goodbye, and I was fine with that. No more words were needed.
I put the phone back on the table and looked at Micah, still knocked out, but breathing steadily. It only took a moment for me to decide to kick my shoes off, climbing fully into the bed with him to rest my head on his chest.
He still smelled like sweat, but I didn’t mind.
I’d only been there a few minutes when Delaney peeked in.
She didn’t say anything at first, like she thought we both might be sleeping. It wasn’t until I lifted my head that she stepped fully in.
“Bloodwork came back,” she said, keeping her voice low.
I sat up a little more, being careful not to shift Micah too much. “And?”
“Just a sedative. I’m assuming the goal was the embarrassment of losing the fight, but Micah was able to resist it enough to get through. He’ll sleep it off.”
Relief hit me so hard I had to close my eyes for a second. “No long-term damage?”
“Nope. Just rest, fluids, and someone to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid for a few days.”
I nodded. “I can handle that.”
“I figured.” Delaney hovered a second longer, then backed out again. “I’ll be nearby if you need anything.”
The door clicked shut behind her.
Micah shifted beside me, not quite awake, but getting there. His arm twitched, brushing my side, and I settled back in, curling against him again. The next time he moved, long minutes later, it was to slide a heavy arm across my waist like his body knew I was there before his mind caught up.
“Rhea?”
His voice was rough, barely there.
“I’m here.”
He was quiet for a second, and then, still half-asleep:
“Did I win?”
I grinned. “You don’t remember?”
“I remember walking into the ring, starting, and then… nothing.”
“Yeah, well…” I said, adjusting just enough to look at him. “I think that makes sense, considering your water bottle was laced with something. But yeah… you won. Running on pure spite, I guess,” I giggled.
He let out a low, raspy laugh. “Sounds about right. What round?”
“You dropped him in round three. Winner by knockout.”
“Winner by knockout in round three, roofied? I’m him like a motherfucker, wow.”
“Oh hell,” I laughed. “Barely awake, and the arrogance is already back in full effect?”
“Greatness can’t be stifled for long,” he murmured.
“Mhmm,” I giggled. “Go back to sleep.”
“You’ll still be here when I wake up?”
I smiled, lining my face up with his. “You tell me. You’re the one who’s been sleeping. What have you seen?”
His eyes closed, but his mouth curved.
“You,” he murmured. “Always you.”
I leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Then yeah,” I whispered. “I’ll be here.”
He drifted again, peacefully this time, and I stayed where I was, curled into the warmth of him, matching the rise and fall of every breath.
This certainly wasn’t without friction, but it was real.
It was ours.
And I was all in.