34. Jackson
JACKSON
Pain sears through my shoulder, blood soaking into my white dress shirt. David's body lies crumpled beside me, and I almost want to laugh. My own gun - used by my little angel with deadly precision. Pride mixes with the agony as I watch her toss the weapon aside.
"Jackson!" Aliyah drops to her knees, hands trembling as they hover over my wound. Her elaborate black braids have come loose, framing her face in wild disarray. "We need to get you to a hospital."
"I'm fine." I grunt, pushing up from the concrete. My vision blurs but I refuse to show weakness. "Just a scratch."
"Don't you dare minimize this." Steel threads through her sweet voice. Those gold-flecked eyes flash with determination as she tries to support my weight.
Before I can protest further, she crashes against my chest. The impact nearly takes me down, making black spots dance across my vision. But having her warm body pressed to mine dulls the edge of pain. Her fingers dig into my back, and I hold her close.
I heard every word of what she said and the fact that she attacked him over me…I don't even know how to process the emotions roaring through me.
"I thought..." Her voice cracks. "When I heard that shot..."
"Takes more than some rich prick to take me out.
" I wrap my good arm around her waist, breathing in her perfume.
She's shaking, but trying to hide it. Classic Aliyah - acting tough while falling apart inside.
"I am pissed he managed to get behind me like that.
Must have used a speaker to confuse us."
"You're bleeding all over my dress." The words come out muffled against my chest.
"Add it to my tab, angel." My grip tightens as she tries to pull back. Not happening. After watching her take down a threat without hesitation, seeing that fierce protectiveness... she's not going anywhere. "Though I think you owe me a new shirt."
She lets out a watery laugh. "Tough guy."
"Come on." Blade appears next to Aliyah, helping me up. "Hawk!"
Another guy comes forward, helping Blade get me seated where he can take a look at everything. I keep my eyes on Aliyah while he peels away my shirt and assesses the damage.
"This'll hurt." Hawk's gravelly voice matches his weathered face as he threads a needle. The back of one of Blade's SUVs isn't exactly a sterile environment, but it'll do.
Aliyah paces behind him, her heels clicking against concrete. Every few steps she pauses, playing with that necklace of hers.
"Sit down before you wear a hole in the floor." I keep my voice steady as Hawk starts the first stitch. My adrenaline dulls most of it, but each pull of thread through flesh sends a fresh wave of discomfort.
"Don't tell me what to do." She crosses her arms but perches on a nearby stool, those light brown eyes never leaving the needle's path. "You got shot because of me."
"I got shot because David was a shit marksman." The laugh rumbles up before I can stop it, making Hawk curse as he tries to keep the line straight. "Besides, watching you take him down? Worth it."
Her lips twitch, fighting a smile. "You're insane."
"Hold still," Hawk grumbles, wiping away fresh blood. "Unless you want this to look like a kindergartener's art project."
I catch Aliyah's gaze. The fear there, poorly masked behind anger, does something strange to my chest. She's gotten under my skin these past weeks - this beautiful, dangerous woman who treats secrets like currency and trust like a weapon.
"Come here, angel." When she hesitates, I pat the space beside with my good arm. "Need you to distract me from Hawk's terrible bedside manner."
"I preferred you when you were bleeding out and quiet." But she moves closer, sliding onto the tailgate beside me. Her warmth seeps through my remaining clothes.
"Liar." I wrap my fingers around her wrist, feeling her pulse race beneath my skin. "You were worried."
She doesn't deny it.
Hawk's steady hands work the needle through my flesh while Blade comes up to lean against the SUV's door frame, leather jacket creaking as he crosses his muscled arms. His usual easy smile is gone, replaced by the cold calculation I recognize from our more brutal jobs.
"If you want, I can handle the body. I can make this look like a message." Blade's eyes fix on Aliyah. "String him up somewhere public. Let everyone know what happens when they fuck with you." He flashes her a smile. "I won't even take credit for the kill."
Aliyah's fingers tighten around mine. "You'd do that?"
"For you? Of course." That trademark grin flashes across his face, but his dark eyes slide to me. "But we both know who I'm really doing this for."
"You always repay favors." I grunt as Hawk hits a tender spot.
"Like that time in Jersey." Blade's hand drifts to the knife at his hip - his signature weapon. "Figure this makes us even for that mess."
"The body needs to disappear completely." Aliyah's voice carries that sweet steel I've come to expect. "David had powerful friends. If they trace this back..."
"Angel." I cup her chin, turning those fierce eyes to mine. "Let Blade handle it. He's got a talent for making problems vanish."
"And leaving artistic warnings." Blade pushes off the door frame. "Don't worry about the cleanup. Focus on keeping this stubborn bastard from pulling his stitches." He jerks his chin toward my shoulder. "Though from what I saw tonight, you've got enough fire to keep him in line."
"Someone has to." Her thumb traces circles on my wrist, the gentle touch at odds with the steel in her voice. "He's terrible at self-preservation."
I glare at her.
Hawk finishes the last stitch with practiced efficiency. "Keep it clean, no heavy lifting for a week."
I nod and offer him a quick thanks as I stand and start to button my shirt back up. It'll be sore but nothing I can't manage.
"Let's get you home." Aliyah's voice carries that mix of command and concern that's become familiar these past weeks.
The drive back is quiet through empty streets.
Every few minutes, Aliyah's eyes dart to my shoulder, checking for fresh blood - even though I told her that me driving isn't going to pop the stitches.
The city lights paint shadows across her angular features, highlighting those sharp cheekbones and the small key tattoo behind her ear.
I guide her through my front door, arm wrapped around her waist. She tries to pull away, probably to fuss over the wound, but I tug her closer.
"Come here, angel."
She stills against me, those deceptively innocent eyes lifting to mine. Even with her elaborate hairstyle falling apart and blood staining her dress, she's lethal grace personified.
"You were magnificent tonight." My fingers trace the curve of her spine. "The way you handled that gun... like you were born for it."
"I did what I had to." But pride flashes across her face, quick and bright before her walls slam back up. Classic Aliyah - always hiding behind that sweet facade while calculating her next move.
"No." I catch her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. "You protected what's yours. That's different."
"I won't let anyone hurt you." The words come out rougher than intended. "Not David, not his friends, not anyone who thinks they can touch what belongs to me."
"I don't belong to anyone." But she presses closer, contradicting her own words. Her fingers ghost over my bandaged shoulder. "Though I suppose I owe you for taking a bullet."
"You paid that debt with his life." I brush my lips across her temple. "I'm proud of you, angel. Even if you are the devil in disguise."
Her laugh vibrates against my chest. "Takes one to know one, tough guy."