Chapter Twenty-Three
MERCS
Luke scowls at me as I draw in a deep, stuttered breath, bracing myself for whatever verbal beating he’s about to deliver.
The man looks like he hasn’t blinked since he walked through the door.
His jaw is tight, his shoulders squared, his presence filling the room in a way that makes the hospital feel smaller than it already does.
By the look in his eyes, he knows…
Not the street gang version.
The truth.
He shakes his head slowly and glances up at the ceiling like he’s counting to ten, or maybe asking for patience from a higher power. Then he steps forward and places both hands on the end of my bed, leaning over it, caging me in without physically touching me.
His stare locks onto mine.
Unyielding.
Disappointed.
Angry.
His posture is intimidating as hell, and it drives home the fact that I’ve been a fucking idiot. Not just for what I did, but for what I didn’t do. For whom I didn’t go to.
“You. Put. Effa. In. Danger.” Each word is clipped but controlled, like he’s forcing himself not to explode.
“I did,” I admit immediately. There’s no point in deflecting. “It was unintentional. She was never meant to become a part of my crap. It just… spun out of control.” That excuse sounds weak even to my own ears.
He exhales through his nose and straightens, stepping back slightly, though there’s nothing relaxed about him.
He rubs his chin, his eyes never leaving me.
“I thought we had a rapport… you and me?” he says slowly.
“I thought we understood each other, Mercs? You and I both have Effa and the band’s best interests at heart? ”
“I always have Effa’s best interests at heart.” The words come out firm.
That much, at least, is true.
He raises an eyebrow and scoffs. “Bullshit! Then why the hell did you get involved with a bookie? Why didn’t you come to one of us for help if you were in debt?
If you couldn’t go to Effa… if you weren’t comfortable going to your girlfriend for help…
” He drags a hand through his hair, agitation breaking through his composure.
“Jesus, I get the whole emasculation thing…” He pauses, closes his eyes, and sighs like he’s trying to dial himself down a notch before reopening them.
“We had a rapport, Mercs. You could have come to me. You could have explained your fucking situation with your sister…” His eyes soften slightly now, not losing their intensity, but shifting into something else.
“I might look like a hardass. Hell, I act like it most of the time too, but I do have a register on the emotional scale. I know what it’s like to love people, to care about people…
I have a sister too. Did you know that?”
That catches me off guard.
I raise my brow and shake my head. “No, I didn’t know that.”
“No. You didn’t.” There’s no accusation in his tone, just fact.
“I think if you’d taken the fucking time to come to me and ask for my help…
Fuck! Mercs, I would have given you the money in a heartbeat.
It could have been a fucking advance on your salary.
You only had to damn well ask. Because like you, my sister means everything to me, and if it were my sister needing the money to help her get better, then I would do anything like you did to help her. ”
He steps closer again, lowering his voice. “I know Jett got to you. I know he rubbed you the wrong way. But not going to Effa was stupid, foolish, and idiotic. Not coming to me? Even fucking worse. The only one who suffered because of your stubbornness, because of Jett… is Kiera.”
That lands.
Hard.
I stare down at the hospital blanket, my jaw tightening. “I never thought about coming to you, Luke. I just didn’t think for a second you would advance me the type of money I needed.”
He huffs and lets out a short, incredulous laugh. “Jesus, Mercs, I would have given it to you. And the money for the damn bookie. I looked up Kiera’s procedure on the net… the cost is anywhere from one to two hundred grand for it. Right?”
I nod once, my throat tightening.
He shakes his head again. “Mercs, I have that in spades. Effa has that in spades. Fuck, all of us do, and any one of us would have stepped up to help your sister. We’re all really fond of her, and we don’t want to see her become any sicker.
If there’s one thing to come from all of this, I’m thankful that you came to your senses and let Effa give you the money for Kiera’s treatment before you got into any further trouble… ”
Before you got killed.
The unspoken words hang there between us.
“Luke…” I drag in a breath, feeling the pull in my ribs.
“Normally, I wouldn’t let people talk to me like this.
But you know what? You’re right. And I need to take the slap down and shut the hell up.
I need to take this like a man because you, the band, the crew, everyone, have been so damn good to my family and me. ”
He studies me for a moment, assessing whether I mean it, then he nods slowly. “Yeah, well, we like you guys. But I swear to God, if you ever put Effa in a dangerous situation again—”
“Trust me, I won’t,” I cut in, my voice steady. “I love her too much.”
That part doesn’t waver.
He lets out a long, drawn-out breath, some of the tension finally easing from his shoulders.
“Good. Glad to hear. Now rest up. The girls are still doing their show, and we have to move on tomorrow, but I suggest once you’re released from the hospital, you go home.
Spend some time with your family, and then come back to the tour once Kiera is strong and healthy again. ”
“Luke, no.” I shift slightly despite the protest in my ribs. “I think I should come back to the tour, just for a short time, so I can get Tank and Jay up to speed with the adjustments I want for the show. Then I’ll go be with Kiera.”
He frowns, rubbing the back of his neck. “Are you sure? I mean, you have a broken nose, broken ribs? You really shouldn’t be working. You definitely shouldn’t be up on the rafters.”
“Yeah, I get that,” I say. “I’ll work the boards…
Luke. I need to work. I can’t sit around all day waiting for Kiera’s procedure to take effect.
It will drive me crazy. I gotta keep busy, and I gotta make sure Effa is okay, too.
She needs her daily meds and someone to make sure she’s resting properly. ”
That part is non-negotiable.
He exhales sharply. “Fuck… okay. But under no circumstances are you to leave this hospital until they say it’s safe for you to do so.
Then we’ll send someone to bring you to wherever we are.
If I notice there are any issues with you, health-wise, I will send you straight home. No questions asked. Understand?”
“Yes, of course. Thanks, Luke… I appreciate it.”
He narrows his eyes slightly. “You don’t like to make my life easy, do you?”
“Now, where would the fun be in that?” A small smirk tugs at my mouth despite everything.
He scoffs and turns, heading for the door. “Rest. That’s not a suggestion.” The door swings open, then shuts firmly behind him, and the room feels quieter without his presence.
I ease back into the pillows, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before closing my eyes. The monitor’s beeping fades into the background again.
Seems I have more people in my corner than I gave credit for.
And more to lose than I ever realized.
Two Weeks Later
Luminous’ jet picked me up after being discharged from the hospital in New York and flew me to Boston to meet up with the band.
The flight felt longer than it should have, mostly because I had too much time to think, and thinking is dangerous when your sister is recovering and your pride is still nursing bruises that morphine can’t touch.
They’re playing at Fenway Stadium tonight, and the cab is taking me directly there from the airport.
I’ve already checked in with Effa, and she knows I’m on my way and that I’m ready to come back to work tonight, much to her incredibly vocal disapproval.
She tried to argue, tried to convince me to stay back, to give my ribs more time, to let Tank handle everything, but like I said to Luke, I need to keep busy.
If I sit around and let my mind wander too far toward Kiera’s recovery, toward what could have happened in that alley, toward what almost was, I’ll drive myself insane.
Work has always been my anchor. It keeps my head straight and keeps the spiraling at bay.
The driver pulls up outside Fenway Park, and I take a steady breath before stepping out of the cab. The late-afternoon air is crisp, carrying that faint scent of hot dogs and beer that stadiums always seem to hold in their bones. The noise from inside filters out in distant echoes.
My ribs flare in protest as soon as I straighten fully, a sharp reminder that I’m not one hundred percent yet.
I hobble slightly as I adjust my footing, easing the pressure off my left side.
Luke’s already arranged a stool at the lighting board, so I don’t have to climb anything or stand too long.
It bruises my ego more than my body, but I’ll take it.
Paying the driver, I make my way slowly toward the entrance. Security stands at the gate, scanning badges and checking lists. They eye me curiously at first, probably because I look like I’ve gone twelve rounds in a cage match, but recognition dawns quickly.
“Welcome back,” one of them mutters, stepping aside.
I nod and head inside, navigating the maze of corridors beneath the stadium. The hum of production is everywhere—crew shouting instructions, roadies hauling cases, the distant thud of a soundcheck bassline vibrating through concrete.
It feels familiar.
Grounding.
After a bit of searching, I locate the girls’ green room, mostly thanks to the chaos spilling out from behind the door and the sound of shouting and laughter echoing down the hall.
Smiling despite the ache in my ribs, I push the door open.
Casey and Andi are at a small table in the center of the room, cards fanned out between them, yelling like they’re in a Vegas high-stakes tournament.
Alana is stationed at the buffet, plate already half demolished, as expected.
Kristy lounges on the sofa, scrolling through her phone, probably engaging with fans online.
Effa stands in the corner speaking quietly with Luke.
A warmth settles deep in my chest as I take it all in.
This.
This chaos.
This noise.
This is home.
And I can see the girls have done exactly what I asked, kept Effa occupied, distracted, surrounded by energy, so she doesn’t sit alone with her thoughts.
Andi glances up first, and her face splits into a grin. “Holy shit! You still look like you’ve gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson. I bet he looks like shit though, right? You would have kicked his ass,” she mocks dramatically.
I grin, careful not to laugh too hard. “Tyson tapped out.”
Effa turns at the sound of my voice, and the change in her expression hits me square in the chest. Her eyes light up instantly with no hesitation, and no doubt. She spins and rushes toward me.
Instinctively, I brace, every muscle tightening in preparation for impact, but she catches herself just before she reaches me. Instead of launching into me like she normally would, she slows and wraps her arms around me carefully, gently, mindful of my ribs, giving only a soft squeeze.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispers. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, baby.” I lean down and press a kiss into her hair, breathing her in.
“Here, sit down,” she says quickly, guiding me toward the sofa like I’m made of glass.
I catch Luke’s eye over her shoulder. He nods once, satisfied, then shifts away to join Alana near the food.
“Are you guys ready for tonight?” I ask as I ease myself down onto the sofa, lowering carefully to avoid jarring my ribs.
Casey grabs a shot glass from in front of her and fills it with what looks like straight chili sauce. “I got one. Drink up,” she calls triumphantly.
Andi groans, rolling her eyes dramatically. “How did I agree to this game again? And how are you getting so many aces? I don’t want any more chili.”
Casey beams. “So you admit defeat?”
“Yeah, I’m done. You win.” Andi slams her cards on the table while Casey jumps up and does an exaggerated victory dance around the room.
I glance at Effa as Casey struts past us.
“Yeah, don’t ask,” Effa murmurs under her breath. “They’ve been playing this game for at least an hour. I have no idea how they can stomach that stuff, though I still don’t know why they’re all here so early?”
Andi reaches for a bottle of water and chugs half of it in one go, coughing slightly.
I chuckle. “How are you feeling?” Effa asks, her voice dropping, concern creeping back in.
I shift on the sofa and immediately wince as pain flares through my ribs. “Fine. Painkillers are my friend. The hospital gave me some strong ones to keep me going—”
“You shouldn’t be here, Mercs. You should be resting at home.” She sits beside me and takes my hand, studying my face like she’s searching for cracks in my resolve.
I sigh softly. “I want to be here with you.”
She snorts lightly. “Fine. But honestly, you take it easy.”
“Of course.”
“Hey, Luke, have you got a moment?” Nix calls out, poking his head through the door.
I glance up and grin when he spots me, and immediately winces. “Oh, shit! Kaden… I heard you got your ass handed to you. You okay, man?” he asks, stepping fully into the room.
“Yeah, all good. I’m back now. Don’t forget who’s doing your lighting. I might have had my ass handed to me, but I can still make you guys look like crap up there on stage,” I reply.
“Yeah, yeah, pretty boy. Nothing will make us look bad… but all jokes aside, I’m glad you’re okay. It’s good to have you back.”
“Thanks, man.”
Luke joins Nix and walks out with him, already slipping back into business mode.
I turn back to Effa. “They seem to be settling in.”
She nods. “Yeah, they’re taking to touring well. They’re made for this life. Fort Affliction is going places, and it’s all because of you.”
“Nah, they got where they are on their own merit.”
She smiles softly but doesn’t argue. After a beat, she glances toward the hallway. “Guess you’ll need to go and check over the lighting situation soon?”
I look up at the clock on the wall, calculating timing. “Yeah, I do… but actually, there’s something I need you to come and check out with me at the stage if you have a minute?”
She tilts her head, suspicion already dancing in her eyes. “You’ve been here, what… thirty seconds, and have already got something up your sleeve?”
I chuckle. “Tank kinda helped me out with it. But c’mon, it’s ready for you now.”
I glance at the other girls.
They all exchange knowing smiles.
And then, one by one, they stand.
Because they already know exactly what’s coming.