Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Alejandro
“You need a shower,” I told Joey while Elaina was in the bathroom. “You reek of sweat and blood.”
Joey arched a brow at me before yawning, clearly still tired and drained from the events of the day before.
I was still furious about him nearly dying, and I wanted to know what the fuck went wrong, but not with Elaina’s listening ears so close.
I’d get it out of him at some point though.
No chance I would be forgetting when Elaina and I had damn near lost him.
I’d never be able to get the sight of him pale and soaked in his own blood out of my head.
“I probably shouldn’t get this wet.” He glanced down at the stitches that’d been put in his side. The spot on his inner elbow where the transfusion had been done was covered with a small bandage, which could probably come off now with no concern of more bleeding.
I shook my head. “I’m sure it’s fine. Besides, River put a waterproof bandage over it. Doubt the stitches will get wet.”
Joey sighed and rolled onto his good side, resting his head on my arm.
I curled my hand over his head so I could stroke his hair.
Joey was a hard ass, but I was obsessed with the way he softened around me.
How he sought comfort from me and let me take care of him.
I doubted he would ever let anyone besides me and Elaina see him like this, and that was fine with me.
So long as he always knew I would be around to take care of him, he could be a dick outside of the bedroom all he wanted.
“Fine, I’ll shower. Just let me rest a little longer.”
I opened my mouth to tell him he could have all the time he needed, but a knock on the door cut me off.
Elaina popped out of the bathroom, drying her hands on a hand towel.
Setting it aside, she strode to the door and opened it a crack, her shoulders relaxing when she saw whoever was on the other side.
“I brought food,” Adelaide announced when Elaina opened the door wider to let her in.
Joey lifted his head to look at her, and she clenched her jaw before blowing out a soft breath.
Elaina helped her set the breakfast tray on the end of the bed, and then, Adelaide smacked the fuck out of Joey, her hand cracking across Joey’s face hard enough to leave a very red handprint.
His face swung to the side, and his nostrils flared with anger. I kept my mouth shut, letting him handle this situation, even though I wanted to do nothing more than warn her about what happened to people who touched what was mine.
Slowly, he rolled his jaw around before turning his head to arch a brow at her. “Feel better?” he asked, licking a bead of blood off his lip after.
“You fucking idiot,” she snarled. “You almost died. Do you know how afraid I was when you were carried into the clubhouse unconscious? Do you know how fucking gray you looked?”
He sighed, rolling his eyes. “This is a risk I take every time I put my cut on in the mornings, Adelaide.”
Her fingers twitched like she wanted to slap him again.
I gripped her wrist—not tight enough to hurt but definitely tight enough that she knew there would be dire consequences if she put her hands on him again.
She threw me a glare, but then, her anger slowly bled away to confusion when she saw Joey grip my wrist and smooth his fingers over my pulse point.
“You promised,” she finally told Joey when I released her, silently giving into Joey’s request not to harm her. “You promised you’d let me keep you with me, and you almost died. You almost broke your promise to me.”
He grunted. “But I didn’t, Adelaide.” He dropped his head back to my arm, shutting his eyes, clearly already exhausted just from arguing with her. “I’m tired, pretty girl. Can this hold?”
Her expression softened, and she sighed, nodding her head.
“Make sure you eat, Joey. I’m glad you’re alive, even if I’m angry with you.
” She turned to face Elaina and drew her into a hug.
Elaina sank into her embrace, her face hidden by Adelaide’s shoulder.
“Don’t let him be a stubborn asshole,” Adelaide quietly told her. “He always thinks he knows best.”
Joey snorted, and I had to admit, even my lips twitched with an aborted smile. Because Adelaide wasn’t wrong. Joey did like to think he always knew best.
“I won’t,” Elaina assured her. “I’ll make sure he eats, and after he’s rested a bit more, Alejandro and I will help him shower.” Pulling back, Elaina smiled at her. “He’s in good hands, Adelaide. I promise.”
Adelaide nodded. “I know. That’s why I trust you with him.”
She left the room, and Elaina grabbed a plate of food. “Can you help him sit up?” she asked me. “He needs to eat.”
Joey shot me an annoyed look when I immediately moved to do as she asked. “Tough luck,” I told him. “She’s right. Both women are right. You need to eat. It’ll help you recover faster. Your body can’t heal if it’s not being given nutrients.”
“What are you—a fucking doctor?” Joey griped as I helped him rest against the headboard with pillows propped behind him.
“Not a doctor. Just someone who’s also been shot recently.” I gripped his chin. “And because I give a fuck. Get used to it.”
He grunted, but some of the annoyance bled from his expression at my confession.
Elaina set the tray on his lap, then situated herself beside him.
He gripped her chin and tipped her chin up, pressing his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
When they parted, she smiled at him, and fuck, that smile was beautiful. Absolutely radiant.
“Eat,” she told him. “Then you can sleep some more, and once you wake up, we’ll shower.”
“We?” he teased, a teasing sparkle gleaming in his eyes despite how exhausted he already looked.
“We,” I agreed, leaning in to grab his fork and put it in his hand. “And if you eat all of this, we might make the shower worth your while.”
Joey groaned, the sound low and throaty. “Thank fuck because my balls hurt.”
Elaina snickered, and I grinned. I hadn’t missed how hard he was, but I’d ignored it for the most part. Still, if he truly did eat and rest a little more without argument, I’d help him in the shower all he wanted.