Chapter 36
Angel
The shoulder hurts like a bitch as Rock helps me up the stairs. Hank gave me a nice painkiller, he’s good like that.
He’s an ex-marine who went to medical school but lost his license when he was caught helping himself to the painkillers.
Now he does work…under the table.
“This isn’t your first bullet wound, is it?” Rock asks.
“Yep. It is. I’ve been knifed. Gotten a few compound fractures, but this is my first shooting.”
Behind me Promise snorts.
I turn and give her a smile that turns silly. The painkillers are kicking in. Whatever Hank gave me is some good shit.
Her brows shoot up. Behind her Gunner is following, still shirtless. My look goes blank. “Would you put on a fucking shirt?”
Gunner glares. “I would, but it’s covered in your blood.”
That’s fair. It’s just that Gunner is a handsome fucker, and his muscles are in peak form, and unlike me, he’s been good to Promise from the first. No gray. Just fucking hero. Pisses me off.
He protected her today. Stood up for her before. Left the family in protest because of my actions toward her…
Fuck.
“Goldilocks,” I slur, my brain buzzing. “This wolf is starving.”
Rock lets out a bark of laughter as Promise cries, “Angel. Stop.”
“That’s hilarious,” Rock opens the apartment door. “Because it’s like the story, only it’s really about sex.”
“Thanks, Sherlock,” Promise mutters, making Gunner laugh too.
Rock turns to Promise, his voice filling with menace. “Are you making fun of me?”
“Touch her, and I don’t care how tore up my shoulder is, I will put you in a hospital bed,” I growl back even as Rock shoots out a hand to steady me.
I swat his hand away. Rock lets me go and I sway. “I’m not going to touch her. I’m going to change my ways. Treat women with respect.”
I blink a couple of times, trying to figure out what’s happening. “Clearly, I’m hallucinating.”
“Rock, did you hit the painkillers too?” Gunner asks, giving Rock a look of disbelief.
“No,” Rock grunts. “I just…I might have met someone.”
“Who?” I ask, trying to focus on Rock’s face. But he’s too close and he looks fuzzy.
“Where?” Gunner follows up. “You’ve been working detail with Killian. Watching from the shadows…wait…have you actually spoken to this woman?”
Rock shrugs. “None of your business.”
But Gunner is moving closer. I can’t see him either, so I take a step back, nearly falling into the wall. Promise is at my side, her arms coming around me. “Easy,” she murmurs.
I close my eyes, nuzzling into her neck. “For you baby, I’ll be so gentle.”
“Gentle doing what?” Rock snorts.
Gunner pushes Rock’s shoulder. “Is this woman respectable? Because if she is, don’t introduce yourself. You’re not ready.”
Rock pushes Gunner back, who hits the wall and then surges forward, like he’s been looking for a fight all day.
“Save it,” Promise snaps. “Make Rock help you with those two goons if it will make you feel better.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about, but Gunner seems to. “Right. That’s a good point.”
“Are we beating people up? How bad? Do I get to break bones?”
My brother Rock has got serious issues. But tonight, he can go break shit. I just want to be alone with my woman. “Let’s go to bed, love.”
Promise starts leading me to the bedroom, her arms tight around my waist. “How bad is the pain?”
“Can’t feel a thing,” I say, nuzzling her neck again, and then I nearly fall over.
“What did that doctor give you?”
“Good shit,” I rumble. “But not better than you.”
She helps me into the bed. “Angel.”
There’s a warning in her voice that I don’t like. “Don’t say you’ll never forgive me. I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
“I’ll forgive you, Angel. I already have.”
“Good. Because you’re my whole world, Promise. I love you and I’d die without you.”
She gasps in a breath. “You never talk like this.”
I don’t. And it might be time I started. “I’m going to build you the most beautiful life. I’ll wrap you in the finest things, I’ll—”
“Angel. I don’t need fine things. I had nice stuff. It’s hollow. All I want is your love.”
Her words make my chest tight. “That’s beautiful.”
She gives me a smile as she settles herself next to me on the bed, wrapping one arm and one leg around me. “Thank you. We’ll see how poetic you find me in the morning.”
I close my eyes, my whole body relaxing. I’m asleep before I know it and I don’t wake until the sun is high in the sky.
It blinds me, my mouth is dry and the light is hurting my eyes. Promise’s hand comes to my chest. “You’re awake.”
“Got any water?” It feels like my mouth is stuffed with cotton, my tongue swollen as I try to speak.
“Of course,” she says, before she disappears. She comes back with a bottle in hand, and then slides an arm under my head, bringing the bottle to my lips.
I drink, feeling slightly better, as she slowly lays my head down. She starts to stand, but I grab her hand, threading her fingers through mine.
“Want some coffee? Axel sent up a tray. There are eggs and fruit.”
“I want…” I pull her toward me, despite my body crying in protest. “My woman.”
She gives a small, quiet laugh. “Angel. You have me.”
My head has a dull throbbing ache. My shoulder is worse. But my mind is clear. “You know all those things I said last night?”
“Yes.”
“They’re true. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Promise. Kill. Go to prison. Die.”
“Angel,” she breathes before she bends over me, her lips brushing over mine. “I love you with every breath I take, and all the exhales in between. You are my beating heart. My air. My lungs.”
I run my hand over her blonde hair, looking into the perfect blue of her eyes. “That was beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” she answers and then blushes.
“Come lie with me, love. This is our moment.”
“Our moment?”
“No more questions. No lies. My world is ordered. You. My brothers. Our business. Me.” And then I kiss her. “Not as poetic as what you said but…”
“It was beautiful too,” she whispers before she kisses me again. Then a smile graces her lips. “How soon until I get my wolf back?”
“Just give me a day, baby, and then I’ll eat you so good.”
She laughs. “Now that’s my man.”
I am. Her man. Now. Tomorrow. Always.
YAY!!! The Devils of New York are underway!!!