Page 98 of Petty's Crime

“I’m going to take you straight to bed,” I announce. I can only imagine the pain he’s in. Thorne’s fist to my face had hurt me enough. Petty’s got bruises all over his body.

He snorts and pauses his step. “Bit forward there, babe, aren’t you?”

I’d elbow him in the ribs if he wasn’t injured. “I don’t mean that way.”

His pupils darken. “Babe, if you want your wicked way with me, go right ahead.”

His voice, his suggestion, make my toes curl, and does unspeakable things to my lady parts. Instead of admitting anything, I laugh.

I’ve been attracted to Petty from the moment I met him, physically attracted when I knew he was an ass. Now? It’s hard for me to resist him. If he wasn’t hurting so much, it probably wouldn’t take much persuasion to jump into his bed.

“Want a hand, Petty?” Twister yells, seeing him pause at the bottom of the stairs, eyeing the way up as though he was being asked to summit a mountain.

“I’m okay,” he snarls, and I’m pretty sure any animosity is toward himself, worried about showing weakness in front of his brothers.

“I can give you a fireman’s lift,” Titch calls out. I reckon that’s probably unlikely. The old man looks like he’d be more likely to fall down.

“Yeah, like that would help.” Petty touches his ribs carefully, then leaving his arm there to support him, starts to carefully walk up the stairs.

I hover behind him, though hell knows what I’d do if he were to fall back down. He’d crush me in an instant, but mentally it makes me feel like I’m doing something to help.

He reaches the top step, pausing to breathe heavily, then continues on, avoiding the room I last saw him in, and stopping with his hand on the door to another.

“Shit,” he breathes out. “Fuckin’ forgot.”

“You can go in, Brother.” Twister, who seems to be concerned about him, has followed us up.

With a puzzled look behind, Petty at last opens the door, then almost staggers. I bump into him, having expected him to walk in.

As if reading his mind, Twister explains, “Couple of the boys went to bring your stuff back from the apartment. We kind of guessed you wouldn’t want to go back there again.” He winks down at me. “And if either of you two are wondering, the girls changed the sheets.”

As if he’s in a trance, Petty walks to the closet and opens it, touching some of his clothes he sees hanging there. He pulls open a draw and sees his t-shirts laid out.

When he turns, his eyes are glistening. “Can’t fuckin’ thank you enough.”

Twister shrugs off his gratitude. “We misjudged you, Brother. Can’t do much to apologise for that, but thought bringing you home would help.”

“Sure does,” Petty replies, his voice sounding choked. Then a pained sound comes from his mouth which puts me on my toes, wondering what’s hurting him most. But it seems it’s not physical. He looks down at me, puts his hand on my shoulder, and turns to Twister. “This is me, Brother. You sure you want me in the club? Ain’t going back to the Petty you know and hate any longer.”

I realise just how much it’s taken for him to say that.

Twister, in turn, speaks in a voice that isn’t quite even. “Fuck, Bro. You’re no coward if that’s what you’re thinking. You were a man in love. And hell, it’s not hard to see what lured you in. You and Britney have one thing in common, you’re good fuckin’ actors, you let us see what you want us to. I, for one, am looking forward to getting to know the real man who’s dropped the act. And you’ve already proved you’re no fuckin’ weakling.” He holds out his hand, and when Petty takes it, he adds, “I for one am fuckin’ glad you’re still here.” He looks at Petty carefully, then barks a laugh. “Hey, don’t cry, fucker.”

“Not fuckin’ crying,” Petty snarls back.

Twister laughs again, and then turns away, saying over his shoulder, “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”

Lovebirds?I glare after him. “Is that what they think of us?”

Petty turns me back to face him. “Pretty sure they’re on the right track, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.” His face twists. “Just fuckin’ sorry I can’t do anything about it.” He stares at me for a moment, then shakes his head as he gets onto a safer subject. “I need a fuckin’ shower.”

He eyes his bathroom much in the same way as he regarded the stairs, like it’s a problem to be overcome.

“I’ll help.” The decision’s easy.

“Not sure the first time I want to get naked in front of you is when I’m black and blue.”

“You’ve nothing to prove to me,” I assure him. “Petty, a weak man would have stayed resting in bed, not struggled out with his brothers to rescue me. A weak man wouldn’t have cared.” I swallow hard and my voice cracks as I realise the magnitude of what he’s done, even if he can’t see it. “You came for me.”

---