Page 37 of Deadly Little Hearts

The nurse injects the last of my medicine before Kai signs off the discharge papers.Zion pushes in a wheelchair, and I scoff.

“There’s no way I’m going in that,” I say, kicking my legs over the bed.

“Who said you have a choice?”Zion comes to a stop in front of the bed and takes my outstretched hand.I slide my feet into my sneakers, and Zion leans down, tying them up.

“Here’s your phone.It’s been vibrating like crazy,” the nurse says, handing it to me, and I thank her.

There are a million missed calls from Amirah.Fuck.I hit dial on her name, and she answers after the first ring.

“Holy shit, are you okay?Where are you?Fuck.None of the guys are giving me much.”She speaks so quickly it takes me a moment to process everything.I’m not sure if it’s the painkillers or her.

“I’m fine.I’m getting discharged now from the hospital,” I say, standing.My head becomes light and my legs wobble.Zion grabs my waist and lowers me into the wheelchair.I throw him a dirty look, but he ignores me, pushing me out of the room.

“I’m coming to get you,” she says, then yells something to someone and curses.

“Amirah, I’m fine.Kai is here.”

She huffs.“Fine, but I’m coming to see you.Text me where you go, and I’m there.”She hangs up before I can tell her no.

The painkiller kicks in, and my eyes start to droop.I try to keep them open, but darkness takes over.

Voices echo around me.My head throbs as though someone is banging something against my skull over and over.I peel my eyes open to the sight of a familiar dark room, the only light seeping in from under the door.Kai’s bedroom.The door swings open, banging against the wall before slamming shut again.

Amirah storms in, her gaze wide as she takes in every part of me.There’s an angry scowl twisting her mouth before her eyes glaze over.She rushes toward me and jumps onto Kai’s bed.

I groan, sitting up.She takes my hand in hers, looking over the bandages.“Oh my God, this doesn’t look good.”She breathes out through her nose.

“Looks worse than it feels,” I say, then laugh.The painkillers have worn off, and the burns sting, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.I’ve been through worse than this.

“This is crazy.I can’t believe—” Her words stop as Kai’s door flies open, and he walks in with his jaw tight.A shirt no longer hides his chest covered in tattoos, and his muscles flex with each step.

“I don’t appreciate your friend breaking down my damn door.She’s a psycho,” Kai growls out.“How’d you even know where I live, anyway?”he asks Amirah.

“Is it a state secret?Are you upset?”She pouts and bats her eyelashes, mocking him, and I giggle.

“You don’t want to see me upset,” he mumbles, but I’m sure there’s a hint of a smile in his tone.

“Freya’s mom told me when I came looking for her.Don’t worry—I told your mom you’re okay and that you’ll be home soon,” Amirah says, addressing me.

“She’s got ten minutes, then she’s gone.Got it?”Kai says, and I nod, mouthingthank you.

He leaves and Amirah stares blankly at the door for several seconds.“I have no idea why he’s your best friend.He’s a pig,” she says, then snorts like a pig.

“I saw the way you were checking him out.You’ve never shown such interest in swine before,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes.

“I didn’t tell your mom you were hurt—just that you were at Kai’s place.Didn’t want to worry her,” Amirah says.

“Thanks.Have you seen the guys?”I ask, and Amirah purses her lips together.

“Yeah, at the hall—they’re on major cleanup.Babe, this is huge and whatever comes from this, fuck.I just hope we all get through it together,” Amirah says, joining me back on the bed.She doesn’t relax, her back straight, and she looks from me to the door several times.Does Amirah think Kai was responsible?

“Yeah, I need to talk to Kai and ask if he knows anything.He wouldn’t have done this.He wouldn’t put that many people at risk.That’s not Kai’s style.”I release a heavy sigh.

Kai wouldn’t kill people from his side of the tracks—that’s just not his MO.And why would the guys, when they were the ones who set it up in the first place?There’s no way they were behind it.I won’t believe that for a second.This is someone else, and I’ll get to the bottom of it, hopefully before an all-out war breaks out.

“Same as the guys—they wouldn’t do that.Not after they’d finally accepted my plan to try and lower the divide between us,” I say.

Amirah raises her eyebrows.“Equity between hood and ville—but still not men and women.”

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