Page 63 of Property of Bones

I look away, hoping Jack didn’t see.

He saw.

“Sunny,” he says, voice low, tight, almost gentle… and somehow scarier because of it.

“I’m fine,” I lie.

“Bullshit.”

He crosses the room before I can blink and crouches in front of me.

“You winced, baby. You’re in pain. That’s not fine.”

I try to hold his stare. I really do. But his eyes… they hold something too intense. Like I’m the only thing anchoring him to this world, and if I fall, he shatters with me.

I look away.

“I just want to feel normal again,” I mumble. “Being here makes me feel safe, but… I don’t want to lose who I am. I’m an independent woman, Jack. I’ve always taken care of myself. And right now… I just feeluseless.”

There’s a beat of silence so thick it presses on my chest harder than the bruises.

Jack exhales slowly. “You think being protected makes you weak?”

“No,” I whisper. “But it makes me feel… fragile. And I’ve fought so hard not to be that girl. I have to be strong enough to take care of myself and Mama. Feeling fragile just won’t work.”

He gently lifts my chin until I’m forced to meet his gaze again.

“You’re not fragile,” he says, voice rough with emotion. “You’rehurt.There’s a difference.”

My eyes sting.

“You were drugged, Sunny. Almost killed by someone who didn’t give a damn who they hurt. And you still walked away. Even with broken ribs, you’re still standing. Still fighting. That’s not weakness. That’s strength.”

“Maybe,” I admit. “But, I really don’t like sitting still.”

He nods, the faintest twitch of his lips betraying his understanding. “I know. But sometimes sitting still is the bravest thing you can do.”

Before I can respond, Marv’s voice floats in.

“Why don’t you go lie down on the couch for a bit, Sunny-girl?” he says gently. “Give Jack and me a minute.”

I glance between them, reluctant. “You’re not gonna talk about me like I’m not in the room, are you?”

“Yes,” Jack says with zero shame.

I roll my eyes and mutter something about “ungrateful biker men and their jerk fathers who may or may not be the boss of me…literally” as I shuffle back to the couch.

***Bones***

As soon as Sunny’s out of earshot, Marv steps closer.

“You’re losing your damn mind over her, son.”

I don’t even try to deny it. Just scrub a hand over my jaw and stare toward the living room like I can still see her through the wall. Like her voice left an imprint in the air and I’m chasing the echo of it.

“She thinks she’s a burden,” I mutter. “Thinks needing help makes her less.”

Marv exhales through his nose. “She’s used to being on her own. Being the one doing the protecting for her and her mama. And that woman works her ass off. I should know. I’ve taken over her jobs while she’s out and I’m fucking exhausted. Sitting around doing nothing is probably driving her crazy.”

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