Page 48 of Pedal to the Metal

I reach out and wrap an arm around her shoulder. “It’ll be okay Kynlee.”

“What if it’s not?” I hear her mumble through her tears.

I try to lighten the mood with a small laugh, “He’s a James, we don’t go down without a fight.”

She looks up at me. “I know Ace is difficult and not the nicest guy but who would want to do something like this? I mean how do you just jump someone, stab them then leave them for dead? It’s crazy!”

“It is. I’m sorry Kynlee.”

“Why are you telling me you’re sorry? You didn’t do this and he’s your brother, I should be telling you I’m sorry. I’m just so mad at myself right now," she says fiercely.

“Why are you mad?” I ask her.

She shakes her head and I notice her eyes fill with tears again. You’d think as humans we’d eventually run out of tears, but I know firsthand that never happens. “Because he was only at Red Hott because I wanted to get a job there which caused a fight between us. I stormed out and I think he assumed I went there. None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for me.”

“Kynlee you’re allowed to have a job if you want. Ace needs to chill with his protectiveness. I love him but it’s true. Besides how bad could the job be?”

“It’s a cocktail waitress but he thinks the uniform is too short and I don’t even get it! I mean he makes it clear all the time that we’re just friends or just sex so why is he so protective of me? It’s not like he really cares.”

I shake my head, “That’s not true. He may not show it, but I know that my brother loves you. He may never say it because he’s actually terrified of getting hurt, but he does love you, that’s why he’s protective.”

A small smile flashes across her face then she scans the room. “Where’s Londynn?”

“She went home," I reply.

I watch as the confused look on Kynlee’s face changes to knowledge. “Londynn loves you; you know?”

I shake my head at her then rest my head against the wall staring at the ceiling. I know she loves me but that’s why I have to let her go. Ace is right, we’re doomed.

Chapter 27

Jagger

At some point while waiting for news on Ace we had fallen asleep all over the waiting room. In the middle of the night the doctor came out an announced the surgery had been successful and he was now in recovery. He warned us that Ace would be kept in ICU for observation over the next few days and might even require another blood transfusion, but he was optimistic he would make a full recovery.

Axell turns to face our circle of family. “Okay Sadie and I want to stay here. Bowie, will you take Jovi home and make sure he gets to school. Jagger, can you go into the shop this morning and make sure everything is on schedule?”

“Yeah, but I need a ride. Londynn had to leave, and she drove me over here," I tell them.

Bowie squeezes my shoulder, “I gotcha.”

Axell turns to face Kynlee who is standing next to Sadie. “Are you staying?” She nods, and Sadie wraps an arm around her shoulder.

“Okay, let’s go," Bowie says. “See you guys around lunch," he tells Axell, Sadie and Kynlee as we turn to leave.

As we make our way down the hallways to the parking lot Jovi asks, “Where’s Londynn? I figured she’d be with you.”

I sigh, “We kind of had some words. Well, no actually, I kind of took my stress out on her and I told her to leave because she wasn’t family.”

“Damn Jagger! What the hell were you thinking?” Bowie whispers fiercely at me.

I shake my head in disappointment at myself.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now she left.”

As we walk through the last set of doors, I hear Bowie let out a low whistle and Jovi asks, “What if she didn’t?”

“What?” I ask him and turn around to face the sterile looking waiting room. In the corner of the empty waiting room, I see Londynn curled up in one of the hard-plastic chairs, asleep. I run a hand over my face. “I’m such an ass. Y’all go on ahead. I need to talk to Londynn.”

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