Page 76 of Lockout

“Don’t ever fucking do that again.”

I glanced over and into Smokehouse’s tortured gaze.

“Next time just leave me there,” he continued, shaking his head. “I’ve decided I can’t be the reason you die. So next time just leave me there,” he repeated.

I understood what he meant, which was why I pushed him off that fucking plate in the first place. Reaching out, I grabbed his shoulder and squeezed in acknowledgment.

My leg was jostled as Priest, Rip, Toxic, Hell, and Ricochet all started arguing about whether to take me to the hospital or to Crash’s place. I looked down in time for blinding pain to nearly send me back into unconsciousness.

I wasn’t exactly proud of the howl of agony that I produced, but fucking Butcher had just yanked the rebar out of my leg. He was standing there, holding it like it was a fucking prize. He looked as proud as Jecht had, carrying his damn toy around after he found me. “Dammit!” I hissed, struggling not to pass out. “You fuckingasshole.”

There was no chance. The world was starting to fucking spin. Idaho caught me and laid me back in the truck. At least I wasn’tgoing to add a fucking brain injury to my list because I fell out of the back of the truck.

Keely’s worried face was the last thing I saw.

“...wrong with you?”

I wasn’t sure who’s voice that was. Wasn’t one of my guys.

“Don’t you know not to take shit out? That’s how a motherfucker bleeds to death.”

“Did he bleed to death?” Butcher asked, sounding bored.

“No, because I cauterized the wound and have been pumping him full of blood and other fluids. But he could’ve.”

“But he didn’t.”

I opened my eyes to see that it was Pyre who was scolding Butcher like he was a kid who’d done something wrong. Closing them again, I sighed. At least I didn’t have to be the one yelling at him this time. “Feeldead,” I muttered. My voice was hoarse and I sounded almost as shitty as I felt.

“Lock.” I’d recognize that voice anywhere.

“Hi, Baby Girl,” I said, running a hand over Keely’s hair. I didn’t open my eyes again because it was just too much fucking effort.

Her lips brushed over mine.

Grunting, I smiled. “Gonna have to get blown up more often if that’s my reward.”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” she said with a little laugh.

“You do that again it’s going to be me kissing you awake,” Toxic told me.

Everyone chuckled at that. I frowned when my eyes still didn’t want to open. “Why do I feel so goddamn weird?”

“I gave you pain meds,” Pyre told me. “Would’ve been agonizing otherwise. You should sleep.”

Pyre had been a Navy Hospital Corpsman, and was one of the best medics there was. That was why Cypher had brought him onto his security team, and into his MC. Well, that and because the man fit in with that group like a missing link.

Pyre had served in a Marine unit as their medical specialist for years before his enlistment ended. I was in good hands. And I was floating. I kept my mouth shut before I said anything embarrassing that my brothers would never let me live down.

“Come sleep with me, Cables,” I said, finally managing to pry my eyes open so I could look at my gorgeous old lady.

“No way. I could end up hurting you.”

“He’s fine,” Pyre said. “Just out of it from the meds. Just lay on his other side.”

My grin was smug as she grumbled, then went around the bed and climbed in. “Good. Now the rest of you get out. Doctor’s orders.”

“That wasn’t what I ordered,” Pyre said with a chuckle.

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