Page 18 of Raze
I wince as he cleans the wound, the sting sharp enough to pull me back to the present.
Raze stands nearby, arms crossed, his storm-dark eyes never leaving me. His presence is a weight, both comforting andterrifying, like he’s holding me together and tearing me apart all at once.
The needle tugs as Doc stitches me up, quick and precise, and I bite my lip to keep from cursing. But I can’t help letting out a howl ofDaddy!as Doc’s needle dives back in and around to make sure that I’m fully sealed up.
“Superficial mostly, but here… this part…deep,” Doc mutters. “You’re lucky. Few more minutes, you’d be in trouble.”
When he’s done, Doc hands me a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the dim light.
“Drink,” Doc says. “It’ll take the edge off.”
I take a sip, grimacing at the burn, like swallowing fire. I hate the taste, always have, but it dulls the pain in my arm, so I force another gulp.
Raze is still watching, his jaw tight, and I wonder what he’s thinking—whether he’s pissed at me for getting hurt, for letting the Broker slip, or for something else entirely.
The Daddy vibe he’s got going, the way he calls meboy, is messing with my head, and I’m not sure if I want to run from it or lean into it. Al I know is that right now I just want to be in his arms, protected from the world.
The door swings open, and Dylan, Keegan, and Caleb file in, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. Dylan’s got that mischievous grin, Keegan’s smile flashes as he he leans against the wall, and Caleb jokes to soften the harsh vibe. They’re the Wolf Rider boys from earlier, the ones who welcomed me like I wasn’t a total outsider.
“You look like shit, Nico,” Dylan says, plopping onto a chair beside the cot. “But you’re alive, so that’s something.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, managing a weak grin.
My arm’s bandaged now, the whiskey loosening the tension in my shoulders. I glance at the bar through the open door, where Raze has joined Clay and Jase.
They’re talking low, heads close, and I can feel the weight of their words from here. Raze’s broad shoulders are hunched, his hands gesturing sharply, and I know it’s about me—about the Broker, the fight, the mess I’ve dragged him into.
My stomach twists.
What if this costs him his place as enforcer? The Wolf Riders are his family, his life, and I’ve put that at risk. The thought makes the whiskey taste even worse.
“You okay?” Caleb asks, his voice gentle, pulling me back. He’s sitting cross-legged on the floor, his curls falling into his eyes. “Jase says Raze is in deep shit for letting the Broker get away.”
My heart sinks.
“Yeah, I figured,” I say, my voice low. “I fucked up. He should’ve gone after the Broker, not…”
I trail off, gesturing at my bandaged arm. Not saved me. Not chosen me. The words stick in my throat, heavy with guilt.
Keegan shakes his head.
“Don’t beat yourself up, man,” Keegan says. “Raze made his call. He’s tough, but he’s got a soft spot for boys. You’re not the first to shake him up.”
“Hisboys?” I scoff, but it comes out weak. “Who does he think he is? I’m not his anything. I’m just the idiot who got caught with your shit.”
But even as I say it, I’m thinking of the kiss outside the bar, the way his lips crashed into mine, raw and electric. It was real, and it’s got me all kinds of fucked up.
I’ve spent my life running—from foster homes, from cops, from anyone who got too close—but Raze is different. I can’t outrun Raze, and I don’t want to either.
Dylan leans forward, his grin softening.
“Look, Nico, the club’s tight,” Dylan says. “Clay and Jase will give Raze hell, but they won’t cut him loose. He’s their best enforcer. And you? You’re not just some punk to him. We see it. The way he looks at you? That’s not just business.”
I want to believe them, but doubt gnaws at me.
I’ve never been anyone’s priority, not in foster care, not on the streets. Why would Raze risk his reputation for me?
I glance at the bar again, where Raze’s still deep in conversation, his face hard, his eyes flicking toward me for a split second.
