Page 59 of Broken
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Izzy
My eyes open to find Max sleeping beside me.
I hear a throat clear from the doorway and look up to see Twisted. He stares at Max. “Damn boy doesn’t listen. I told him you were up but needed to rest.” He walks over, sitting next to me. “You okay? You need anything?”
I decide to try my voice again. “B-be-better.” I wince from soreness in my throat.
“Here.” He hands me a bottle of cold water.
I take it and it feels amazing as the cold liquid cools and coats my dry throat.
“Better?”
“Yes.” My voices is still quiet and raspy, but at least I can use it.
“This what you want?” He nods toward Max.
I nod.
His head shakes. “I just found you and the fact that he is already takin’ you away makes me want to send his ass on a month-long run.” My eyes widen. “Don’t worry, I’m not. He isn’t in any shape to ride anyway. You gotta promise me, though. If he pisses you off, if it isn’t what you want anymore, that you don’t run from here.”
“I won’t.” I smile at him as I take in the fact that he wants me to be around.
“Jessie and Lizzie are gonna be here tomorrow. I had to convince them to wait till then. They were pissed I didn’t tell them about you sooner.”
I’m going to meet the rest of my family tomorrow.
I move away from Max a bit and pull my brother into a hug.
This is what I dreamed of every time I was moved to a new home. Every night I slept on the street or some dirty hotel. I wanted a family.
Max jumps beside me and reaches out for me. Once he sees Twisted next to the bed, he settles back down.
“Don’t worry, Lady, she’s still here.” He winks at Max. “Neither of you is cleared to be out of bed until tomorrow. At least listen to that. It came from Doc, not me.” He gives us a nod before walking out of the room.
“I think there could be worse things than being in bed with you until tomorrow.” Max pulls me against him. “I was so fucking worried about you.” He nuzzles into my neck.
I flinch, the gesture causing pain.
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I was scared for you. I didn’t know if you were okay. The last time I had seen you, you were…” My voice trails off, thinking of him on the floor, blood surrounding his body.
“I’m okay, and so are you.” He places a kiss on my neck. His hand passes over the bandage. “I’m so sorry this happened to you. If I could kill those fuckers all over again, I would. When I opened that trunk and saw you I swear my heart stopped. I thought for a minute that I lost you. We will find Hades and once we do you can finally rest easy.”
My hands fist in his shirt. “I didn’t think I was going to make it. I tried to keep calm and conserve the little air I had. It was so hot and as much as I tried to hold on I could feel myself slipping away.”
“Doc said he didn’t think so, but I have to ask. It drove me crazy the whole time. Did they…” His breath hitches. “Did they touch you?”
I shake my head. “Hades told them that wasn’t what I was there for. Beast tried to…he wanted to keep me, he said. He wanted a pet.” Max stiffens. “Hades said that I needed to die, that I didn’t even deserve to be a whore anymore.”
“At least that motherfucker was right about something. You don’t deserve to be that anymore. Tomorrow I’m going to claim you. You’ll be my old lady and you’ll be respected, loved, and safe.” His head bends and he kisses me.
I pull him closer. I need him right now. As crazy as it is he’s the only thing that I feel like will heal me.
“Babe, we can’t. As much as it kills me neither of us is in any condition to be rollin’ around in this bed together. I think Doc was serious about letting Cutter stitch me up next time.”
