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“Too bad. You can’t tell me that it’s not working.”

“If you call walking around for the rest of the day like a newborn calf, then sure, it’s working.”

“Sean,” Chelsea says, walking into the gym. She puts her hands on her hips and looks down at me lying on the floor. “For once, can you do this without giving her trouble?”

Mia laughs. “He’s fine. Men are notoriously bigger babies during this.”

“You’re telling me. The amount of bitching I’ve heard is astronomical.”

“I’m sorry you have to go through that.”

I raise my hand. “I am right here.”

“Sorry, Sean,” Chelsea says sweetly. “I couldn’t hear you over your bitching.”

No matter how much I complain, it really is helping. The tingles aren’t as bad, and I don’t have as many episodes of losing feeling in my legs. Not that I’m going to admit that out loud with these two ganging up on me. They became friends after the first day when Mia walked in like she owned the place and didn’t take any of my excuses. And when Chelsea realized that I only had eyes for her, that no other woman mattered in this world to me.

Mia checks her watch. “Alright, time’s up.” I let my legs drop and fling my arms out to the side. “Get up.” This is the real test. Extensive use of my legs like that usually makes it hard for me to stand.

I count to ten, pray to whoever the hell listens to me, and roll to my feet. No tingles, no tremors, and no weakness. “Holy shit.”

Mia gives me a smug look. “Told you it was working.”

“Whatever.” I wave her away. “You can’t tell me this isn’t really some sort of torture technique.”

“Is he always this dramatic?” Mia asks Chelsea.

“Usually worse.”

“I think it’s time for you to get out of my house,” I say and point to the door.

Mia laughs, not at all offended. “I have another client anyway. I’ll see you Monday.” She gathers her stuff, gives Chelsea a little wave, and leaves the gym.

I grab Chelsea and pull her against my chest. She smiles up at me, and I seal my lips over hers. I deepen the kiss, savoring her lips against mine. When my hands start roaming, she pulls away, just like she always does.

“I’m sorry.”

“Quit apologizing, Gorgeous.” I peck her lips, grab her hand, and lead her out of the gym.

I can’t say that it doesn’t bother me. Not that she pulls away, it’s why she pulls away. It took her a few days, but she finally sat us all down and told us what the asshole did and said to her. All hell fucking broke loose, and that’s when we found out that Nolan already knew. He basically told us to sit down and shut up, that we needed to listen to her. She’s slowly working through it all, and I’ll let her take all the time she needs.

Kai is also working on his own shit. He can kiss her, but only their lips can touch. We figured out that he won’t punch her, so she’s been slowly pulling him out of his own head. But if she touches him anywhere else, even just a brush of her fingers, you can see him physically recoil. Dex brought Doc down to insert the trackers, and that talk seemed to help the most in pushing him to try.

I pull the stool out for Chelsea at the kitchen island and slide onto the one beside her when my phone rings.

Ghost’s name flashes across the screen, so I slide to answer. “What’s up, man?” He usually calls every day to give me an update on Gavin and to make sure I’m doing my physical therapy.

“He’s awake.”

I stand up and flip it to speakerphone so everyone else can hear. “What did you say?”

“Gavin. He’s awake. He woke up late last night, and they pulled the tube a couple of hours ago. He’s breathing on his own, man.” I can hear the emotion in Ghost’s voice and start to get choked up myself. I look at Chelsea, and she has tears pouring down her cheeks. I hug her to my chest and get myself under control.

“That’s amazing news, brother. What are the doctors saying?”

“He has a long road ahead of him, but he’ll most likely make a full recovery. They said that Cole and Zane’s quick actions saved his life. Also, I swear I saw Ari yesterday, care to explain what that’s about?”

I exchange a quick glance with Axel, and he shrugs. “Axel wasn’t sure if Charlie would double back and try to finish the job, so we sent extra security.”As in his whole team.Ghost doesn’t need to know that, though. After they torched Judge Stinson’s house, they went straight there under Axel’s orders to stay out of sight. “We just wanted to cover all bases.”