Page 154 of Nest of Thieves
“You can’t go killing people on your own.”
Mac snorts. “Pot, meet kettle.”
Solid point. I’m being a hypocrite.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I finally mumble, feeling silly.
Lark perches on the edge of the bed next to me, leaning in to brush his nose against mine. “I knew you cared.”
“Fuck—” Lark’s mouth smothers the rest of my insult, and I melt into the bed, content to let him shut me up and remind me exactly why I care so much.
I love these possessive assholes.
forty
TWO WEEKS LATER
JO
“Good. Three more.”
“No,” I tell the physical therapist even as I do another slow rotation of my arm.
“You keep saying that,” Lauren whispers with a slight smile gracing her pretty face. Her long, tight curls are red today. Last week, they were blonde, but I think the red suits her. I’d never be able to pull off that color.
“Because I don’t want to do it.” We’re in the gym and, thankfully, the guys have kept their promise to give me space during the sessions. Ever since I got hurt, they’ve been a little clingy. Not that I’m complaining. I love the snuggles and extra kisses.
“Too bad. I’m in charge here. Do as you’re told.” Her brown eyes flare with a challenge. Honestly, I’m a little terrified of the omega, but she’s been nothing but good to me since she was assigned to help me recover.
Doc said I was lucky. The bullet barely missed an artery and went clean through. So, really, the physical therapy isn’t that bad. It’s annoying how much something as simple as mobility exercises can make sweat break out across my brow, but here we are. I do two more slow rotations.
“Such a good girl!” Lauren winks at me and holds out a stress ball. “Twenty-five.”
I narrow my eyes and snatch the ball. “Praising me just to hurt me again.”
“Oh, honey. Praise and pain go together.”
Laughing, I start squeezing. “Is that what your mates say?”
“A lady never tells her secrets, Jo. Besides, I don’t have mates.”
“Please. You’re not a lady.” I dutifully ignore the last part of what she said. It would be rude to ask why she doesn’t have mates at twenty-five. Not everyone wants a mate, let alone more than one.
Maybe she’s waiting for the right pack. I know all about that.
Her mouth drops open. “That’s rude as fuck.”
I squeeze. “Case in point. Ladies don’t curse.”
“This one does.” She has me do a few more exercises before packing up her small bag of supplies. We’ve only done a few things with light weights, but depending on how I do six weeks from now, I might be able to start doing some shoulder presses or curls.
I had always assumed getting shot in the shoulder wasn’t that bad, but apparently there are a lot of nerves. While my injury wasn’t awful, given all the horrible possibilities, I’ll still need time. I may even need surgery, but Lauren is convinced it won’t come to that, and I’m hoping she’s right.
“I’m going to leave you with some things. Do the exercises like I showed you three times a day. No slacking.” She squints at me.
“Are you insinuating that I’ve been lax?”
“No, but I know how patients get. Once they start seeing progress, they slow down. It’s really important you stick to the schedule, okay?”
