Page 32 of Nitro

Tommy's voice cut through the quiet, "How are his odds?"

"Not good," I replied, letting the weight of the situation sink in.

I went on to tell him about the first time Spike faced Venom. Images of Spike’s last brawl with Venom came back to me.

I overheard Mayhem, our VP, mention to Arrow that Venom had taken it easy on Spike. Taken it easy?

Spike had been bed bound for four weeks and he was a terrible and easily irritable patient.

I stuck by his side the entire time and now, Spike wanted me to go through that all over again?

Of course part of me was mad at him for choosing to go down this route again.

Venom let him off the hook then, but Spike was almost asking to be hurt?

"Venom didn't kill him after?" Tommy asked. "Hicks... Hicks was in charge of his pack, and there were some challengers. He always ended the challengers afterward."

Tommy seldom mentioned Hicks during our conversations.

It was reassuring to see him comfortable enough to open up about his past.

"You know what the Grizzly Reapers MC is, right? Venom takes in grizzly shifters who are ex-criminals, exiles, and basically rejects from other groups. For most of us, the MC is a last-chance place,” I said.

"What do you mean by that?" Tommy asked, his curiosity evident.

"It's a second chance for us to find a place to belong. Venom spared Spike's life once, but you're right. I'm not sure if he'll do it again," I muttered.

The thought of what might happen to Spike after the challenge circle weighed on me.

"Nitro, you should go to him right now," Tommy suggested.

I firmly shook my head.

"I made you a promise, and I keep my promises. Besides, Spike's a grown-ass man, and he's stubborn as hell. He won't budge."

There was a conflict brewing inside me, should I take Tommy’s advice and knock some sense into Spike, or should I stay here with him?

I eventually decided to stick around, because I knew I’d be wasting my time with Spike.

"No, I'm staying here," I said.

I didn't miss Tommy's look of relief. We watched some news, but Tommy eventually turned in.

I tucked him in, debated slipping in bed next to him, but that might discourage sleep.

"Nitro?" Tommy called, sounding half-awake.

His eyelids started to droop. He looked so tempting, I leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Once I fall asleep, I'll be fine. Go see Spike," he murmured. "Promise me?"

"Sure," I said, although I was pretty certain I had no intention of leaving.

I left Tommy's bedside and settled for the night on the living room sofa. This time, it was me who couldn't sleep.

I could hear Tommy's soft snores from here. I looked at my cell phone again.

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