Page 94 of Spike

“Trixie!” I heardSpike bellow. “Get out of my way, Gemma. Trixie!”

“Time for his cometo Jesus meeting.” Cricket smiled, rising to her feet. “I’ll send him in,okay?”

I nodded, wipingmy tears.

Spike rushed intothe office a few seconds later, his face a lot less bloody than when I’d lefthim, but still very swollen and bruised, despite being bandaged.

“Baby.” He kneltin front of me and dropped his cheek to my thighs. “Fuck, please don’t leaveme.”

“What?”

“Don’t leave me.”

“Honey, I’m notgoing to leave you.”

He raised hishead. “You’re not?”

“No way.” Ifrowned. “Why would you think I’d leave you?”

“Because everyoneleaves me.” He sighed. “And you were so mad.”

“Yes, I was angrybecause I was worried, and I obviously didn’t have all the information. Cricketfilled me in and now I’m even more in love with you, but a little moreirritated with you, because you should have told me, but I also understand whyyou didn’t tell me which irks me to no end.”

“Huh?”

“You should neverhave gone to that fight. My father should have been the one in the ring withthat Mangler guy.Heshould have been the one getting his brains beatout by him. Not you.” I slid my hands into Spike’s hair. “I can’t believe youwent to those lengths to protect him… and me. It’s, well, beyond everything,honey.”

“Haven’t youfigured out I would do anything for you?”

“I thought I had,”I admitted. “Now I know it’s even more.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”I went to squeeze his hand, and he hissed in pain. “Are you bruised?”

“Pretty surethey’re broken.”

“Oh my word, whyare you not at the hospital?”

“Ah, because mywoman rushed out in a snit, sobbing her eyes out, and that took priority.”

“I was not in asnit,” I hissed, pushing up from my seat. “I was upset because mymandidn’t have the decency to tell me everything. Something that I hope he willthink twice about in the future. Come on, let’s get you to the emergency room.”

He stood and shookhis head. “No.”

“No? What do youmean, no?”

“Eldie will fix meup.”

“Who the heck isEldie?”

“Gina.” He smiled.“Her nickname’s L.D. for lady doctor. She’s got a clinic close to the club. Shetakes care of all of us.”

“I have somisjudged all of you, haven’t I?”

“Have you?” hechallenged.

“Well, no, notpersonally, but people outside of the church in general, I think.”

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