Page 128 of Manny

“I’m staying,” Lace says.

“Me, too,” Bandit counters.

“You too,” Cash mutters. “Fuck’s sake.”

“Please,” Lace begs. “He’s gonna go to sleep again soon and he’ll wake up and won’t know where he is.”

“You gonna climb in here with me?” I joke.

Riot groans again. “Can we just hold off on the sexual references, please?”

I blink, and behind him, I see all of the Rebels. They’re here, every single one of them. “You all came here to see little old me?”

“Not like we’re gonna leave you to fend for yourself,” Tag grunts.

“Plus, we need you to recover and heal so you can get back to what you do best,” Ryder adds.

“What’s that, shaking my ass?” I muse.

“Ugh, I can see a bullet has done nothing for his sense of humor,” Rock groans.

“Dad?” Stella’s voice rings through the room. “Please, can I see him?”

“You kept all my honey’s out?” I groan. “So not fair.”

“Hey,” Lace’s tone fakes annoyance. “I thought I was your only honey?”

I smile up at her. “You are, but I gotta keep the girls on my side for when the boys need remindin’ of their place sometimes.”

“Is that right?” Cash cocks a brow.

I grin. “Yep. Gotta get all the sympathy I can muster.”

“I’m so sorry,” Lace starts again, but Stella pushing her way through the room has everyone turning.

“Manny, oh God, you’re awake!” Bandit moves so she can slide onto the bed next to me. “You look like shit.”

I chuckle, causing another pain to my chest, and she winces. “You gonna help Priest and Bella out by feeding everyone while I’m recuperating?”

She presses a palm to my face. “Of course. I can’t say it’ll be edible, but still.”

“Eggs on toast ain’t that hard,” Bandit snickers.

I move my eyes to his. He looks wretched, like he hasn’t slept in days. “You serve that in my kitchen and I’ll spank both your asses when I’m out.”

Stella laughs.

“I’m out,” Riot says, shaking his head as he walks away.

Lace leans down to kiss me. “You need to rest, okay?”

“Don’t go.” I panic. “I saw my maw-maw, while I was over there.”

“Over where?” Stella whispers. “The other side?”

“Yeah, it was weird, but really cool. She told me what I was doin’ wrong with the caramel.”

I sound earnest enough, but I hear a few snickers around the room. “Laugh all you want, but I’ll remember that when the time comes to taste test.”

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