Page 117 of The Good Girl

“Nobody could have predicted this. This isn’t the work of a man going off the rails, Nevaeh. This is the work of a madman.”

I sigh and look down at my hands. Hands that stroked Dice as he lay bleeding out on the floor. Hands that just hours before signed an autograph for a girl who might never wake up. I don’t try to stop my tears. I let them run down my face and drip from my chin.

Capone curses before he takes my coffee and wraps his free arm around me. I bury my head against his chest and sob until I’m picked up, and I find myself surrounded by Havoc’s scent. It calms me a little, making me feel safer.

“I’ve got you, baby. Let it all out.”

And so I do. Because if I don’t get it out, it will rip me to pieces.

I must doze off because when I come too, I hear Amity’s voice. I lift my head and find her and G sitting beside me where I’m curled up on Havoc’s lap.

“They hurt Dice,” I tell her softly.

“I know.” She tucks my hair behind my ear, her eyes puffy from crying. Neither of us says anything after that. What’s there to say?

And so we sit, waiting in limbo, preparing for bad news while praying for a miracle. The waiting room fills up around us as people come to wait for news and offer their silent support.

Finally, after what feels like days, a voice clears behind us. “Family of Dalton Jones?”

Havoc gets to his feet before gently easing me to mine. He takes my hand, this time drawing strength from me.

“He’s an orphan. He grew up in the system. We’re the only family he’s got.”

This makes more tears fall, but I keep quiet.

The doctor looks at me before sighing. “Mr. Jones was incredibly lucky. The bullet clipped his liver and caused someinternal bleeding, which we managed to get under control. He lost a lot of blood, but miraculously, the bullet missed his bowel, which is what I was initially worried about. It’s early, but barring an infection, if he makes it through the next forty-eight hours, then I expect him to make a full recovery.”

My legs buckle with relief. Havoc catches me before I fall, holding me tightly to him.

“Thanks, doc.”

“There was a girl. She was shot in the leg. Havoc was the one who helped her.”

“You put on the tourniquet on her?”

Havoc nods.

“You saved her life. I can’t tell you anything else, but she’s alive, and that’s thanks to you.”

My breath rushes out of me in relief.

“Go home and get some rest. Mr. Jones won’t be up for any visitors for a while yet. I will make sure someone calls you if anything changes.”

“Thanks again,” Havoc tells him before he walks away. “Thank fuck.”

Happy laughs and tears now replace the earlier sadness. There is still worry, naturally, but for now, we’ve been given a reprieve.

“Midas, Circus, I want you two to stay and keep an eye on things.”

“You got it, Pres,” Circus answers.

“Amity, you come on G’s bike?”

“Yeah.”

“You up for driving the truck Dice drove here home? I know it’s a beast, but if you can handle the RV?—”

“No, I’ve got it. Is it at the hotel still?”

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