Page 64 of Broken

She turned to see Rosalie had come out of the mainclubhouse and was already rushing toward her. Petal stopped talking to Dirtyand instead took off. She had made her friend wait long enough, and they prettymuch crashed against each other, holding on tightly.

“Are you okay?” Rosalie asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m all good.”

Rosalie pulled away. “Someone hit you. You’ve gota bruise forming. Have you seen it?”

Petal touched her cheek and winced. “Yeah, I’veseen it, but it is kind of cool, don’t you think? It’s going to make me looklike a badass?” She winked at her friend.

Rosalie laughed. “Don’t ever scare me like thatagain. When you tell me to leave, you have to follow, it’s as simple as that.Leaving you behind wasn’t funny.”

“I know, and I’m sorry, but I needed you to get tosafety.” Petal hugged her friend tightly. “I don’t plan on being in any morekidnapping situations. Also, I think it is time I bought a gun and learned howto use it.”

Petal pursed her lips.

“I’ll teach you,” Dirty said, coming close tothem.

“What?” Rosalie asked.

“If you want to learn how to fire a weapon, I’llget you a gun. It won’t happen again.”

Petal sighed. “That would be so cool if I had agun and they opened up the side of that truck, and I was, like, boom, andyou’re dead.”

Rosalie laughed. “Come on, food is alreadywaiting.”

“Food? I thought Kim cooked,” Petal said.

She couldn’t help but glance over at Dirty. Backat her home, she had lost control. She couldn’t believe she had hit him, buthis words had hurt just a little. Telling her he loved her, after everythingthey had been through, seemed a little … cruel to her.

Looking away, she followed Rosalie inside to wherethe club were sitting, eating and enjoying pizza. There was a large pile ofpizzas, and Rosalie reached between the men, grabbed a plate, and stole acouple of slices.

Petal took a bite of that slice to find it tastedso damn good. She didn’t even realize how hungry she was. Within a few bitesshe’d finished one pizza and reached for a second.

“Is it true?” Rosalie asked.

They found Colt, and Rosalie slid against him.Colt stopped eating to put his arm around Rosalie and kiss her cheek. The twohad certainly become a happy couple. Petal was so happy for the two of them.

“Is what true?”

“You tried to convince them that you and Wardenwere … dating?”

“I tried to convince them that Warden and I werehaving sex.” She wrinkled her nose. “They had a gun pointed at Kim. They weregoing to kill her, and I gave us more time.” She looked toward Kim but didn’tsee her. “I didn’t upset your mom, did I?”

Colt laughed.

“Not at all. My parents are like this. After whathappened, they need some time alone.”

Petal nodded. “Your mom is amazing, I mean, shedidn’t break, not once. She was so strong, so powerful. Even when he put thegun to her head, she didn’t flinch.”

“My mom has always been a tough cookie. Dad alwayssaid it was her strength he fell for, and of course her beauty.”

“I think I fell in love with her a little today.”

“How are you doing?” Rosalie asked, reachingacross the table and taking her hand. “You were willing to sacrifice your lifefor Kim. That’s not funny.”

“It’s scary,” Petal said. “But Kim is needed.”

“You’re needed, you stupid … ugh, don’t, okay?”Rosalie said, and Petal saw the tears in her best friend’s eyes.

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