Page 83 of Matrix

His phone beeps. He pulls it out and reads the text, then smiles.“Tank’s going to make it. The other NOLA guys will pull through too.”

“Thank God. How’s Tank doing since the surgery?”

“It was touch and go, but the operation on his leg was successful. He’s well on his way to recovery. Look, he sent a photo.”

He turns the phone so I can see it. Tank’s lying in bed with a young blonde woman draped across his chest. She looks familiar. I think she’s one of the NOLA club girls. He looks good overall, except …

“What’s that on his neck?” I ask, squinting.

“A hickey. And that’s Vicki the Hickey.”

“Well, that explains the mark. But seriously, do they actually call her that?” I frown.

“Yep. Apparently, she loves it.”

“Oh, boy.”

“I’ll tell him you said hi.” Matrix types out a quick message before setting his phone on the nightstand.“I don’t know about you, but I’m about to faceplant; I’m so tired.”

“Me too.” I glance at the door.“Should I check on Angie?”

“Let Nina take care of her. She’s got a way of making everyone feel safe. She’ll do that for your sister.”

He sits on the end of the bed before pulling off his boots. His pants come off next, and then his shirt. By the time he’s down to his boxers, my mouth is watering. He’s so damn sexy it should be illegal. I’m still worried about what he said about spirit possession, but he had to be out of his mind. It was the drugs talking, not him. Pain meds will make people say crazy shit. That’s all it was, nothing more.

“Come here, babe.” He slides under the sheets and lifts the corner for me.

I quickly strip down to my panties and get in beside him. Instead of reaching for me for sex, he simply cuddles me against his chest. I bury my face there and listen to the slow, steady beat of his heart. He brushes the hair out of my eyes before trailing soft kisses across my cheeks.

“Welcome home,” he says softly.

I nod, unable to speak. I want to tell him how grateful I am for what he did for my sister, but I can’t get the words past the lump in my throat. After he was cut, I was so afraid I’d never see him again. All I could do was stand there, watching over his unconscious body and praying he’d come back to me.

“Talk to me, babe.”

I shake my head as tears spill down my cheeks.

“Everything’s gonna be alright,” he says quietly.“We’re home now. Vapor’s going to hunt and kill every last member of the cartel. He’s already got most of them.”

“He lost several men that day.”

“Yes. Fortunately, none of the patched members. But they lost some friends and some of the club girls too. That grenade …” His whole body shudders.

“Thank God you saw it before it went off.”

“After all the shit I’ve been through, some cartel fuck wasn’t going to end my life. I’ve got a mission to fulfill. Nothing will stop me until it’s done.”

“Destroy Blackstone.”

“Exactly.”

“Have you talked to Babet today?” I ask.

“I called her at the last rest stop when you and your sister went inside. She says the other girls are still refusing to talk. They’re too scared. Most of them were either your sister’s age or younger.”

“We can’t push them. They’re too fragile,” I warn him.

“I know. Babe, I’ve been waiting over ten years to get vengeance. I can wait a few more days.”

---