Page 61 of Bounty
If not for all the medical equipment, I would’ve sworn we weren't in a hospital.
A hospital. Damn it! The police must’ve been called.
“It’s taken care of, love,” Mom reassured me when I asked her. “Everyone’s safe.”
Trusting her, I fell back to sleep.
When I awakened, I asked for Slice and continued to do so intermittently throughout the next hours. I wanted to see Slice. Or even receive a call from him. But nothing.
My family had just finished dinner. A divine meal that included beef, roasted potatoes, salad, and cobbler. None of which I tasted, since my doctor allowed me to have soft foods only earlier today. An improvement from the liquid diet. I wasn’t sure if it was my abused throat, my broken ribs, or mydehydration that called for those dietary choices, but it was horrific.
After pushing aside my tray, I left Slice another message. Yeah, my pride was out the window, but I wanted to see for myself that he was fine. Even if he never wanted to see me again afterward.
My door opened and a dark-haired man peeped in.
“Josh!” Cassie called happily.
Smiling,Joshwalked in. Oh my. He was almost as gorgeous as Slice. I was so busy staring at him, I didn’t notice Cash until he stood at the foot of my bed.
“He’s another asshole you don’t want to admire,” he grumbled. “That shit goes to his fucking head, too.”
“Don’t hate me ‘cause I’m beautiful,” Josh quipped. “You took all Dad’s looks. My mother saved me.”
Cash flipped him off. Despite my despondency, I laughed. Citing addiction concerns, the doctor was also cutting back on my pain meds after a mere three days.
Thankfully, I had a high pain tolerance.
“That’s a beautiful sound, darlin’,” Josh drawled. “I’m so glad to hear it, considering the state you were in when I drove you here.”
My humor fled.
“He has a big mouth, doesn’t he, Effie?” a new, vaguely familiar voice said.
Mom and Cassie squealed.
Cash stepped aside and my chin almost dropped to my chest. There, before me, stood Sloane Mason, a freaking guitar strapped to him.
“The McCall Monsters—” His finger wagged between Josh and Cash— “are horrendous assholes.”
“Hey, fuckhead, my little sister is a McCall,” Cash barked.
“The sweet one,” he said, and focused on me. “Ophelia begged me to visit you, Effie. Can I call you Effie?”
I nodded, speechless.
“Any woman who puts up with that motherfucker—” he nodded to Cash— “deserves her every wish granted. She’s a fucking saint.”
Mom, Cassie, and I exchanged glances and giggled.
“Had I wanted to decline Fee, Slice made a very compelling argument.”
“Sl-slice?” I whispered.
Sloane nodded. He straightened his guitar and adjusted the frets, holding up a pick that I hadn’t realized was in his hand. Two more men walked through my opened door.
Joy seeped into me. Slice had finally arrived, but then he smiled. It was different, more cynical. When Slice grinned, his entire face lit up. His twin’s was more guarded.
“I’m Drifter,” he introduced, then nodded to the older man. “Dad. Goose,” he added.
