Page 62 of Unbreakable

Knox

Shesleptforhours, and for that I was happy. She looked so drained when she came up the stairs tonight. She’s been running herself thin over the last month. I’ve been watching her come and go and it was limited. I didn’t expect to find out she was staying at the hospital with one of the members who was shot. I’d never tell her, but one day when she came home, I followed her when she left. I stood outside the hospital room, watching as she sat there and held his hands. I knew then he was someone she cared about, but to what degree I wasn’t sure. I chose not to tell the Professor about it until I knew exactly what was going on between them.

We tried to get her to stay and sleep longer, but she insisted she had to be back at the hospital. Not wanting to argue with her, especially after such a good night, we relented and let her go without resistance. Besides, we needed to talk and figure out the next step.

Kissing her goodbye, we headed over to my apartment.

“So, Professor, we have two more men to bring into the fold. How do you suggest we do it?” I head to the refrigerator, open it up and pull out two beers. I walk back into the living room, hand him one and flop down on the recliner.

“Well, I’m thinking the easiest solution would be to head to the hospital. We know for sure one of them will be there. I mean, I don’t see the one in there going anywhere anytime soon. Have you by chance met either of these men?” he asks as he paces back and forth across the room. If he doesn’t stop he’s going to burn a hole in my rug.

“No I haven’t. I’m pretty sure one of them belongs to that MC, the Hellions, who own the club she works at. Do you think we should tell Arizona our plan?” I ask, praying we don’t piss her off by doing this.

“I think we should meet them without her present. We could talk freely and if it turns confrontational then we’re not doing it in front of her, which would upset her more. She’s not taking care of herself at the moment as is.” He grits his teeth with the last of what he said. Hell, I have to agree she’s not caring for herself and I hate I didn’t notice it sooner.

“Sounds good, Professor. When do you want to do this? I have class in the afternoon, but free any other time.”

“I have exams tomorrow as well. Let’s do it first thing in the morning. I’ll come by and pick you up. Be ready at eight.” he tells me as he strides across the room. He stops when he reaches the door, lifting his hand to rap his fingers on the door before turning his head back to me. “We did good today, the two of us with her. I wasn’t jealous like I thought I would be. I think we can make this work.” He opens the door stepping out into the evening, shutting the door behind him.

Leaning back in the chair, consumed by the deadly silence in the room, I let my head fall back on the recliner and close my eyes. He’s right, I felt the same way. I thought there would be jealousy but there was none. It actually turned me on seeing how aroused she was, the way she responded to how he treated and talked to her. Hell, I thought it was fucking hot, even now thinking about it my dick starts to twitch.

Hearing the door open and the obnoxious chatter of Christopher coming into the room, I take a deep breath, mentally preparing to deal with him. Arizona was right when she questioned my friendship with him, we are slowly drifting into different directions, each focused on different priorities.

I paint a smile on my face as I sit up and greet him, already listening to him degrade the woman he was with last night.

Jace

Beep… Beep… Beep…

The incessant noise has my head pounding.

Beep… Beep… Beep….

“For the love of God, will someone turn that shit off ?” I rasp out, my throat not only scratchy and dry but sore.

“He’s awake,” someone cries out in a feminine voice. It sounds like my dancin’ girl, but why is she crying’?

I slowly try to open my eyes, the weight of them causing me to work harder. When they finally open, I’m blinded by bright lights shining down into my face.

Looking' up, my eyes tryin’ to focus, I see Arizona with tears streaming down her face.

“You’re awake. I was so afraid you wouldn’t wake up again. They said you would, but it’s been almost twenty-four hours.” she cries out in a blubbering mess. I try to lift my arm to caress her cheek, when I’m hit by an onslaught of pain. I feel like I’ve been run over by a semi truck.

I try to clear my mind, blinking my eyes repeatedly as if to clear the smoke covering them to remember what the hell happened, when all my memories come flooding back.

“Where’s Ash, did she get away? Charles was the fucking mole.” I blurt out as I try to lift my body up from the bed.

“Jace, stop, you’re goin’ to pull your IV out, lay back down. Ash is fine, she’s safe. Charles is dead along with the asshole who kidnapped her.” Bash tells me, rushing to my side to stop me from sitting up any further.

“Jace, you’ve been in a coma for a month, brother. You need to take it slow. Your injuries were life threatening cuz.”

A month, a fucking month. I close my eyes and breathe in deep. I’m not dead, that’s a plus.

“When can I get outta here? Can I get somethin’ to drink? My throat is killin’ me.”

“I’ll get it.” Arizona calls out as she grabs something off the table and rushes out of the room.

“You’re not gettin’ cleared any time today cuz. Hell, you’ve only woken twice since the shootin’ and this is the first time you’ve said anythin’ more than one word. Your ass is stayin’ here till the Doctors clear you.” Bash tells me, just as we hear a knock on the door.

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