Page 92 of As Thick As Thieves

“Are you going to be a good boy and let me put ointment on you without causing a fuss?” I asked lightly, surprised when he nodded.

“Yeah. Thanks,” he said quietly, drying himself as I slipped from the stall to find ointment in the bathroom cupboards. He stood still as I smothered him in it, making sure everything looked good before bandaging a few that were worse, then I grabbed his clean boxers and held them out by his feet. “Step into them.”

“I can dress myself, Penelope.”

“You’ll hurt yourself,” I replied, his dick almost smacking me in the face. “Just step into them and stop being difficult.”

He huffed but did it, letting me do the same for his sweats before I helped him into a shirt. Once he was done, he gave me an unsure look. “Uh, thanks for this.”

“Stop moping in your room. You’re the boss, so man up and run this shit. Work with the guys, get this business back up and running properly, and gain back the respect you’ve lost. The guys miss you, but they’re too worried about me getting hurt again to let you back in. Prove to them that they have nothing to worry about,” I said softly, going completely still as he stepped closer and put his arms around me, hugging me carefully to avoid hurting himself. I had no idea what to do, but I slowly hugged him back, relaxing into his hold.

“They have nothing to worry about. You’re one of us, I know that now,” he murmured, not moving back from me. “Thank you for being what they needed. I’ve never seen them like this before. You fixed the jagged edges between Knox and Drake, you’ve given all of them a kind of peace that they didn’t even know they needed, and you gave Cruz something he’d been craving for so long.”

“If you weren’t such a stubborn bastard, you could have peace too. You’re not so bad when you’re not screaming at people,” I teased, making him chuckle as he finally stepped back to look down at me.

“I wouldn’t burden a woman with my charming personality, but it’s cute that you think it’s possible.”

“You’re not hard to look at, Stone. Well, when your face doesn’t resemble stomped on grapefruit. If Knox can find two people to tolerate his bullshit, you can find at least one,” I grinned, bending down to grab his dirty laundry and towel. “C’mon, let’s get fresh sheets on your bed and get some food into you. Then I’ll go. You’d better text me back when I’m trying to reach you, though, or I’ll storm back in here and fuck you up.”

“I don’t mind,” he answered with a straight face as I led him out of the bathroom and back to his bedroom, making sure his room was back in order and his bedding was fresh before steering him into the kitchen to make sure he ate something. I’d been gone longer than anticipated, and the guys would freak if they got home and I was gone, so I really needed to get going.

“I’ll see you later?” I asked once Stone was settled back in bed, a gentle expression on his face.

“I’d like that. Let me know when you’re back in the Heights?”

“About that,” I said with a cringe, his eyes narrowing to slits.

“Did something happen?”

“Um, someone did a drive-by. We’re staying at Dad’s housekeeper’s place in Briar Falls.”

I jumped as he jerked forward, a curse leaving him as he clutched his ribs while glaring up at me. “What the fuck? Why didn’t anyone tell me? Was anyone hurt?”

“No offense, but you’re not really in the cool kid’s club right now. In my defense, I assumed you knew because you love stalking me. I guess you’ve been a little preoccupied getting beat up, though. Then again, if you’d replied to my fucking texts—”

“Penelope, don’t get smart with me.” He tried to get out of bed, but I stepped closer and forced the blanket higher up his body, giving him no choice but to lay back.

“We’re all fine, no one was hurt, I promise. Please lay down and rest so I can go before the guys get back and notice I’m gone,” I begged, the fight leaving his eyes.

“Text me when you get there. No exceptions,” he said in a low voice.

“Of course.”

I hated leaving him, but I’d done all I could, even managing to force-feed him pain meds, so I left him to sleep it off and hoped he’d look after himself a little better now.

Chapter Twenty

Penn

Leah dropped me off before the guys got home, and I made sure to send a text to Stone. He didn’t reply, but at least he couldn’t say I hadn’t stuck to my end of the deal.

Over the next week, I managed to check on him a couple of times, thanks to Leah sneaking me out when the guys got busy.

“We can’t go out. I’ll either get shot at, or the guys will see me with you and murder us both,” I hissed as Stone dragged me out of the compound towards his car. His face was an awful shade of yellow and green as the bruises started to lighten, and the swelling had gone down a lot. I frowned when he opened the driver’s door and motioned for me to get in. “Stone, I can’t drive.”

“I know, that’s why I’m teaching you. We won’t leave the yard. Trust me?” he asked, and for once I paused to think about it. He’d been grumpy all week with me because of my fussing, but he hadn’t hurt me or put me in danger. I genuinely believed he wanted to repair the damage he’d caused.

“Yes,” I finally replied as I slid into the driver’s seat, surprising him. He closed my door and wandered around to the passenger seat to climb in, instantly handing me the keys.

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