Page 17 of As Thick As Thieves

I nodded, wanting to throw up when she’d numbed my inner arm and I saw the huge needle she had with the implant.

“Ugh, that’s huge.”

“That’s why we numb the area. I have one and I’m a little bitch, so you’ll be fine,” she teased. “Would you like me to get Zavier to hold your hand?”

“No, that would be weird,” I said with a wrinkled nose. “We’re just friends.”

“He’d do it, he’s a good kid,” she replied before stepping closer. “You ready then?”

“Does it hurt?” I asked softly, relief filling me as she shook her head.

“Nope. It’ll bruise and be tender for a few days afterwards, but that’s it. You’ll have to replace it in three years.”

“Okay, do it,” I murmured as I squeezed my eyes shut and held my arm out.

I felt it, but it wasn’t painful, and my entire body relaxed as she stood back with a grin.

“See? All done. I’ll put a bandage on it and you’ll be good to go. It can take a few weeks to be reliable, so be careful. It gives you time for your antibiotics to be over too.”

“Thank you. I’m grateful for your help.”

“Any time.”

I pulled my shirt back over my head and shuffled off the table, accepting the small paper bag she handed me before she gave me her number and led me out towards the bar where Zavier waited. He seemed deep in conversation with Beckett and the others, but his eyes still ran over me to make sure I was okay. Rory’s eyes burned into me but she didn’t say anything, and Zavier said his goodbyes before thanking Jade.

He steered me outside and I frowned when Beckett didn’t follow. “We didn’t bring a car.”

“Lavaro’s picking you up and taking you home. I have something to do with Beckett,” he answered, eyeing the bag. “What else did she give you?”

“Girl stuff. She put that implant thing in my arm too,” I explained, pointing at the bandage.

“She’s really nice. Sorry, I didn’t even think of getting you stuff like that, usually the girls are only with us a day or two before we send them to their families,” he cringed. “Shit, did you need them right now? Should we get more ice cream and chocolate? Raven’s a fucking demon when she’s on hers, so we throw sugary shit at her and keep our distance.”

“I’d be a demon too if you threw food at me like a dog,” I snorted as Ander’s car pulled up, and Zavier smirked.

“That doesn’t stop you from liking the idea of belly rubs and being called pretty when you’re cramping, though. How’s that any different?”

No one had done that for me before, but I imagined it was nice. “It just is.” He opened the car door and I climbed in, eyeing Ander. “I hardly recognized you without all the blood.”

“You can walk home if you wish,” he replied dryly, leaning over me to speak to Zavier. “Do I need to come back for you later?”

“Nah, Beckett can drop me off. I’ll see you guys later,” he smiled, giving me a wink before walking back into the shed and letting us head home.

Chapter Four

Stone

I scowled as Drake ignored my phone call for the millionth time. He’d been back for a day, but he’d spent the night in Ashburn Valley at Beckett’s house with Jett and Maddox. Since he was avoiding me, it meant Knox was now pissed because his boyfriend wasn’t home.

Which was apparently my fucking fault.

I needed a fucking cigarette, but since I was the one who made everyone quit months ago, I didn’t think it would go over too well if I got caught smoking. I hadn’t thought of one even when Penn first arrived and fucked shit up, but now it was all I could think about.

Cruz was working at the computer beside me, but he hadn’t said much. I’d been overworking them all, I knew that, but I was trying to keep them occupied.

I scanned the screen when I got a notification that someone had driven through the gate, and I bit out a groan when Beckett’s Mustang parked out front. She only showed up to hit people or cause trouble.

Cruz gave me a look when I sighed, closing out of the other footage I’d been going through. “What?”

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