Page 140 of Shattered Pieces

“I should go. She good with you?” he asked, waiting for me to nod. “Thanks. I’ll try to swing by later, but I have a feeling Skeet’s going to work me like a dog for the rest of the evening. Call me if you need me.”

“Don’t fight with him,” Rory replied as he leaned down to give her a quick kiss. “I don’t want you getting into trouble or I’ll have to come down there and shoot people.”

“You’re not funny, Donovan.”

“I’m not joking,” she muttered, leaning into me a little. “Be safe.”

It had been so long since I’d seen peace on Diesel’s face like what he was showing now. I was glad he was healing, even if it was with the girl that I wanted.

“She’s fine,” I started when Tyler and the guys appeared on my doorstep at dinner time. “But there was a problem today.”

“I knew she wouldn’t be here without a reason,” Jensen grumbled, eyeing me with irritation.

“We can take her home,” Lukas said firmly, and I swore he was going to punch me when I shook my head.

“It’s not that simple. Josie can’t see her.”

That put them all on alert and had Tyler pushing past me to find her, the guys following as I stepped aside. I’d managed to get some soup delivered, so hopefully Rory had time to eat it before the guys harassed her for answers.

“Soldiers?” Lukas asked me as I moved to stand beside him by the table as Jensen and Tyler fussed over her.

“No. She had a run in with Skeet.”

His head turned so fast I was surprised his neck didn’t snap.

“Skeeter fucking hurt her?” he snapped, the others looking over with frowns on their faces.

Rory motioned for me to explain it to save her voice while she ate her soup, so I told them what I could. She’d written out more information for me before dinner, so I had a bit more of an understanding now.

I was going to kill him, just not today.

Once I was done explaining it all, they all looked ready to kill him too.

“He literally took a shot at your head,” Jensen seethed, and Rory shrugged like it was no big deal.

“For now, Rory needs to avoid Josie or the cops will get involved. We really don’t need that right now. She’s safe here,” I said calmly, Lukas’ eyes narrowing.

“We won’t all fit here.”

“Very aware. The invitation wasn’t extended to anyone else,” I said bluntly, sitting in a chair at the table and resting my elbows on it. “I know you guys don’t like me, but this is a solid plan. It also means I can make a plan with Rory to handle the Soldiers and Psychos. You guys are at school throughout the day, so she’s safer with me.”

I was a little bit surprised when Rory nodded, showing her agreement on the matter.

“It’s a good plan,” she croaked out, wincing when her voice cracked.

“Wrong,” Tyler grunted, making Marco sigh.

“You can crash with me, dude. I won’t leave you alone to fend for yourself. We’ll only be around the corner then too,” he offered, seeming to relax them. “I have a few things to do this evening, but you can come with me. Hunt’s going to make her go to bed soon anyway.”

Rory shot me a dirty look, making me smirk. I knew she wasn’t sick, but the rest would still be good for her. It was selfish, but I kind of wanted everyone to leave so I could put her in bed and see if she’d let me climb in with her.

It was nice holding her while she slept last time she was in there, it just sucked that the cops had dragged her out.

I tolerated the guys for a couple of hours to keep the peace, but when Rory started yawning, I kicked them out. Marco led them out so he could head to the warehouse with Tyler, leaving me alone with Rory.

“You’re on the couch,” Rory said dryly once she’d showered and was looking like a snack in my shirt.

“No talking,” I reminded her, grabbing ice packs from the freezer and handing her ibuprofen to go with the water I’d already put beside the bed. “Take those, ice again, and sleep. I’ll get some arnica ointment tomorrow to help with bruising too.”