“Don’t ever do that again.” I lean down and kiss her. “And don’t ever, ever tell anyone what you just told me. Not Hope, not Murphy, Heidi,” I pull back and look her in the eye. “No one.”

“Okay,” she whispers.

“All anyone will ever know is he attacked you. You fought him off. Rooster and Stitch saw you fighting him off. End of story. Everything that happened after has nothing to do with you.”

She wraps her arms around my neck and leans up to kiss me. “I swear I’ll never tell a soul. I’ll never speak of it again.”

I don’t doubt her.

Who else but me knows how well Lilly can keep a secret?

Chapter Thirty-Six

Z

Why can’t I stay in bed for like, oh I don’t know, another year?

Lilly stretches and pushes up against me. Her hair falls over her shoulder, exposing the deep black and blue mark ringing the side of her neck. “Motherfucker.” I want to find out where they buried Shadow’s remains so I can piss on his grave.

My leg’s throbbing like a bitch this morning. I’d rather not take the pain pills the doctor gave me, but I do take the antibiotics.

“I need to run out for a bit,” I explain to Lilly after breakfast.

“Okay. Kendall’s coming over to give the kids swim lessons.”

“Good.” I lean over and kiss her temple. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“I won’t be gone long.”

“You gonna be good for Mommy?” I ask Chance.

“We’re swimming!” he announces, pointing toward the pool.

The good feeling from spending the morning with my family fades as soon as I arrive at the hospital.

It’s my obligation to inform Sway that the VP spot is now vacant. I’m not exactly looking forward to the conversation.

Head wound or not, he notices my stiff movements and slight limp as soon as I walk in the door.

“Too much fucking?” he asks. The nurse at his bedside scowls, which only makes Sway laugh. “Christ, I can’t wait to get out of here,” he says as soon as she leaves.

“They give you any idea when?”

“No, but I can start physical therapy soon.”

“Good.”

“Do you mean that?”

I stare at him for a second or two. “Yeah, I mean it, Sway. I didn’t want…I never wanted this. I was perfectly content where I was.”

“Well, I appreciate everything you’re doing, Z.”

His opinion might change in a minute.

I perform my regular sweep of the room for any listening devices or cameras that might have been planted. Fuck knows the room isn’t secure. When I’m satisfied, I clear my throat and move closer to the bed.

“You planning to kiss me?” he asks.