Page 64 of Haven

“Of course I am.” My fingers slipped through her hair, careful of the injury. I missed this feeling. “My only concern is you. I don’t know what happened, but I know my dad is not a part of it, even if she thinks he is.”

“Your dad is a Devil,” Widow spat, poison coating her words.

“And you’re a Viper,” I fired back. “Last I checked, only one was venomous. Maybe if you stopped letting anger cloud your judgment and used your head, people wouldn’t get hurt.”

Rory grabbed my hand, squeezing slightly which pulled me away from the daggers Widow and I were aiming at each other. “Stop arguing. I don’t care about anything else right now.” She pointed to Widow then Vesper. “We need her help regardless of whatever problems you might have. We need to find Cinder.”

Widow’s face softened. “I’m trying.”

“Arguing isn’t helping. Fight some other time, I don’t want to hear it.” Rory finally laid back down. “I want her back home.”

I looked at them both. If playing nice would make her happy, then I could plaster a smile on my face. I wasn’t the one with the attitude, after all. “I can help. Whatever you need.”

Widow ignored me, speaking to Rory instead. “I’m going to see Melisa. We’re going to find her, I promise.” And with that, she left the room.

I walked towards the door and grabbed her chart. My doctor instincts were kicking in, and I wanted to know what I needed to do to help her heal. Broken ribs, ankle laceration, head injury. There was road rash and other scrapes and bruises on her that I would tend to as well. “How are you?” It was a dumb question, but a genuine one.

Rory turned in the bed, and I adjusted myself to make sure she was comfortable as I watched Vesper walk to the chair in the corner. “I want to get out of this hospital and take another shower. I want things to go back to how they were before.”

“So you want to go back to sneaking into Crestview and being with me?” I waggled my brows, which made her laugh. That right there was my favorite sound.

She threaded her fingers with mine. “Yes, I’m starting to regret not waking up with you, naked and tangled in your sheets.”

“We have all the time in the world.” Just as I was about to kiss her, my phone ripped through the moment as my dad’s ringtone filled the room. He knew exactly where I was. “Hi, Dad.”

“Haven Mykel Morningstar, why the fuck are you in Viper territory?”

I rolled my eyes. He knew I hated my government name being used on me. Only I could pull that shit. “I’m with your future daughter-in-law. You should know her, she’s your enemy's hot sister.” With a sly glance, I winked at her. “She was attacked, so I’m not leaving her. I am fine, don’t worry, nothing will happen to me. I’ll come home to see a few patients, but I am staying here until she’s okay.”

The line was silent as I glanced between Rory and Vesper. I knew my dad’s reaction would be the same. He was probably in his office trying to process what I just said and to make sure I actually said it. Was it a bold statement? Absolutely. But I was always told to chase what I wanted, and what I wanted was a sassy, gorgeous woman who just happened to be my club’s sworn enemy.

“Anyway, bye Dad. I love you and I am fine.” I hung up before he could say anything else, but I knew to expect a swarm of messages. Rory’s mouth was slightly agape. “What?”

“Daughter-in-law?” she questioned.

“Did I stutter?” I quipped. “Not anytime soon, but it’ll happen. I know what I want.” This woman stole my heart and enemies or not, I would continue to be by her side even if it destroyed me.

Fifty-Five

Cinder

Ididn’t know how long it had been since he brought me here, the days blurred together, but I knew I was in agony. Pain was simple to drain out, but fear was complex. If they killed me, it would mean nothing—but they didn’t care about me in a way that got them off.

No, they wanted her.

He wanted her.

I didn’t know his partner. Her face was distorted in a haze of pain.

The way he talked about Rory when the blade dug into my skin made my stomach churn. He hurt her. He had her, but she was hurt. I made her get hurt.

“You don’t deserve her! She could have died if it wasn’t for me! You made her cry. You made my princess hurt.”

“Stop. Calling. Her. That.”

He smacked me across the face. “You don’t know her like I do! She’s my princess, and she loves it when I call her that. She’s mine. She was always meant to be mine, but you took her away from me!”

He kept me chained in a small room with no windows or way of escape. Food was minimal and water was a luxury. He knew what to do to drive me crazy. He stopped beating me, but it didn’t help prevent the infection or agony I was in. I knew I needed to fight.