Page 52 of The Protection Agreement

He agrees and we get to work, with him training me how to block moves and use objects around to attack and fight my way out. As we move and he pushes me, I hit my face hard on the cabinet and twist my arm and cry out in pain. He tries to check my arm and I scream.

“Fuck! Bruce is going to kill me.” He grumbles.

“He won’t, but I do need to see a doctor and might have to call in at work tomorrow. I doubt I can go in.”

He nods and, for the first time, I see fear in his eyes. I also notice he said Bruce, not boss.

“Ice, we need to go to the ER,” I say.

“No, I’ll call in our doctor friend. He’ll know what to do. I’ve got to call the guys, we can’t go alone.”

“Okay.”

It would take about thirty minutes. I’m really in pain but continue to hold it in, and not let Ice freak out. One of the guys, Wolfe, shows up. The moment he sees my face, he turns to Ice.

“What the fuck happened?” he yells.

“It was an accident,” I quickly say.

“Let’s hope boss sees it that way, and does not fucking kill you Ice,” he says in a sarcastic tone to Ice.

I ignore him and we drive to the clinic, using the back door into the building. Dr Collins checks my red and swollen right eye. He puts some eye drops and ointment around the eye and also provides care instructions. He bandages my strained arm. We leave and head back home. I eat and take the pain meds the doctor warned might make me sleepy.

I text Julian, apologizing that it’s late, but I can’t come to work or work from home tomorrow due to an incident. I send him a picture of my face and arm. He calls right away.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“I will be, just need to take the meds and not aggravate my eye. The doctor said I should give it forty-eight hours, and it should clear up.”

“Okay, take all the time you need.”

“Will do, and please, don’t show Declan the picture,” I plead.

“I won’t.”

“Thanks, bye,” I say. Hanging up with Julian, I turn to see Ice looking sad. He’s scared of Bruce.

“Stop worrying, Bash. I’m fine.”

“Let’s hope Boss doesn’t kill me before asking questions.”

“He won’t,” I say, reassuring him.

He scoffs.

“You know he’s crazy about you, and your safety is top priority for him,” he says.

I nod like I know but I didn’t know. I’m starting to feel sleepy.

“I need to get to bed, Ice.”

“Go on, I’ll stay out here so I can hear you,” he says.

I head to Bruce’s room and get in bed, hoping I’m right and my injury won’t cause a fight between Bruce and Ice. Now I don’t want him home sooner than planned.

Chapter thirty-three

Bruce