“I should be,” I mutter, eyes back on the road. “She broke everything, D.”
“Yeah... but you never stopped loving her.”
My chest squeezes so hard I feel like I can’t breathe. “I didn’t,” I say quietly. “I still do and that’s the problem.”
Declan exhales a breath through his nose, leans his head against the window. “Then take the risk. She already showed you what she gave up protecting her mom. That wasn’t selfish, that was sacrifice. You know how this family works, H. Loyalty like that... it's rare.”
I don’t answer, because he’s right.
Because if I give her all of me again, and she breaks it a second time?
I don’t think I’ll survive that.
The second we step into the club; the noise is like a punch to the chest which I never get used to. The music thumping like a heartbeat, the crowd moving from one table to the other, the stripper moving to the music, and not one empty table.
Walking over to Lincoln who’s standing by some of the other security, I can already see whatever he called me for is because Cain is being a pain in the ass tonight.
“What’s going on?” I ask, my eyes scanning the floor instinctively.
He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. “Cain’s having one of his headaches. A bad one. Doc came by to check on him, and now they’re fighting like pissed-off exes.”
Declan snorts beside me, and I press my lips together not to laugh myself. “Let me guess. Cain tried to headbutt the doctor?”
“Close,” Lincoln mutters. “Doc punched him instead. Cain didn’t even flinch.”
Of course he didn’t.
I sigh, already heading for the stairs. “This is going to be fun.”
We push through the club crowd and up the stairs. I push open the door to Cain’s office, I hear it before I see it, Cain’s voice, sharp as glass.
“I said I’m fine. You come here again trying to change my dosage, I’ll inject you.”
“Cain—” Doc snaps back, hand in the air, “—you haven’t slept in three nights, and your scans are spiking again. You’re notfine.”
“I’m functioning.”
“You’re fading.” The word comes out slowly, but the worry hits me. Cain never told me they were getting so bad, I think I need to talk to Autumn, if she’s worried to call me.
I step in before Cain puts his head through the drywall.
“Doc,” I say calmly. “Talk to me. Leave Cain alone before we have to sedate me.”
Doc glares at me, then glances back at Cain, who’s practically vibrating with rage. Even I can feel how intense Cain is tonight, but I didn’t know he hadn't been sleeping.
“I’m not changing his dosage,” Doc mutters. “But he needs sleep. Deep, long sleep. Or next time, it won’t be a headache.” He looks over my shoulder at Cain. “It’ll be a blackout.”
“Fine,” I hold out my hand. “Give me the pills. I’ll make sure he takes them. Later.”
Doc eyes me, then finally reaches into his bag, handing over a small bottle.
“I’m trusting you,” he mutters before walking out.
I close the door behind him, then turn to Cain, who’s pacing like a caged animal, jaw locked, temple pulsing.
Something is happening, and he’s keeping it to himself, but even I know not to ask him about it when he’s in this mood of his.
Declan drops into the chair across from the desk with a lazy grin. “So... how’s your evening going?”
