Page 38 of Reckless Vengeance

“I’m fine,” I said while trying to stand, but he held me still.

“You’re not. He could have fucking killed you,” he muttered, his thumb sliding higher to my temple. It was definitely going to bruise, it hurt like hell.

“Get the fuck away from her,” Skeeter snapped as he appeared and jerked me away from him, my head spinning from the sudden movement.

“You fucking punched her!” Marco growled, putting his hands out when I swayed slightly.

“What?” Skeeter asked with confusion. Nausea swam inside me from the dizziness, and he tightened his hold on me. “Aurora?”

“I think she’s going to hurl,” Marco sighed, somehow managing to get Skeeter to let go of me so he could steer me towards the garden. I gagged, holding onto the side of the house to keep myself upright.

I’d been hit plenty over the years, but a solid knock to the temple like that from a guy? Yeah, that was concussion material, and I’d learned from last time that Skeeter’s fists were like concrete.

Mule appeared with an ice pack, and I was a little surprised when Marco pressed it against my temple, keeping an arm around me in case my legs gave out.

“Fuck,” I mumbled, needing my head to stop spinning.

“Close your eyes, it helps,” he said gently, and I felt a hand on the back of my neck.

“You okay?” It was Hunter.

“Does she fucking look okay?” Marco bit out, and I closed my eyes to try and stop myself from throwing up.

It helped a little, but not much.

“Where’s Skeet?” I asked, leaning forward to press my forehead against the cool wall.

“Having a pity party,” Marco said bluntly, and I managed to reach up and take over holding the ice pack. After a moment, fingers carefully ran through my hair. “You want me to take you home?”

“I’d fall off the bike,” I scoffed, wincing as it hurt my head.

“I’ll drive Hunter’s car. I think you need a hospital. That was a fucking hard hit,” he murmured, continuing to tease my scalp with his fingers.

“You guys need to leave. Skeet can take me home,” I said as firmly as possible.

My phone was ringing, and I fumbled trying to pull it out, but Marco slipped his hand into my pocket and answered it.

“Hello? She’s fine. She’ll be home soon,” I heard him say before he sighed. “Skeet. Tell Josie Rory’s coming home soon. She thinks I kidnapped her.”

I looked over at Skeeter, the sunlight hurting my head. His eyes were on me as he approached, taking the phone from Marco’s hand.

“Hey, it’s Skeet. I’m with her. I’ll bring her home myself.”

Nausea hit again, and Marco’s fingers wrapped around my hair in time for me to throw up in the garden. I’d only had this a couple of times from fighting, and it fucking sucked.

I threw up again, hearing Marco mumbling something behind me, but I couldn’t hear it over the ringing in my ears.

“I’ve got her,” he said a little more clearly, once I’d finished throwing up, his hand letting go of my hair as he started leading me towards the road, handing the ice pack back to Mule. “Close your eyes again. I won’t let you run into anything.”

Reluctantly, I did as he said and let him lead me, hearing Hunter and Skeeter talking close by as a car door opened. I didn’t want to go anywhere with Marco, so I opened my eyes to tell him, but I found myself in front of the McLaren.

Marco helped me inside, putting my hood up to tug it down over my eyes as best as possible.

“Call Hunt if you need us,” he said quietly, his fingers brushing my cheek for a second before I heard the car door close.

My head dropped back on the head rest as I savored the silence, the driver’s door opening after a few moments before closing again. I was starting to think Skeeter wasn’t going to speak, but then he carefully pushed my hood out of the way to gently touch the tender skin, his voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.”

My eyes slowly opened to look at him, seeing the devastation written all over his face.