Page 84 of The Price of Love

I turn and run back inside. I clock it fast. Dimples must’ve come to help. With Shortstack still on the floor, she must’ve swept Dimples’ legs, knocking her down. The hair on the side of Dimples’ head turns red with blood.

Shortstack, now on her feet, raises her leg to kick Dimples, but my fist connects with her jaw, stopping her assault. Shortstack crumples to the floor as I shake my hand, trying to get feeling back in it.

I kneel beside Dimples, but I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Somebody’s moving fast toward us, so I spring to my feet. My only thought is to protect Dimples. I’d lost track of Jinx and the other patches, and I don’t want to be in a vulnerable position if they attack.

Once on my feet, I realize it’s Shadow racing toward us in her high heels. I scour the room and see the patch sisters still huddled near the door. Their sheepish expressions tell me they’re not going to cause any trouble, so I kneel beside Dimples again.

She’s sitting up and holding her head. Blood drips between her fingers.

“We need a towel,” I call to Shadow before I focus on Dimples. “How you doin’?” I ask her, trying to get a look at her eyes.

When she looks at me, she blinks several times as if trying to focus.

“Feeling dizzy?” I ask.

She nods but grimaces as soon as she does.

“It’s okay.” I put my arm around her. “You took a blow to the head.”

Dimples leans against me and lays her head against my chest.

Halo pushes in. Before I can protest, she says, “I’m a nurse.”

I’d almost forgotten.

I move back and give her room.

Though I want to stay with Dimples, the voices outside are getting louder. What if Frost brought reinforcements? Storm and Nails could have walked into an ambush.

I look over Halo’s shoulder and make eye contact with Dimples. “I gotta check on Storm and Nails.”

“Go,” she says.

I stare at her, not moving.

Despite the blood still dripping down her cheek, she gives me a smile. “Please. Make sure they’re okay.”

Her smile gets my feet moving. When I reach the door, I do a quick assessment. I’d been right, there was another woman waiting outside. It’s three against two, so I step out to even the odds.

Tank delivers a glancing blow to Nails, while Storm is grappling with Frost and her other friend. A quick assessment tells me Nails needs my help more than Storm, so I hurry to the middle of the yard. With two of us, it doesn’t take long to subdue Tank.

We get her face down on the ground with her arms pulled behind her. Nails drops a knee onto the center of her back, and the woman stops struggling.

“Go help Storm,” Nails shouts.

I race toward Storm, who just took a hard right to her chin from Frost. Storm staggers, but it doesn’t appear she’s going down. From the corner of my eye, I see Frost’s friend rising from the ground.

Shit. She’s going to jump Storm from behind. I run faster, covering the distance between us. I grab Frost’s friend and spin her around. She’s smaller than I realize, so I grab her by the throat and look her in the eyes.

“You’re gonna stop this shit and back off. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

Her eyes harden, so I tighten my hold on her neck. Her eyes widen and fill with fear.

Good. I ain’t trying to hurt her, just wanna scare her. It works.

She nods.

I point. “I’m gonna let you go, and you better hightail your ass over to your bikes.” I squeeze before letting off the pressure. “If you don’t, I won’t let go next time.”