Page 90 of Falcon’s Forever

“It only hurts when I move.”

Knox presses against his ribs again, and Hustler jerks.

“Son of a bitch,” Hustler snaps.

Knox removes his hand from Hustler’s ribs. “That’s why you’re not riding today.”

“I didn’t say I was,” Hustler mutters.

“You were thinking it,” Knox says.

Hustler looks at me for backup and gets nothing. He pulls his shirt back down with a scowl. “Everybody around here is boring now.”

“Light duty for two days,” Knox tells him.

Hustler’s head snaps around. “Two?”

Knox raises an eyebrow. “You want five?”

Hustler wisely shuts up.

Knox turns his attention to me. “Did you sleep?”

“Four hours,” I answer.

His mouth tightens. “Pathetic.”

“Better than none,” I point out.

He considers that generous enough not to argue. His phone buzzes, and something in his expression changes when he reads the message.

“Hospital?” I ask, every muscle in my body tightening.

“Yeah.” Knox reads it again, then looks up. “Emily’s good, she’s very awake, apparently. She’s threatening to leave if somebody brings her another cup of weak tea.”

I smile despite myself. “She definitely sounds alive.”

"Definitely." I wait for the rest, and he doesn't offer it, because I asked to be removed from Cara's updates and Knox isn't the kind of man who hands out loopholes just because he happens to have them.

“Anything club-related?” I ask instead.

Knox closes one of the compartments in his medical bag. “Discharge planning has started. Probably tomorrow. The hospital wants to know where she’s going, and the house isn’t ready.”

“What about the transition property?”

“Not ready either,” Knox says. “It has basic security, but nowhere near enough for the current threats.”

“Then we make it enough.” I fold my arms. “Do we own it yet?”

“Vulture signed this morning.”

That catches me off guard. “He did?”

“Sterling pushed it through.” Knox zips his bag closed. “Cara’s already thinking the same thing you are. She wants the women involved before anybody moves.”

“Good,” I say.

Knox pauses and looks at me. “You agreeing without an argument is becoming unsettling.”