Page 144 of Bleed with Me

“No.” I fished in my memory for his condition. “Survived, but they’re not optimistic.”

“Fuck,” Malin cursed under his breath. I took his hand, assuming he knew the guy.

“Sorry, but he took the full blow,” I explained. “Watson did everything he could.”

“He deserves…” Malin exhaled a heavy breath. “Worse. But…” He opened his eyes, exhaustion winning over him, yet he refused to give up. “The boy…”

“What?” I stared at him in confusion. “What boy? No one mentioned a child.”

“He…” Malin’s face contorted with pain. “He knows… where…” His voice broke. He had no strength left.

“Malin.” I touched his cheek, avoiding the swelling, and his eyelids fluttered. “You need rest. Then you’ll tell me everything.”

“No,” he exhaled weakly, so weakly I thought he would pass out. “Find… the boy.” He grasped my hand with surprising force. “Please.”

“What boy?” I whispered. “I need at least a name.”

Malin closed his eyes again, deep breaths lifting his bandaged chest.

“There is… a file,” he said. I sat at the edge of the bed, watching his lips move slowly as my confusion grew with every word he said. “You have to give…” He gulped. “Give it to the… police.”

“Police?” I echoed, doing my best to understand, but it was a mess.

“Y-yes,” he nodded. “Detective Mallory.”

“Malin, what the fuck?” I touched his chin, forcing our eyes to meet. “The boy, the file, the police? What’s going on?”

“Just…” The plea in his irises truly shocked me. “Just do it,” he exhaled. “My office. Black file.” His fingers dug into my skin with urgency. “P-pay someone… outside the family…”

“Okay,” I agreed before he could finish because I knew where he was heading. It was the usual drill. Delivering the files to the authorities, but they couldn’t know they were from us. “But first—”

“No,” he cut me off. “The boy.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “I’ll find someone reliable to deliver the files to Detective Marjory.”

“Mallory,” Malin hissed, glaring at me. “There can’t be… a hint it’s from… us.”

“I know, I know.” I nodded, standing up.

“Don’t… fuck it up.”

My eyes narrowed, but he didn’t notice. He rested his head against the cushion and exhaled heavily. Before I left the room, he was asleep, while I was trying to piece together what the hell he’d just dumped into my lap.

-58-

Nina

Ishifted my gaze between the computer screen and Lucas’s shocked face, my mouth hanging open. We’d eavesdropped on the whole conversation. I was worried about Dorian, and Lucas listened to my pleas and connected me to the hospital feed. He worked in his new den on locating my father’s men, so I would know who hunted me while I watched my husband having a mental breakdown. But everything shifted when Malin woke up and revealed his involvement in the disappearance of a five-year-old boy, who was related to Matilda Santangelo.

“Do you know who the other biker is?” I asked, piecing together a plan.

“A criminal,” Lucas replied, scowling at the screen. “His rap sheet reads like a horror story. Rape, abuse, bar fights, DUI, you name it, he’s done it.”

“A true saint, right?” I deadpanned, looking at the mug shot. “Why would Malin be chasing him?”

“We don’t know if he was chasing him,” Lucas objected, and I exhaled exasperatedly.

“Fine.” I stood and started pacing in front of the desk because I couldn’t sit still. “Why would Malin be interested in him?”