Page 45 of Thunder

“I’m alright, baby,” he says softly, but I shake my head as I feel around his injury, only to feel the lump, and my tears fall as I choke, “You still have a bullet in your arm. Why didn’t Dr. Thomas remove it and stitch it up?!”

“Because I knew this would distract you from killing me for not answering my phone,” he admits, and I glare at him as I press down harder on his wound and he chokes out a laugh.

“You purposely ignored my calls?!” I grit, and he smiles at me, making me want to throat-punch him.

He was shot, and he purposely ignored my calls?

That’s it, I’m burying him in the yard after tearing his balls from his body! His tombstone will state, Here lies Bradley, a jackass who didn’t answer his phone!

“Hey, now, get that murderous look off your face, I’m injured,” he tries, and I hiss, “Maybe you’ll die from the blood loss, and I can bury you!”

“You love me,” he reminds me, and I snap, “Not right now, I don’t!” before I grab his good arm and drag him upstairs towards the master bathroom, and fury builds up in my chest.

“Purposely ignoring my calls, purposely not seeking medical attention after being shot just so I won’t be mad!” I mumble, “Jackass!”

“I love you too, baby,” he says softly, and I flare my nostrils.

“And I’m guessing I’m not allowed to know who shot you?” I snap as I shove him into our room, and he admits, “Normally I wouldn’t be able to explain, but I think you have a right to know Dino followed us and aimed solely at me.”

I spin as we walk into the bathroom and look his way in shock. He leans against the counter and crosses his arms over his chest, but winces, and I snap out of my shock and quickly grab my medical kit from the cabinet.

“Apparently he saw you as his, and I was in his way. Treasure, you were very lucky, he was one of the men that raped Summer,” he says, and my eyes instantly tear up as my mouth parts.

Bradley told me about the Pillars and what happened to Anchor's old lady and goodness...

“He’s dead?” I confirm, and Bradley nods once, and I take a deep breath before moving over to him to check his arm again, feeling around for the bullet that is clearly stuck in the muscle.

“I should be able to get the bullet out with tweezers, but I don’t have any anesthetic. I’d call it karma for allowing me to worry about you for hours then waiting for me to fix your arm like an ass,” I grumble and the man snorts as he gently grips my hips with both hands and I lean against him as I grab the tweezers and without a though. I find the bullet with my finger then dig the tweezers inside his flash and he grunts as his grip tightens.

“I thought doctors were supposed to be gentle?” he grunts, and I snap, “Not for the love of their lives that get hurt then ignore their calls!”

“Love you too,” he groans as I dig into his arm, and I growl, “Shut up,” making him choke out a laugh.

I manage to grip the bullet, and I slowly pull it out before chucking it and the tweezers in the sink. I quickly grab some antiseptic wipes, and Bradley groans loudly while I smirk.

“I can’t believe you’re enjoying this,” he huffs, and I retort, “I can’t believe you ignored my calls and didn’t get a bullet taken out!”

“You know I’m not sleeping on the couch, right?” he says, and I raise a brow as I press the wipes on his wound, and he hisses, his grip becoming bruising, but I just smirk.

“I love you,” I sass, and he mock-glares at me before pressing his lips against mine then leans back slightly.

“I know you’re letting your anger out because if you don’t then you’ll cry. I’m sorry for that,” he says softly and I flare my nostrils as I wipe around the wound then grab my needle and thread and he huffs, “Fuck me this is going to hurt,” and I can’t even hide my flinch even if I wanted to.

Ignoring his words, I pinch his skin, then, trying to ignore his flinching, I stitch up the small bullet wound, not letting my head run wild on the what ifs.

“Treasure,” Bradley says softly, but I ignore him as I tie a knot, and he says more firmly, “Treasure,” and I throw the needle in the sink as the first sob leaves me, and Bradley doesn’t hesitate to pull me into his chest, and I grip his cut as my tears pour.

He was shot.

“I’m alright, baby,” he whispers as he runs his fingers through my hair, then grips it. “I didn’t answer my phone because I knew I couldn’t lie to you, but I promise I am okay. I’m here.”

“Please don’t make this a habit,” I cry, and he holds me tighter and promises, “I won’t, it was just one of those freak things, and no, before you even think of blaming yourself, this isn’t your fault. It’s that fuckers, not yours.”

I press my face further into his chest and inhale, his musky smell hitting me, calming me though my tears still fall.

This man is my universe, and if anything, tonight has proved I can’t live six hours away from him, but I also can’t expect him to leave his family.

The idea of running away with Sammie to Wincher hits, and I squeeze my eyes tight.