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He showered, dressed, hopped on his bike, and headed for the hospital, determined to tell Mandy his plans for their future. Now that he’d made up his mind, there would be no stopping him.
He stood in her room twenty minutes later, happy to see her color was much better as she sat in bed.
“You sure look a helluva lot better than yesterday.”
Mandy smiled when she saw him, then her face sobered.
He crossed the room and she flipped off the TV with the remote dangling from the bed rail.
“How do you feel?”
“Much better. I had a few more tests, and if everything comes back normal, I can go home later today.”
“Nice. What time?”
“They haven’t said yet.”
“Let me know, and I’ll come back.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She lowered her gaze.
“I’ll bring the Escalade if you don’t feel up to riding.”
“I mean, it won’t be necessaryfor youto come pick me up.”
“You were upset yesterday. I get it. We were both wound up, but I’m hoping we can move forward and forget all that bullshit.”
“It’ll take time.”
“Sure, that makes sense. That fire scared the shit outta you, but I’ll help you get through it.”
“You don’t seem to understand; this has less to do with the fire and more with me finally finding my independence.”
“I don’t wanna take away your independence. I want us to work together—be together.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because I refuse to live with another man who abides by a code of violence.”
“The Serpents are nothing like the Marauders.” Mamba tightened his grip on the bed rail.
“Torching a building isn’t a violent act?” Mandy pushed herself up on the bed. “Please don’t talk to me like I’m stupid. I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”
Mamba leaned in, lowering his voice. “The Marauders were bringing fentanyl and heroin into our territory. We can’t let that stand.”
“So, you pushed back.”
“Damn fuckin’ straight.”
Mandy threw up her palms. “Like I said. You both can rationalize your behavior all you want, but the bottom line is that you’re just as violent as my brother.”
“Ohhh, fuck no.” He slammed his hand on the plastic bed rail. “Did you forget it was Ajax who jumped me in that parking lot? I wanted a fair fight in the cage, but no, he and his fuckin’ lackey came at me with a baseball bat and a blade, knowing I wasn’t strapped.”
Her gaze traveled to the still bloody bandage. “You really should have someone look at that wound. It could be infected.”
Mamba waved it off even though the pain had kept him up most of the night. “Forget that.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I want you to be with me at the Gold Mine. I want you to be my ol’ lady.”
