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“Don’t call me lustrous,” Ghost growls as he enters the room. “I’m badass. Not lustrous.”
“He’s also arrogant and overbearing.”
I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up my throat as Bitsy does a double take when she gets a look at who’s talking behind her. Blaze is standing there in all his glory smiling from ear to ear.
“You think I’m nice, huh?” he asks. “Not charming, or god-like? Maybe mouth-watering?”
Bitsy turns to look at Steel, my brother who was pretending to be Blaze.
“Hello,” he said. “I’m Steel. Blaze’s much better-looking older brother.”
“Better-looking?” she says. “You look like you were copied and pasted.”
This time, even Ghost chuckles. Which is a feat on its own.
“Now that that’s out the way, I’m heading to bed,” Pops says. “Tonight, we’re all staying here to make sure Bitsy is safe. If something happens to her on our watch, those Phantoms will kill us before we know what’s happening.”
“I’d like to see them try,” Ghost growls. “No offense, ma’am.”
“None taken, Mr. President,” she says, sipping the last of her soup. “I think you all could give my father and uncles a run for their money. But you guys honestly don’t have to stay here. I’m feeling loads better. I can just call a taxi and have them take me the rest of the way to the convention. My dad has friends there that we usually stay with when we go to these things. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not going,” I tell her. “I want you here where you’re safe.”
“You know, for someone I just met you sure like to think you can tell me what to do. Well, I have news for you, Viper. I will give in and sleep here tonight but I have every intention of leaving here first thing in the morning. I have less than three days before I need to be home to get these damn treatments started and I am not going to spend those days stuck here surrounded by strangers who have no interest in my future. I appreciate everything each one of you has done for me tonight. But my plans haven’t changed. I need to live before that opportunity is taken away from me because there is a high probability that by trying to fight this battle to survive, I might not.”
Fuck.
“Your parents will be here in the morning,” I admit.
“What?”
“While you were upstairs, I made some phone calls,” Pops answers. “I didn’t mean to overstep but I thought you might be interested. I have a friend who specializes in Oncology. He has his own practice here in Harborbrook and he thinks you might be the perfect candidate for a new treatment he’s developed.”
My body is strung tight as I wait for her response. Pops only did what he thought was best. And, it very well might be, but I don’t know Bitsy enough to gauge her reaction.
“The only issue is that you would have to remain here where his practice is. If it’s successful, it could shorten your treatments by several months.”
“That’s wonderful,” she says after a few moments of silence. “And I appreciate your kindness. But what does any of that have to do with my parents coming here tomorrow?”
“While Pops was on the phone with his friend,” Ma explains. “I received a phone call from a young man named Michael. He said he was your cousin and was worried when you didn’t answer your phone. So, he somehow found my unlisted number and called me instead. They must have overheard Pops talking because your Ma got on the phone and said they would be here first thing in the morning to talk with you about it.”
“That defeats the whole purpose,” she says angrily. She rises from her chair and walks over to Pops. “I am not in the least bit angry with you. I appreciate what you did and I will most definitely go and meet with your friend to see if that is the right path for me. I’m not even mad at my parents. But I just wanted a few days of not thinking about my cancer and yet it’s the only thing I’ve been able to think about because now that everyone knows, no one will look at me the same. They will whisper behind my back or look at me as if I’m some fragile flower that can break at any time.”
I walk behind the woman and wrap my arms around her waist.
“I have an idea,” I tell her. “But I don’t think your parents are going to like it very much.”
“I’m in,” she laughs. “Even if it’s taking a walk until my legs no longer work, I’m in. I just need to do something other than sink deeper into the fear that’s threatening to drown me.”
“It’s been many years since we’ve been to a convention,” Ghost says. “I never really cared for them. How about instead of spending the day with stinky bikers we go to a party? My club, The Cage, is hosting a special event tomorrow. My brothers and I will be there with you, at a distance if you want, so nothing bad will happen.”
“What kind of event?” she asks.
I cringe. I haven’t met her father but keeping his daughter safe is the first thing on his mind. Just as it’s quickly becoming the most important thing in mine as well.
“It’s called The Cage because it’s fighting,” I admit. “Up top, the club is a party atmosphere where people go to hang out and get drunk in a safe place. But, down below, people from all over come to face fierce components in the cage.”
“Well, if you’re all about keeping your customers in the club safe maybe hosting an illegal fighting ring in the same building at the same time isn’t the smartest thing to do.”
