20. 20 Thorne

Blood means nothing. It does not define family, does not merit the love, or the nurturing needed to establish a relationship. Blood means little to me. In fact, I despise it. My family is not my blood.

Blaze and Ryder are my brothers, no doubt about it. I've long since claimed them as such. In fact, Ryder tried to get his parents to adopt me when he learned about my home life. It wasn't the lack of money or material things. He never cared that I wasn't rich; neither of them did. What Ryder cared about was the fact that my father was hurting me—in more ways than one.

When it legally couldn't be done, Ryder would have me over at his house every time his parents were out of town. He was the shield—my buffer—between my father and myself. So to say that Ryder is just my friend would be to rip my heart out and say I can keep living.

Ryder's been shot.

At the rate he's bleeding, I'm worried he won't make it. Was any of this even worth it? An image of Ryder's playful smile keeps creeping its way to the forefront of my mind, taunting me, reminding me how much I care for this guy .

He's not going to die. I won't let him.

I'm struggling to carry him alongside Blaze at full speed. Ryder is hardly able to walk on his own anymore, leaving us to drag his sorry ass between us. He's nothing but heavy muscle, feeling more like a damn boulder than a person at this point.

Blaze is sweating just as profusely as I am, his eyes locked on Nico's back. More than likely envisioning the way it would look all carved up. Personally, I'd like to shove a broom stick up his ass and ask him how he likes it.

What was the point of us being here? If he didn't want bloodshed, he should have had this meeting alone. Better yet, he shouldn't have had Tori by his side. Things probably would have gone better that way. None of us would have reacted in such a way when Valen turned his attention to Tori if she hadn't been by Nico's side.

A black, glossy SUV comes into view as we round the corner of the alley. Its tinted windows give no indication of whether or not there might be someone in it already. When the passenger side door is pushed open, my question is answered. Another one of Nico's gang members sits behind the wheel, his figure so large, it takes up a third of the car. He would have served better inside rather than sitting out here twiddling his thumbs.

“Put him in the back,” Nico instructs as he takes the passenger seat with Tori in his lap.

My anger rises yet again, wanting to snatch her out of his arms and into my own, but I don't have time. Ryder needs help, and he needs it now.

Biting my tongue, I climb into the back seat first, pulling on Ryder as Blaze helps lift him into the car. The moment the door closes, we're peeling away with a screech of rubber against asphalt .

The SUV lifts to one side as we take the corner too fast, jostling Ryder more than we should. “Hey! Take it easy!” Blaze yells as he takes his shirt off, placing it over Ryder's side, and applying pressure.

The painful groan that escapes him hits me like a ton of bricks, cracking my heart in two. All I can do is try to keep him conscious as we speed through the city streets to an unknown destination. Nico wouldn't be gracious enough to take us to a hospital—bullet wounds pose too many questions.

“Ryder?” I call his name, wracking my brain for something to talk about, something to keep him awake. He hums in response, his head tilting my way as his heavy lids lift just an inch to land his blue eyes on me. “Do you remember the day Blaze was stuck at some stuffy family thing and we went to try to spring him out?”

The faintest lift comes from the corner of his mouth, I could hardly call it a smirk. I notice Tori's eyes on him, her glossy, brown orbs so full of emotion, it's hard to pinpoint which one is most prevalent. She's fidgeting on Nico's lap, clearly uncomfortable and wanting to make her way to us, but his hands are firmly keeping her in place. My jaw tightens for the umpteenth time tonight, and I'm sure I'll crack a tooth soon.

I have to pry my eyes away with great force, giving all my attention to Ryder where it's needed.

“You mean the day I got impaled by a stupid tree branch?” He tries to laugh, but it's choked, turning more into a cough than a chuckle. We all tense at the noise, doing our best not to show how screwed we think he is.

“I'm sorry. Impaled by a tree?” Tori questions, wanting to be a part of this, to comfort Ryder however she can.

“KitKat, there's so much you don't know.” He winks at her, struggling to breathe, but still being his playful self .

“We have cement walls rather than fencing around my house, and this idiot had Thorne boost him over. When he got to the top, he thought he could be a squirrel and jump from the wall to a nearby tree,” Blaze explains, pushing harder against Ryder's side as blood continues to pump out. His eyes flicker toward the speedometer, clocking our speed. Not fast enough.

Blaze's once pristine shirt is drenched entirely in crimson red, leaking onto his hands. For the first time since I've met him, Blaze is unbothered by the stains, letting his need for perfection dissipate.

“I was close,” Ryder defends himself, his voice only a whisper now as his lids close once more.

“You better look our girl in the eyes, Ryder,” I taunt him, needing him to want to stay alive. “Finish the story.”

Reluctantly, and way too slow for my liking, he opens his eyes once more, locking his gaze with Tori. She's watching and listening intently, leaning around Nico to look right at him. The motion causes her breasts to rub against the asshole's arm, ticking up my anger another notch.

Nico better learn what's mine is not his. I'll fucking kill him if Ryder dies tonight.

“My chest hit a branch, but it was a little flimsy thing, so when I went to pull myself up, it snapped. Needless to say, I fell along with it, and long story short, it stabbed me through the back.”

“He looked like a skewer. The branch ran parallel to his spine. Thankfully, it only skewered his skin and not his organs.”

Ryder lets out another chuckled cough as he raises his brows in Tori's direction. “I didn't even cry.”

Tori's laugh is strained, but it's there, filling the car with an ease we didn't know we needed. Ryder clutches my hand, and as much as I'd normally tease him for it, I bite my tongue, not wanting him to let me go. I squeeze back, pouring the love I have for this guy into my hold.

He lets out a breath before he starts seizing. Tori's laugh turns to a scream that she muffles with her hands over her mouth as her eyes widen in fear. Silent tears stream down her face as she watches in horror, as we all do.

The car stops abruptly, shoving us all forward at the same time the back door is opened. Strangers are dragging me out of the car with a fight. I'm punching left and right until I realize they're there to get Ryder. We're at the veterinarian clinic on the outskirts of town, one we've visited before, in the thick of our gang-affiliated days.

I stop fighting, allowing these people to focus on what's important… Ryder. Blaze slides across the back seat, holding our friend’s feet, then carrying him to the door with a couple other people. I wait, watching for Tori, who's pulling hard against Nico's hold on her wrist.

My eyes lock with the man who made all this happen, executing him with my gaze. He doesn't flinch. Why would he? Instead, he meets my gaze with an indifference that serves to infuriate me further. With purposeful strides, I make my way toward him, refusing to have Tori deal with him any longer.

“Let her go.” Each word is intentional, dripping with anger, adrenaline, and murder.

“Of course. I would never hold her against her will. I just needed to make sure she wasn't hurt as well.” The cold smile returns to his face, one just for show, used to fool those around him.

I don't bother arguing, grabbing Tori's free hand and leading her away. My strides are longer and faster than hers, accidentally causing her to stumble over herself. With ease, I catch her before she falls, steadying her on her feet with a sigh .

Slow down.

A murmured, “Sorry,” leaves my lips as I drag my hand down my face. Exhaustion doesn't begin to cover what I'm feeling. In a pace that Tori can keep up with, I race us inside, finding Blaze standing in front of a door, staring at the metal as if he could see through it.

“Is he in there?” I ask, pulling Tori beside me and holding her close. Her presence, her touch, is the only thing keeping me steady right now. She's my tether, and without her I'd be going bat shit crazy on everyone here.

“Yeah.” Blaze gives me one stiff nod, never looking away from the room.

It isn't until Tori reaches out and grabs his hand in hers that he breaks. His shoulders slump, his head dangles, and his hand reaches for his eyes, trying, but failing to hide the tears. His hands are still covered in Ryder's blood, now staining his face with the same red.

We can't lose him.

Tori finds us a spot away from the commotion, but within eyesight of the room, forcing us to sit down with her. She's holding my hand in one, and Blaze's in the other. Her eyes are locked on the door with a strength I should've realized she had sooner.

“I love you,” I whisper, because if Ryder hadn't done what he did, she'd be the one in the room right now.

She squeezes my hand, but she doesn't dare look away from the door. “I love you, too,” she admits, her voice cracking beneath the weight of her emotions. “I love all three of you.”

We sit there for what feels like days before the door opens and we're all scrambling to get up. The doctor, a small woman covered in blood, steps out, making her way to Nico, and not us. It makes sense, as he's the boss, but it still upsets me. Together, we make our way toward the pair, quiet as we listen in .

“He's lost a lot of blood and I don't have enough to replenish all of it. For now, he's stable, and I'll continue to run fluids. Hopefully he'll wake within the next hour.” Her eyes drift to us, the first compassionate stare of the night.

“Thank you.” Blaze is the one who remembers to show gratitude toward the person who saved our friend's life. I give her a nod of appreciation myself when Tori cuts in.

“Can we see him?” She's anxious, holding onto the fabric of her dress for dear life.

“You can, but don't jostle him. At least, not yet.”

We don't wait for her to change her mind, practically running back to the room and swinging the door open. He's laying on a metal table three sizes too small, leaving his legs dangling. There's blood all over the ground being cleaned off by a mop that seems to be spreading it more than absorbing.

We take slow steps in, careful not to be in the way of anyone working on him. He looks peaceful as he rests, his chest steadily rising and falling with each calm breath. The color of his skin holds a grayish tint that I'm not too keen on.

We all silently watch him, waiting for him to open his eyes again and say some smart-ass comment. I need him to say something stupid.

We're part of the background now, blending into the room's dark gray walls as we wait. It takes longer than I'd like, but eventually, Ryder stirs, groaning as he rubs at his side. Tori somehow beats Blaze and I to him, taking his hand to prevent him from touching his stitches.

“Don't you ever do that again!” she scolds him immediately before plastering her lips against his. Normally, I'd feel a pang of hurt—deep jealousy and irritation—but right now, I am too happy he's okay to feel anything else .

“Do what? Almost die, or take a bullet for you?” He cocks a brow, and that smirk is back against his lips.

Thank fuck. I never thought I'd be happier to see that stupid-ass smirk of his.

“Both!” She lightly slaps his chest, laying her forehead against his as she shakes her head. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Sorry, KitKat, but I'd take a lot more than just a bullet for you.” His hand snakes into her hair, kissing her with a wild passion, one more than likely brought on by the thought of his possible death.

Hell, if he asked, I'd be kissing him too.

Blaze and I hover nearby, deciding to give them their moment before we have our own with our brother. Blaze gestures with his head for me to follow, giving these two some privacy while Ryder shoves his tongue down Tori's throat.

When we step back out in the hallway, we find Nico never left. He pushes off the wall, scanning his eyes over us assessingly, deciding whether or not we're a threat.

“I take it he's awake.” It isn't a question, just an assumption he decides to state. “Good. We need to get going.”

Blaze's dark eyes are yelling, “ Fuck this guy” as we stare at one another for a brief second before looking back at him.

“We're getting Ryder and Tori and heading home. We've more than repaid our debt. Don't contact us again.” The sharpness in Blaze’s tone catches Nico off guard, more than likely never having been spoken to in that way.

“Very well. I had your cars brought to my place. You'll ride with me, and then you're free to go. Although, I highly suggest upping your security.” God, I hate his smile more than anything .

“What aren't you saying?” As usual, Blaze catches on faster than I do, noting the way Nico's foot taps with either impatience, or irritation. It's hard to tell.

“Word on the street is—Valen is searching for a girl. He's already spread word through most of the city and is offering a reward.”

“God dammit!” I can't hold it back anymore, punching the wall beside me so hard my hand cracks through the drywall, crumbling further as I pull my fist out. “This is all your fucking fault.”

“Hardly. This entire thing could have been avoided had you not reacted so strongly. It's your fault I've lost seven men and now have to show force to keep the balance. Do you have any idea what running out of the fight has done?” He shakes his head as if he's exasperated with us, like we've caused him all the problems in the world. My anger is at an all-time high, seething into an absolute outrage. “You've tipped the scales, and now the streets are in chaos.” He lets out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he waves his goon over to him. “Get the car and call Fredy to take care of the rest of the Black Talons that were at the warehouse today. Valen, however, is mine.”

The goon nods, disappearing down the hall when he hooks a right. It's silent for all of two seconds before Nico opens his mouth again. He must love the sound of his voice.

“Collect Ryder and Tori and meet me out front.”

He casually strolls past us and out the front door, essentially ordering us around. “I think he forgets we're not part of his gang. He can't just order us around.” My arms shoot out around me as I speak, fueled with a fury needing to be released.

“Trust me, I noticed.” Blaze slowly lets out a heavy, long breath, exhausted to his core. “I'll handle it. Don't worry. ”

“You can't keep handling things alone. I'm here, too.” I hold his gaze, needing him to remember he can rely on us. We're not his father; we won't condemn him for needing help.

“Let's just go for now.”

I nod my head, following him back into the room and getting the two love birds. Tomorrow, I'm fucking her so hard, she won't be able to move.

If Ryder hadn't stepped in front of her… I don't want to imagine it. I shake my head as if that can knock the very thought out, clearing my throat to break up the still ongoing make-out session.

We help Ryder up, careful with his stitches, and have Tori walk behind us. Like hell I'd let her sit in Nico's lap again. We all climb into the car, and I pull Tori onto my lap, but she's quickly snatched away by Ryder, and I can't exactly protest.

He's going to milk this bullet wound for all it’s worth.

We're at Nico's place in fifteen minutes, pulling into the familiar parking lot of his underground casino. I spot our cars, and even Ryder's bike in the lot, wondering how they got here to begin with when my keys are currently digging into my thighs.

We all climb out, Tori sandwiched between us. Ryder's bike will have to be left behind for now, and that's going to be a huge argument. I'm mentally preparing for the battle when Tori suddenly stops moving, freezing us all as she gasps. Her eyes lock on one of the casino workers.

Fuck, things just got a whole lot worse.