For a split second, Kane and Raven exchanged a look. Even though she wasn’t really asking that question, just stating a fact, she knew by their look that she was right.
More motorcycles roared in, the sound vibrating through her bones. Monica instinctively moved closer to Kane, the motion pulling a sharp breath from her as pain flared along her side.
A man she recognized hurried toward them. It took her a second to place him—he’d been at the hospital when Kane had ordered her there to talk to King and Amara.
“You hurt?” he asked Kane, then shifted his attention to her.
“No,” Kane answered, his arm tightening around her. “But she took the hit on her left side.”
“Any trouble breathing?” he asked, looking here over.
She shook her head. “No.” Her voice sounded distant, even to her own ears.
She watched Raven lift her arm and point down the road, toward the direction the vehicle had disappeared. Without a word, several of them mounted up and tore off after it.
“I’m fine,” Monica said again, though this time the words felt hollow because she wasn’t fine. None of this was fine.
As the shock faded, her body started to shake, not from the pain, but from the understanding settling in. This hadn’t been an accident.
Someone had followed them. Someone had waited. Someone had pulled a trigger. And if Kane hadn’t reacted when he did, she wouldn’t be there at all.
That truth landed heavy in her chest as Kane held her tighter, like he already knew how close she’d come to never getting up again.
CHAPTER 30
Kane watched Monica closely as they made their way back to the meeting place. Val had driven one of the SUVs and brought them back here while Raven stayed, taking care of his bike...or what was left of it. Catching a glimpse of the twisted wreckage as they had passed sent Kane’s rage roaring to life. His bike had gone down hard. Monica could have been killed. The thought alone made his jaw tighten until it ached.
Reaching the house they had just left, he noticed how silent Monica was. She was too silent and now heading up to the house, he saw how pale she looked under the porch light. One of her hands stayed pressed to her side like she was afraid to let go. Every instinct he had screamed to turn around and hunt down the bastards who’d done this, but right now, she mattered more. His brothers would find them. He trusted that. And when they did, justice would be handled by him personally.
Val followed them into the house, phone already pressed to his ear as he walked past them toward the kitchen, his voice low and clipped.
Kane didn’t say a word. He glanced down at Monica and saw she was still holding her side. Gently, but firmly, he guided her down the hall and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind them.
“Lift your shirt.”
“I’m fine, Kane,” Monica said, not looking at him. “It’s just sore.”
“Lift it,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “Or I will.”
He didn’t like this version of her... quiet and withdrawn. He knew she was still processing what had happened, but she couldn’t disappear into her own head right now. Not when he needed to know if she was okay. And once he knew she was okay, he was going to find the son of a bitch responsible for all of it and end this shit once and for all.
With a long sigh, she lifted her shirt.
The bruising stole his breath. Dark and angry, it stretched from just below the waistband of her jeans all the way up her side, disappearing beneath where the fabric stopped.
“Fuck,” Kane cursed, staring at it. “I need to get Slade.”
“No.” Monica dropped her shirt back down, shaking her head. “I bruise easily, Kane. I’m fine. I can move. There’s no sharp pain, and I’m not having trouble breathing. Please. I just need a minute. Okay?”
He held her gaze, fighting every instinct he had. Finally, he nodded. “Okay.”
The word came out quieter than he felt. He pulled her into his arms carefully, as if she might shatter. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I should’ve protected you better.”
That was when she broke.
It was like a dam gave way inside her. Her body started to shake, tears soaking into his shirt as her arms wrapped around him, clinging like he was the only thing keeping her upright.
“Don’t apologize to me,” she said through sobs. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing in this strange bathroom losing my shit.”