Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“It’s already been a few hours,” I grumbled.
“Figured you’d be impatient.” Swan’s words were slurred, but she had a faint smile on her face.
“Always when it concerns you, baby,” I said, kissing her hand. “Fury’s brought something for pain.”
“Ah, good. Hip hurts like a mother.”
“I expect it does,” Fury said with a smile.
His woman, Noelle, sat beside Swan on the bed. “Hey, honey. Doc bein’ mean to you?”
Swan grinned sleepily. “Yeah. Have someone cut off his balls for me, will you?”
“Yeah,” Noelle said with a chuckle. “I’ll see if I can get Shadow or Millie to get on that for you.”
“Nah. Don’t really do that. I know he’s trying to help.”
“If it’s my balls you guys are contemplatin’ losin’, I’d appreciate it if you could at least wait until I’ve had some offspring.” Doc walked in, grinning at Swan.
“We were,” Swan said with a smile. She still sounded about half loopy from the drugs he’d given her. “But I think I talked her out of it.”
“It was you who suggested it,” Noelle said, giggling. “I was just helpin’ a bitch out.”
Swan chuckled. “I like you, Noelle. You and me and Jezebel are gonna rule the roost around here.”
“That you are, my dear,” El Diablo said with a smile. “Now, Doc. You have news?”
“Can’t we just talk about other things for a while?” Swan looked like she thought she was being led to the gallows. “I don’t want to --”
“Relax, Swan.” Doc came closer, sitting on the other side of the bed from Noelle. He took her other hand in both of his. “It’s not cancer. You’re not gonna die. At least, not from this, and not any time soon.”
She sucked in a breath that turned into a sob. “What?”
I was afraid to say anything. My grip on Swan’s hand tightened fractionally, and I tried to loosen my grip. Last thing I wanted to do was hurt or frighten her.
Doc sighed, frowning. “This is a prime example of why I don’t like telling patients a definite diagnosis until I’ve run all the tests.” He took a breath. “You should have been told they were testing for osteosarcoma. And yes, all the imaging pointed to it. Your blood markers were questionable, but the imaging was key in the diagnosis they gave you. The pathology, on the other hand…” He grinned. “You’ve got what’s called myositis ossificans. It can look like cancer in imaging, but it’s not. Short of it is, this was caused by your fall in a roundabout way. The resulting injury to your muscle, and probably the bone to a lesser degree, caused an inflammation or swelling around the bone. It’s why the chemo didn’t work and any kind of surgery or just walking on it will aggravate it because it irritates it. With some rest, anti-inflammatories, and gradually working your way back to full mobility, you’re going to be just fine, honey.”
Swan’s lower lip trembled. “You’re serious. You promise you’re serious.”
“Honey, I would not in any way be that cruel to anyone. You don’t have bone cancer. You have an inflammation that will go away on its own given rest and careful physical therapy.”
Chapter Nine
Swan
When Doc’s news finally settled in, I reached for Reaper and burst into tears. I’m not sure how long I cried, but it seemed like months of worry and fear burst free, and I couldn’t stem it. Wasn’t sure I wanted to. Other than all the people witnessing my breakdown, there was really no reason to hold it in any longer. In the month or so I’d been with Reaper, I knew for certain he understood my fears and would never make fun of me or allow anyone else to. And these people? Yeah. They were solidly in my corner. I had no idea what would happen next, but right this second it didn’t matter. The people in this club and, if I understood it all, two other clubs -- Salvation’s Bane and Bones -- had banded together and helped me in my lowest moment. The people from Bones had come all the way from Kentucky! And none of them had asked for anything in return. No one had ever been so caring in my life since my mom died.
“You’re OK,” Reaper said, his mouth at my ear. “You’re good. It’s all good.” He sounded like he was talking more to himself than me, but I’d take it. He held me tight, trembling nearly as much as I was. That was when I realized the man loved me. At least, in some way he loved me. This changed things. Our relationship was now vastly different.
“Will you help me?” I asked softly. “Help me while I do whatever Doc says I have to do to heal?”
“Of course.” He pulled back. “Swan, why would you even ask me that? I’m not leaving.”