* * * *
“How do you not know where he lives?” Kane asked in frustration.
“I have his cell phone number, but it keeps going to voicemail. Do you want that?” Chris asked nervously.
“Calm down or I’m going to take you outside and kick your ass,” Hondo warned as he pulled his mate into his arms. “Don’t take your frustrations out on Chris.”
Kane stopped pacing and looked over at Chris. “Oh god, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be a prick. It’s just that…” How did he explain what Snooke was doing to him? He didn’t want to sound like a punk whose nose was wide open and sniffing behind the guy.
Kane knew he had been horrible to Snooke. He could see the hesitation in Snooke’s eyes. He should have been more understanding. But like an ass, he had thrown a fit. Snooke probably didn’t even want to talk to him anymore.
“You really like him.” Chris had mercy on him and gave him a way out.
“Yeah.”
“Take his phone number. You can repeat dial him all night long if you want, and nobody will know.” Chris smiled at Kane as he wrote the number down. Kane was grateful for a friend like Chris.
“Thanks.” Kane grabbed the piece of paper and headed for the back door.
“Kane?”
“Huh?” he looked back to see Chris pulling out of Hondo’s arms and crossing the kitchen.
“He seems to have a lot going on. Don’t pressure him.”
If only Chris had said that two weeks ago. “I won’t.” He waved at the two as he walked into the backyard.
* * * *
Snooke rolled over and wondered where the loud music was coming from. It took a moment to realize that it was his phone. He winced as he reached over and grabbed the vibrating thing before it slid from his nightstand.
“Hello?” Was that his voice? It sounded dry and cracked.
“Snooke? It’s Kane. You sound off. Are you okay?”
Kane? Why would Kane be calling him? Didn’t he blow his only chance he had? He had to still be sleeping. Snooke winced again when he pushed himself up to a sitting position. The covers fell and his bruised chest was exposed. “I’m fine.” Why couldn’t he get his voice to work properly?
“Stop lying. Tell me where you’re at.” Kane growled and then his voice softened. “I can help.”
Snooke hissed when he ran his hand over his sternum and touched the sore spots. With his pale skin, it looked worse than it was. His chest resembled that of a human who’d been bit by a truck. The blues and purples blended together to form a macramé of ugly colors. The greens and yellows didn’t help either.
The only thing that worried Snooke was the pain he experienced when he breathed. Going to a human doctor was out of the question. And a demon realm doctor…Snooke shuddered.
Snooke finally gave in and told Kane where he could be found. He knew the warrior wouldn’t tell anyone. Okay, he hoped he wouldn’t.
Snooke dropped the phone on his bed and slid back down very carefully. This was so messed up. He pulled the cover back over his shoulder and tried to lie there comfortably, but it wasn’t in the cards. Every move he made was extremely painful.
He opened his eyes when he heard, rather than saw, Kane enter his bedroom. Snooke closed his eyes again, too ashamed of the way he had acted the last time he saw the warrior. Silence hung in the room. Snooke was starting to believe Kane had left.
“Are you hurt?” Kane said quietly from across the room.
“Yes,” Snooke whispered back. His hands fisted under his cheek as he waited for Kane to approach. He could feel the air stir in front of him and knew Kane was standing beside the bed.
“Where, shorty?” A hand brushed the hair from his forehead.
Snooke had to swallow a few times before he could answer without tears in his voice. “My ribs.” His eyes opened when the blanket was pulled back, Kane studying Snooke’s face. The warmth in Kane’s eyes was nearly his undoing. Those beautiful brown eyes searched Snooke’s for a moment and then glanced down at his chest.
Kane let out a curse. “Who did this?” he asked as his face pinched and he inhaled sharply. “You have some internal bleeding.”
Snooke knew it was bad, but he didn’t know it was that bad. Kane knelt down beside the bed as he reached for his phone. His eyes shot up to stare at Snooke’s. “Phoenyx. I need your help.” Kane gave the warrior their location. Just great, soon everyone would know where he lived.
When Kane sat his phone on the floor, Snooke looked away. He wanted Kane, but was afraid to let him in. His life was a complete train wreck at the moment, and Kane didn’t need to be onboard. He didn’t need to be, but Snooke couldn’t seem to turn him away. No matter how hard he tried.