Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Sounds like doctor advice to me.”
Even my joke was flat. I wasn’t really in the mood for it. Six to seven weeks total. That was half the fucking Circuit. I was going to miss a good chunk of the entire thing and be lucky to make it back for the back end. Fuck me.
“If I was going to give you doctor advice, I’d tell you to eat some more apples. It keeps me away, after all.” He smiled. “Proper rest and hydration as well.”
“Sure, doc. I’ll remember that.”
“Good luck, Mr. Vega.”
“Not in this lifetime,” I said as he left me to rot in this sterile office.
A nurse came in to wrap my hand in a splint. While she worked, I dialed my dad. I just wanted to hear his voice right now. Dad always knew what to say when I was at my lowest, and right now, I was pretty damn low.
He picked up on the fourth ring.
“Bones! What’s up?”
“Nothing, Dad. Just finished a match.” And totally fucked everything up. “Did you happen to catch it?”
“Not this time, kiddo. I’m sorry. I had to head to the hospital. Now before you get on me, it’s just a regular check-up. Nothing big. One of the kids here—Luis, you remember him? The one with the mean right hook?—he took me. I’m fit as a fiddle.”
It was a lie. Not with his sickness and the way he’d left to spend the rest of his days in his motherland. But I chose to believe it anyway because right now, I needed good news.
“So, you’re going to get back in the ring soon?” I cracked.
“I’m thinking about starting a seniors’ league at La Suprema.” He laughed, but it turned into a heavy coughing fit. My heart lurched. The nurse had to hold on tighter to my hand when I started shaking. Dad drew a breath and yelled somewhere to the side, “Nemo, stop smoking around me, you asshole! How many times do I gotta tell you that?”
I swallowed. “Why don’t I come visit you, Dad? You’re in Mexico City, right? I’ll come down there, just to say hi.”
“Are you looking to hit the slots with me, Bones? I’ve made some pretty good money on that fake blackjack game.”
“Yeah, I remember you saying that.”
“I’m trying to save up to come see you, Bones. When Smiley’s makes it to Vegas. We can gamble at the best slots on the strip. So, no use visiting your old man just yet, okay?”
Tears burned hot in my eyes, and I blinked them away. I wanted to believe he could handle that, but then he started coughing again, and it shattered the small illusion I’d built a second ago.
“Sure. Sounds good, Dad. Just keep an eye on my matches, All right?”
“Won’t miss another one.”
I hung up without telling him the truth. Without telling him I wouldn’t be out there for a while. Guilt clung to me as cold as my sweat. What if he didn’t get to see me in another Circuit match? What if we didn’t make it to Vegas? What if he—
“All done, Mr. Vega.” The nurse’s smile was kind as she stood. “Your friends are waiting for you in the lobby.”
“Thanks.”
The nurse left first, but I spent the next few minutes hyping myself up to go see the rest of Smiley’s. I didn’t know how I was going to face them now. I had already fucked up once with Nero. And somehow, this felt even worse than that.
Lotto’s worried frown was the first thing I saw. Then Frankie’s scowl, Ari’s scrunched nose, and River’s pinched eyebrows. They weren’t looking at me but at the cast on my hand.
“Bones…” Ari breathed.
I shook my head. “Don’t bother.” As much as I loved her, I wasn’t in the mood for some pity party.
“How long?” Frankie asked.
“Four weeks. At the minimum.”
He ran a hand through his blond hair but didn’t say anything.
River’s grunt was more like a grimace. “We’re going to have to call Pinstripe.”
Ari sighed. “And Lucien.”
“I don’t want to be privy to that call. You could probably see his clenched butthole from space.” River tipped his head toward Frankie. “More power to you.”
“I’ll deal with it,” Lotto offered, “and if he says anything, I’ll just ask how his dad’s investigation is going.”
I snorted despite myself. “I’m sure that’ll put us back in his good graces.”
“I’ll call up Pinstripe then. He’s gonna have to bust ass to get here.” Frankie let out a frustrated huff. “Can’t believe I have to deal with two idiots on this team now.”
River lifted a brow in jest. “Name some names, Frankie.”
“The guy who let his guard down and is sleeping off a nasty cut to the forehead.” Frankie motioned around him to note the absence of Teo. “Dumbass. I told him not to drop his hands like that.”