“Had to do what?”

I sighed. “Spend days hunting down Bil y, then having to shoot him. I’m so sorry, Vance.”

He watched me for a beat. “How much you got left?” he asked, what I thought, bizarrely.

“Of what?”

“Of whatever it is that’s pul ed you through this shit.” I shook my head, confused.

He got in my space.

“Maybe you should know somethin’ about me.” Oh no.

“What?” I asked, even though I didn’t know if I wanted to know. Every time one of these boys shared, it freaked me out.

“I’m not sorry,” Vance said.

“Excuse me?”

“That he’s never gonna use that hand again. I’m not sorry. Not only that but, Roxie, I’m glad I got to do it. Fuckin’

thril ed.”

Holy cow.

I held my breath.

He got closer and said low, “Justice.”

Holy, holy, cow, cow, cow.

Then, I felt heat at my back, an arm came around my upper chest from behind and I was pul ed into Hank’s body.

Vance moved back, his eyes shifting to look over my shoulder.

“Hank.” he said.

“Vance,” Hank said from behind me.

Vance’s shit-eating grin spread across his face as he took us in.

Then he said, “I’l let you two let life begin again, I’m gettin’ a drink.”

Good grief.

I closed my eyes and curled my fingers around Hank’s forearm.

When I opened my eyes, Vance was stil grinning at me.

“I’m not going to hear the end of that, am I?” I asked.

“Nope,” Vance answered.

He kept right on grinning.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t you need a drink?” I asked, sounding uppity.

Vance started laughing.

Then he said, “Yep,” and walked away.

After a few seconds, I realized that Hank’s body was moving and I was pretty certain it was with laughter.

“Don’t you start, Whisky,” I warned, looking out the window at the cars on Broadway, my back stil pressed against him.

He kissed the back of my head.

“We’l talk about it later,” Hank said.

“No, we won’t. We’re never going to talk about it. Never.

Never, never, never,” I announced.

Hank’s arm tightened and I felt his breath at my cheek.

“Later,” he promised.

Good God.

“Whatever,” I muttered.

He let me go and walked away.

When I turned back to the Rock Chicks, they were al smiling.

Jeez.

* * * * *

Some time later, Luke walked in. He looked none the worse for wear, in fact, just as good as ever.

“I’m sorry, I love Jason and al , but that man is f**king hot, ” Annette said (and luckily Jason was across the room talking to my Dad).

I disengaged from the Rock Chicks again and walked to Luke.

I didn’t know what to say to him either, so, even though he was a badass and super cool, I just invaded his space, wrapped my arms around his waist, pressed my cheek to his chest and I hugged him.

I know it was a girlie thing to do, but a bul et sliced through his flesh while he was protecting me, I had to do something.

After a few seconds, his arms came around me.

Not surprisingly, he didn’t say anything.

Surprisingly, neither did I.

Then, quietly he said, “I know it hasn’t been that long for you, but…”

When he hesitated, I said to his chest, “What?”

“Feel like having your life begin again?”

My body went stiff but my head tilted back to look at him.

“What?” I asked.

“Just checkin’. See, my life could begin again. I’m thinkin’ about now,” he replied.

I blinked at him.

“Are you f**king with me?” I whispered, my body stil stiff.

He did his half-grin. “Yeah.”

I pul ed out of his arms.

“That isn’t funny,” I snapped.

“It’s f**kin’ hilarious,” he told me.

I was in the middle of growling my frustration when Hank’s arm went around my shoulders and he pul ed me to his side.

“Luke,” Hank said, his gaze was locked on Luke.

Luke’s eyes cut to Hank. “Hank,” Luke said back.

They just stared at each other.

This was making me supremely uncomfortable so I decided to butt in to the badass, super cool, hot guy staring contest.

“Wel , um… thanks for getting shot for me,” I said to Luke, then wished someone would shoot me.

Luke watched me speak then his eyes went to Hank again. “She’s cute,” Luke noted.

“I know,” Hank replied.

“Oh for goodness sakes,” I clipped out.

“My favorite part from last night, outside of the ‘my life began’ speech, was when she told him he was makin’ her dizzy,” Luke shared, feeling verbose for once in his life.

“Didn’t think it was funny at the time, but, in retrospect…” Hank to my shock agreed.

“The part about the dog and the Frisbee was a good touch too,” Luke clearly felt in a talkative mood.

I’d had enough so I cut in. “Don’t you need a drink?” I asked Luke pointedly.

Luke’s half-grin went ful -fledged. “Yeah,” he said but he didn’t move.

“Wel , why don’t you go get one?” I snapped.

He reached out and touched my nose with his finger.

Then he was gone.

I turned into Hank. “I’m beginning to regret my actions last night,” I told him.

“Final y,” he said, sounding relieved and slightly arrogant.

I frowned at him. “Not because I did the wrong thing, but because… never mind,” I stopped and tried to pul away because… never mind,” I stopped and tried to pul away from Hank’s arm but it tightened and I couldn’t move.

“Sunshine?”

I looked up at Hank. “What?”

“You think they’d tease you if they thought you’d done something to regret?” Hank asked.

I thought about it.

“Probably not,” I relented.

“You think they’d tease you if they thought you did the wrong thing?” Hank asked.

I thought about that too.

“I guess not.”

He watched me for a beat then he shook his head.

“Jesus, I can’t believe you hugged Luke Stark. Christ.

They’re probably laughin’ themselves sick in the control room.”