Page 47 of End It All

"Oh," Harlow said, digging in his heels. "Don't clean up anymore, okay? He needs his… junk. It helps him breathe."

I frowned. "Why?"

Harlow returned my frown. "Quincy is complicated. Don't take away his comfort too quickly. Even if he needs it." He sighed. "This is the cleanest it’s ever been, and I’m sure that’s good. But, he’s not ready for it.”

"Let's go," Benito said.

Once the apartment was empty, I sighed and walked back into the bedroom. Quincy was out, his lips parted as he shifted and groaned. I made my way to his side before I reached down and touched his cheek. He was so battered and bruised, it was going to be horrible tomorrow.

"I'm sorry I cleaned up," I muttered. "Part of me thought you would like it. Or maybe I just wanted you to. As usual, I can't do shit right." I laughed. "I'm glad you're asleep."

I removed my hand from his face and circled the bed. Tomorrow, I would have to get up early, make him food, feed him his meds, and make sure he hydrated as the note said. It seemed like I was going to be busy for a while, but for somereason, I didn't mind. I climbed into bed next to Quincy. The minute I was comfortable, he flipped over and wrapped his arm around me.

My breathing stuck in my chest. I didn't dare squirm as his lips moved against my ear. At first, I couldn’t make out what he said. And then I heard it.

“Blake,” he muttered.

"Still here," I answered, staring at the far wall and wondering why I hadn't left yet as his arm tightened around my midsection. "Still here."

Pain wasa familiar friend that reminded me that I was still amongst the living. In all honesty, I was pretty fucking certain I'd be dead by now.

"Quincy, open your fucking mouth and take the meds." Blake's angry voice would have made me laugh if I wasn't in such pain.

I grunted, keeping my lips sealed. As much as I wanted the pain to disappear, the sedative Melony no doubt prescribed for me, put me out on my ass every single time without fail. I couldn't function that way. There was still the fact I needed to move. Daiki knew where the fuck I was. If he knew then anyone who had a grudge against me could know. And there were a lot of those fuckers.

"Quincy, come the fuck on! She said you have to take these." Blake was grumbling like he was the one who’d gotten his ass kicked.

I rolled over on my side and bile burned the back of my throat as a fresh wave of pain rushed up my spine. My abdomen throbbed in time to my heartbeat, along with my head.

"Fine," I forced out as I made my way into a sitting position.

"You aren't fine!" Blake glared at me, his arms outstretched as if he was ready to catch me.

That made me laugh. "This isn't my first time, baby girl, I got this." I snapped my fingers, pointing toward my discarded pair of jeans. "Be a doll and grab the pre-rolled in my wallet." Little fragments of memory flooded in of Blake standing over me, of him laying next to me. Shit, even a few where I was curled around him.

"You don't need weed right now."

I waved off the pills Blake held in his hand. "I sure as shit don't need that. Now, you either give it to me or I'm getting up and grabbing it myself."

Blake's hands balled into fists at his sides. "It took you a full three minutes to even sit up."

"With the right motivation, baby, anything is possible." I winked at my stubborn housemate. He wasn't wrong. I didn't want to get out of bed right now, but if need be, I would just to prove a goddamn point. I wasn't some pussy that would be brought down by a few flesh wounds.

"Fuck, you're an idiot." Blake twisted on his heels, snatched up my pants, and brought me the glorious joint.

I slapped his ass, not minding the slight burn that blossomed over the cuts on my hands. "Good boy."

"I will burn down this entire building with you in it."

The way Blake said it made me believe him. He didn't have that killer feel about him that so many men I surrounded myself with had, but something inside of me said he meant it.

"Noted, you draw the line at good boy." I popped the joint between my lips and he leaned over and brought out a lighter. It was silver, and the skilled way he flicked it was hot in my pain-riddled brain. "Thanks." I inhaled a lungful of glorious smoke and let my eyes flutter closed for a brief second of reprieve. "How long was I out?"

"Not long enough," Blake grumbled. He took the joint from between my fingers after my third inhale, and took a hit. I didn’t recall telling him I’d share, but then again, he did stay and nurse me. "Two days. I know Melony said you were a shit patient, but I didn't think you'd refuse meds on the third damn day."

"Fuck, two days? I was out for two fucking days."

I didn’t have time to be lying around. I snatched the joint back and put it between my lips as I twisted and planted my feet on the floor. One strong pull of smoke, and I pushed off the bed.