Page 37 of Judge's Justice

I sign back, my hand movements slower than usual. "Of course I am. I told you I'd be fine."

"It's been two whole days! Saint said you needed to sleep to heal but two days is a very long time and I was worried you'd sleep forever like Sleeping Beauty but without the kiss to wake you up."

Despite everything, the pain, the exhaustion, the way my body feels like it's been through a wood chipper, I smile. "No kiss needed. Just good healing."

Nora's awake now. She's sitting up on the couch, one hand pressed to her mouth. Grace turns to her mother, signing triumphantly. "See, Mama? I told you! Judge keeps his promises!"

A tear falls down Nora's cheek. Grace doesn't see it. She's already turned back to me, asking if I'm hungry, if I want water, if my ribs still hurt a lot, but I see it. See the way Nora's trying to hold herself together and failing.

Saint must see it too because he crouches down next to Grace, getting her attention.

"Hey, Grace. Want to see something cool?" He says and I sign it for him.

Grace looks at him suspiciously. "What?"

"The secret chocolate hiding spot. Every club has one. But you can't tell anyone where it is. Top secret."

Grace's eyes go wide. She looks at her mother. "Can I go, Mama? Can I see the secret chocolate?"

Nora wipes her eyes quickly, nods and signs. "Yes, baby. Go with Saint."

Grace throws her arms around my neck one more time. I bite back a groan at the pressure on my ribs before she follows Saint to the door.

Saint pauses in the doorway, looks back at us with a knowing expression.

"Behave, you two." Then he winks. "But if you don't want to behave, I'll make sure Grace takes an hour to get back."

The door closes behind them.

Silence.

Nora and I stare at each other across the room. She's still on the couch, arms wrapped around herself. I'm sitting on the edge of the medical table, barely upright, feeling like I got hit by a truck.

"I'm sorry," I say. "About Saint. He's—"

"Don't." Nora laughs softly, wiping at her eyes again. "Don't apologize for him. I'm just glad we can joke around now instead of me sitting here terrified you were going to die."

"I wasn't going to die."

"You don't know that. You were barely conscious when they brought you in. You've been unconscious for two days." Her voice breaks. "I thought…"

She doesn't finish. Just stands and walks over to me. Slowly. Like she's not sure if she's allowed.

I shift over slightly on the table, making room. "Sit with me?"

She hesitates. "Your ribs—"

"Are fine. Well, not fine. But they'll hurt whether you're sitting next to me or not. Might as well hurt with you close."

Nora moves to the small couch in the corner instead. I follow, sliding off the table with a grunt of pain, crossing the short distance on unsteady legs. My body protests every movement, but I make it to the couch and lower myself down beside her.

Close enough that our thighs touch.

"Did you really spend the last two days here?" I ask.

"Grace wanted to be here when you woke up." Nora's voice is soft. "She insisted. Said she needed to make sure you were okaybecause you're part of our family now and family doesn't leave each other."

My chest tightens. "Grace said that?"