Don't Break My Hart

Chapter 6

Chogan and Carlos looked at my arm in amazement. My healing had gotten faster. I wasn't sure what the difference was now, but it made me nervous.

"What are we going to do?" My question interrupted their reverie. Chogan didn't say anything, but walked into the adjoining bathroom. Carlos plopped heavily on the sofa.

"Maybe I should have just left you in here. You're always getting into trouble." Carlos joked, trying to ease the situation.

"And you were there this time and didn't stop her." Chogan rebuked him, coming back into the room with bandages in his hands.

Carlos seemed to be abashed, but only for a moment. "We were both there for the first time and neither one of us stopped her. Everything she said was true."

Chogan kicked at Carlos to move, then motioned me to sit beside him. Carlos scowled as he took the armchair. "Tell me exactly what happened. Down to the last detail." I didn't answer, so Carlos spoke up for me as Chogan began wrapping my arm up in the bandages.

As Chogan put the last bandage in place, he said, "I don't know who all saw you with a broken arm, but we have to be careful now. I can make a sling from old clothes, but you have to put on a damn good act."

I nodded. A sound bubbled up from my throat, alarming Chogan and Carlos. They both reached for me, but I brushed them off. "I'm okay. Just overwhelmed. I'm not in pain or anything. There is only so much I can handle before I start to crack around the edges." My voice cracked with the last word.

Carlos shifted from foot to foot, not knowing what to do with a crying female. Chogan continued to reach for me, pulling me into his lap. At that moment, the door opened with a bang. It was Xavier, panic-stricken.

"I tried to stop them." He panted out. "Shenae was pissed. I'm so sorry, Hart. I should have told her sooner."

"What are you talking about?" Carlos snapped.

"Shenae got mad at me for keeping quiet about Ethan being here, so to get back at me, she told Angel where you have been hiding. Angel told her crew. They're on the way here." My heart thudded. The Angel's "crew" part sent a pang of jealousy through me, but I squashed it like the biters squashed our future.

"What do you mean Shenae told them? She wasn't even supposed to know where I've been hiding out?" I snapped.

"She's my sister, Hart. She's just as much a part of this group. I didn't understand why you would even ask that of me." Xavier's own voice grew sharp.

"Really? I think our current situation explains perfectly." I was beyond pissed at the siblings.

"Look, we can argue about that later. Shut the door and sit down, X." Chogan remained calm. "Everyone needs to act like they're concerned about her arm. Hart, act hurt. We need this to work."

Carlos and Xavier both took seats. The worry on their face about being caught would actually help. With luck on our side, the others would believe it was actual worry for me. I curled into Chogan's chest to hide my face, and partly because I didn't want to look at Xavier. This all depended on me, and I had zero confidence I'd be able to pull this off, and Chogan was right. What's done is done.

The door opened, a little slower this time. Ryder was the first into the room, a stricken look on his face. He was followed by Rowan, Kaito, Big John, Angel, and Sam. Shenae was nowhere in sight. I ducked my head further into Chogan's chest.

"Can we help you?" Carlos to the rescue.

"Atalia." Ryder's voice was soft, pleading. Hearing it and the stress of the situation, caused tears to well up. I turned to look at him, keeping my arm tucked close to my chest. Chogan's steadying hands were on my waist. "Are you okay?"