Deacon and Maddox were having a beer with Knox. As soon as Deacon saw her, he was off the couch heading toward her. He wrapped those muscled, tattooed arms around her in a gentle hug. A long hug too. It had nearly reached the uncomfortable stage when Deacon whispered, “Thank fuck you’re all right, Shi-Shi.”

He returned to his seat, and Knox held his hand out for her to sit on his lap. She curled into his solid warmth and sighed.

Maddox smiled at her. “Glad to see you’re on the mend.”

She smiled back.

A huge bouquet of flowers sat on the entryway table.

Knox noticed where her focus had gone and said, “Get well soon from everyone at Black Arts and ABC.”

“Fee and Katie wanted to drop them off personally, but your guard dog here is denying everyone visitation,” Deacon said.

“She needs to rest. And, come on, those women would poke and prod her and probably Instagram pictures of her tongue as well as convince her that shots of tequila are the best remedy.”

Deacon nodded. “Shihan does have a point.”

For the first time since the accident, Shiori wondered who’d taken over hers and Knox’s classes. She grabbed her notebook.

WHO IS TEACHING?

“Fee is taking over your classes. Blue spared Terrel. Zach pulled the stick out of his ass finally and stepped up too.”

ANY WORD FROM RONIN?

“No,” Knox said. “We were just discussing how much fun it was gonna be having the conversation with Sensei about going off the grid for so long. It wasn’t a big deal when he left for a month. But it’s a big damn deal when he blows off all responsibilities for three months.”

SO ARE YOU GUYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HIS MOTIVE FOR LACK OF COMMUNICATION?

Deacon snorted. “It’s his dojo, so he can do whatever he wants. Putting Knox in charge means his decisions stand during that time frame. Ronin has zero right to bitch. We stopped by to tell Knox he has full support of everyone at Black Arts.”

Knox seemed embarrassed. “Thanks.”

Maddox and Deacon got up and said hasty goodbyes before letting themselves out.

Neither of them spoke. Knox just set his chin on top of her head and absentmindedly stroked her arm. After a while he said, “Do you mind if I go for a run? I’ve got energy to burn.”

She wrote on her pad: GO AHEAD.

“Thanks. You wanna watch TV until I get back?”

NO. I’LL JUST GO BACK TO BED.

“Want me to carry you?”

Shiori rolled her eyes.

He draped a towel around his neck and paused with his hand on the doorknob. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

She gave him two thumbs-up and made a shooing motion.

By the time she reached the bedroom, she felt woozy. She was glad Knox wasn’t here because he’d try to haul her to the hospital. Especially if he knew she’d thrown up and had the bouts of dizziness and nausea several times since yesterday.

But the doctor had warned her about the aftereffects of a car accident. This was all part of it. The more she slept, the faster she’d heal, so she hunkered beneath the covers, hoping to get her life back soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“LEMME see your tongue.”

Shiori stuck it out at him quickly.

“I need to see if it’s healing.”

She closed her eyes and opened her mouth.

He noticed the swelling along the sides was nearly gone, even when red spots and bumps were visible. “Does it hurt?”

She shrugged.

The big bite mark looked fifty times better. He put his fingers under her jaw, closing it. “I think you’ll be okay to talk tomorrow.”

They were on day four after the accident, and Knox knew Shiori intended to return to her penthouse today. Although he wished she would’ve been here under different circumstances, having her living in his home had seemed right. But if he said that, he’d spook her, so he had to pretend it was cool she wouldn’t be in his bed every night.

Three precise knocks sounded on the door.

Knox answered and was shocked to see Ronin on his doorstep. “Do my eyes deceive me, or is it the great jujitsu Master Black?”

“Are you gonna let me in?”

Before Ronin dodged him, Knox gave him the acceptable man half hug. “Come in. When did you get back?”

“Last night. Where is she?” Then Ronin brushed past him when he spied Shiori. But he stopped three feet away, keeping his hands at his sides as he catalogued her injuries. “Why did I have to hear from Katie that you were in a fucking car accident?”

No hug. No, “I’m glad you’re all right.” Just anger.