Savage Vandal (82 Street Vandals #1) - Heather Long Page 0,71

lifted one shoulder, hoping that Vaughn would get the hint and let me go. Despite the initial surprise, it was kind of nice to have his warm arms around me. Too nice. Rather than let me go, Vaughn settled his hands down on my hips and tugged me back a couple of steps as Doc finished packing up.

“How many injuries is a lot?” Vaughn asked.

I shrugged again. “Dancing is pain. I’d really rather not discuss this.”

“I’m just asking a question, Dove.”

Stepping away from him, I pivoted to face him. Sure, it put my back to Doc, but for the most part, he’d seemed to be on my side. Granted, he’d left me here, but after Jasper pulled a gun on him, I couldn’t really blame him for that.

And I’d seen what they’d done to Eric.

“I’ve asked a lot of questions. I’ll answer yours when you start answering mine.”

The pale brown, almost topaz eyes remained guarded as he frowned. “Dove, there’s some things you’re better off not knowing.”

“Right back atcha then.” I folded my arms, and it felt weird to not have that brace on anymore. Not that I was complaining.

“What’s the final verdict?” Jasper asked from the doorway before Vaughn could respond with whatever he planned to say.

“She’s good,” Doc said. “She will need to rehab the wrist and the ankle. I have stuff at the center she can use—”

“That won’t be necessary.” Dark gray eyes arrested me as Jasper cut off Doc and stared at me. “Come on, fierce dancer, I have something to show you.”

Fierce Dancer?

“Do you guys have an actual problem with people’s names?” All of them came up with some kind of nickname for me, and they were all different. Some were sweet, some were cute, and some were just downright funny.

I possessed a dark enough sense of humor to appreciate Freddie’s Boo-Boo. At least he’d nicknamed me after my bruises rather than my pussy. Though, I supposed that could have been funny in some twisted way.

Jasper smirked. “We tend to call people how we see them.”

“And you see me as a fierce dancer?”

“I do,” he agreed, extending his hand and curling his fingers in a beckoning gesture. It was the first time I got a good look at him today. He was dressed in slacks instead of jeans, and a dark gray button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows on both sides. The top button at his collar was undone, but the rest of it was neatly pressed. His hair, while a little on the longish side, brushed the collar, and his beard had been groomed. He was even wearing dress shoes.

He looked…good.

Curiosity burned through me as I side-stepped Vaughn and headed toward Jasper. I didn’t take his hand, I just nodded to the door. Despite all other appearances, we did need some boundaries. “The best part of being healed is I can manage on my own.”

Instead of irritation, amusement filled his eyes. “Good point.” So he shifted and motioned to the door, arms wide to allow me to pass. It shouldn’t have surprised me to find the hallway filled with Kestrel, Rome, Liam, and Freddie.

“Clean bill of health, Boo-Boo?” Freddie demanded as I exited. He didn’t wait for my answer as he stared at my newly-bared wrist and fist pumped. “Yes! I need a new partner in crime.” He slung his arm around my shoulders. “I nominate you. First of all, you’re prettier than the rest of these assholes and you smell better too. Notice, I’m not discussing how pretty your pussy is, though that was pretty damn spectacular too.”

Kestrel glared at him, but I cracked up. I couldn’t help it. Despite the word vomit flowing out of Freddie’s mouth, he seemed genuine, and even the arm around me was light and almost affectionate. There was none of that crowding sensation. No matter how obnoxious and crass his statements were, there was zero threat in them.

He reminded me of some of the dancers I’d worked with during my first professional show. They talked about everything from pussies to breasts to asses and dicks. I had a lot of information on all of that from those very vivid discussions, but like Freddie, there was never anything invasive or even sexual about it.

They talked about bodies because bodies were our business.

Tears pricked the backs of my eyes, even as I laughed, but I blinked them away. That first tour had been the best one.

Before everything changed.

“You know,” Freddie continued, tugging me along at his side as