“What are you going to do with him?”
“Nothing. I’m finished here. He’s Lio and the other Boys’ problem now. Whatever happens…I want no part of it. I’m done, this isn’t my place anymore.”
“You’re right, though you’ll stick around until Lio is able to collect him? I don’t want to leave Doc and Soren without the rest of their family for too long.”
“I’m not staying longer than I need to, but I can give Lio a few days.”
“That’s all we need.” I don’t bother explaining that we need to make sure Carter is stable before any more life and death decisions can be made.
Breathing room, that’s what the Council needs. Just a few moments of breathing room.
“I’ll check in with Doc before we leave.” Looking to Joel, he doesn’t hesitate to step up.
“Take me to Cristian?”
Luca nods in response to him, and the two of them set off, while I head to the medical suite.
Lucky for me, I find Doc and Soren stepping out of a room. Soren closes the door firmly when they see me, and the three of us move to stand a few feet away from the room to lessen the chance of being overheard.
“What’s the damage?”
Doc shrugs and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “He’ll live—sadly. Got some bruises and a few cuts that I treated. Worst isthe fissure in his ass, but it doesn’t need stitches, so it’ll just be uncomfortable for him for a while.”
“You sound disappointed,” I say lightly.
Doc’s amber eyes darken with his anger. “It’s the least the fucker deserves. He and Cristian…” He shakes his head.
Soren pulls Doc to him, the younger, smaller man encasing his Boy in his arms. It’s fascinating, the way Doc melts into his Daddy, and is similar to the way Emilio was clinging to me…
“I’ll take care of Cristian,” I tell him mildly. “He won’t get off unscathed after everything he’s done.”
“Good. You know where to find me if you need assistance…”
I laugh. “You need sleep more than you need to create more fuckery, but I could use one of your sedatives.”
Doc pulls his hand out of his pocket and hands over a capped syringe. At my raised brow, he shrugs again. “Can’t be too prepared. That’ll give you a few hours.”
“Thanks. Call someone to relieve you, and get some rest, both of you. You’ve done enough.”
Soren tightens his grip on Doc. “We will. Thanks, Ten.”
I shake my head. “Don’t thank me. Just…be prepared. Dr. Ranlen may call you in, so rest while you can.”
Doc frowns. “What’s going on?”
“Carter, the dumbass, got himself shot, but Dr. Ranlen is handling it.”
“Fuck!”
I set a hand on Doc’s arm when he tries to escape his Daddy’s hold. “She has it under control. You know she’s capable, and so are your people. There’s nothing you need to do now, except get some sleep. You can take over afterwards.”
“That’s not exactly reassuring…”
“Too bad. You’ll be useless if you don’t take care of yourself, both of you. You’ve done enough for now, Ashby. Rest.”
He deflates. “It’s been a long time since you’ve called me that…”
I give him a bland smile. “Yes, well, I still hate the name. Behave, or Cristian won’t be the only one I’m locking up…”
