We hadn’t.
With no windows and only two straight back chairs flanking a metal stand with two long, spiky arms, the room that Paul led us to was little more than a closet. I heard Jeremy swallow behind me and reached back for his hand.
“Why don’t you sit down?” I waited for Jeremy to sit and then motioned Paul to step outside. Closing the door behind us, I casually stepped into his personal space, leaning one arm against the wall and blocking any hope of escape with my body. “You understand that if this is in any way a setup, there isn’t going to be enough left of you and your cronies to identify, right?”
Paul gulped, his eyes bulging. “It..it’s not, I promise!” he squeaked, his voice high with terror. “I..the doctor said we needed someplace completely private and this was all I could find!”
“As long as we understand each other,” I murmured, baring a little more of my fangs than was strictly necessary for a smile. “And we do understand each other, don’t we?”
Paul’s head bounced up and down like a bobble head toy.
“Good.” I dropped my arm and stifled a smirk as the medical technician scurried off down the hall.
“Is something wrong?” Jeremy’s brow was knit in a frown when I let myself back into the tiny room.
“Probably not,” I said honestly. “I just wanted to be sure that our little friend knew that there would be repercussions if this was a trap.” Jeremy’s eyes got wide, making me regret my bluntness. “I don’t have any reason to think there’s a problem,” I assured him. “I’m going to be right here with you, but, if I say run, run. And don’t look back. Head for the sheriff’s office or call 911 and ask for Sonny, okay?”
“Okay.”
The fact that Jeremy trusted me enough to agree immediately soothed something ragged inside me and I smiled. “Seriously, though, I’m sure that everything is fine.”
ChapterFourteen
Jeremy
Despite the unorthodox treatment space, the blood transfusion went as smoothly as could be expected and Kade was leading me back out to the parking lot when he stopped short, a faint snarl catching in his throat as I bumped into his back.
“Kade?” His large body blocked me from seeing what made him tense up.
“Shh!” Kade hissed without turning to face me. “See that dumpster to your right?” He didn’t wait for my response. “When I say go, I want you to slip inside the enclosure and hide behind it. Don’t come out until I come for you. It could be a while.” He dropped my hand. “Go!”
Fighting back a wave of panic, I did as I was told. The metal latch on the wooden gate gave easily, allowing me to tug the gate open far enough to slip inside. Then, I worked my way behind the hulking metal box, doing my best to block out the stench of the garbage as I eased my bulk down to crouch behind the dumpster, hopefully removing myself from sight.
I could hear Kade speaking with someone in the parking lot, his voice calm and easy. A moment later, I heard his truck roar to life, followed by the sound of gears grinding as gravel sprayed up, spattering against the wooden structure of my hiding place.
Then…nothing.
I waited in the smelly confines of the dumpster enclosure as the sun finished setting, listening to conversations as people made their way to the hospital and back to their cars. I made myself as small as possible, chafing against the fear that was growing inside me, balling in my chest and sinking to my gut. The fear that Kade had abandoned me after all.
The night air took on a hefty chill that clung to my skin and began to burrow through my flesh, reminding me of the weeks upon weeks I had spent hiding in the damp root cellar with nothing but a meager collection of rodent skins to try and cover myself. I tucked my arms up inside my shirt, wrapping them around my chest to retain as much of my body heat as I could. I mentally berated myself for having left my new winter coat and gloves in Kade’s truck when we went into the hospital.
“I’m tellin’ ya that I smelled a hyena here.” A high-pitched voice caught my ear, making my blood run cold.
“Of course you did, you fuck wit,” another voice, one I recognized all too well, shot back. “The fuck do you think I am?”
“You’re a hyena?” the first voice sounded skeptical.
“You bet your balls,” Kade’s smug voice growled.
In the pause that followed, I heard the breaking bones and tearing muscles indicative of a shift.
“Fuck me,” the first voice gasped. “Change back, would ya?” he pleaded a little shakily. “That’s freaky as fuck.”
“Fucking pussy,” Kade’s words were rough as they forced their way through a jaw meant for howling and laughing, not for human words. “You’re scared of me, but trying to bring in a warrant on a hyena shifter? How’sthatgonna work?” He snorted. “Now, would you get the fuck outta here? I already told you I’m busy.”
“But..”
“I told you, punk,” Kade snapped. “I work alone, now scram!”
