When I stepped out, I dried off, and Beck disappeared into my walk in to find me some clothes.
Dylan stepped closer, armed with shit that looked like it was going to hurt me. “Surprised he left you alone with me,” he started conversationally. “All naked and shit.”
I snorted. “Why do you think he’s grabbing clothes. He’s going to get the important bits covered.”
Dylan’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he reached out for my arm, hesitating slightly before I nodded my permission. Beck strode in then, black bra and panties in hand, and I was getting dressed first whether I wanted to or not. After that, Dylan went back to work.
Disinfectant was brushed across every wound, my body tense and teeth clenched as I hissed through them whenever a particularly painful one was found. Beck stayed close, brushing a hand reassuringly across my back, offering comfort.
“These three probably need stitches,” Dylan said, stroking across my thigh. Those wounds had started weeping again after the shower. “But I can just butterfly tape them now, and they should be fine.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I don’t care if they leave scars or whatever. I’m not allowing strangers to touch me.”
Beck pressed his lips into the side of my head, basically holding me up now as my body crashed. By the time Dylan was done, handing me a couple of painkillers, which I swallowed down in a gulp, everything was fuzzy around the edges.
I managed to walk myself into the bedroom.
“None of us will leave you tonight,” Dylan told me from the doorway. “You’re safe.”
I blew him a kiss, aware I was always safe with my boys, and slipped under the covers. Beck and Dylan spoke for a few minutes, but I was already drifting off. When Beck slid in beside me, he wrapped me up in his arms, and I pressed my face into his chest.
“I love you,” I murmured, because there was a point I never thought I’d get to say that to him. “I fucking love you.”
Beck chuckled. “I love you too, Butterfly.” There was a pause and darkness pressed in around me, my body going heavy and content as sleep stole me.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
I thought I heard Beck murmur those words, but it was all dark before I could grasp onto that thought.
* * *
The pain wokeme in the early afternoon, the wounds and patches on my body reminding me that I’d been hurt. Again. When I opened my eyes, gingerly shifting around to get more comfortable, I turned to find Beck’s eyes focused on me. The thick dark lashes framing light gray eyes. He had himself propped on one arm, and it was clear he’d been watching me for a while.
“Hey,” I rasped out, voice hoarse.
He didn’t say anything, just leaned over and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was slow, Beck’s full lips pressing against mine, moving tenderly. A low moan left my mouth as I opened and darted my tongue out, to caress across his.
“Baby, fuck,” Beck murmured. “You’re killing me here. You’re hurt. We can’t do this.”
I’d like to say I’d temporarily forgotten about my pain, but my body was actually hurting me quite a fuckload, and I knew Beck was right.
I still pouted.
“Should have shot Johnson,” I said, unhappily. “Bastard continues to ruin things even behind bars.”
We both sobered at that thought. “We should head to the police station first,” Beck finally said. “Get it out of the way.”
I almost jerked up then as a thought occurred to me. Of course, almost jerking had a cry bursting from my lips, as my entire body shouted at me. “Ouch. Fuck.”
Beck lifted me then, helping the rest of the way. “You okay?” he asked, looking me over.
I nodded, not sure that I actually was. Something felt like it might be bleeding again, but that was a worry for later.
“Have you heard anything about Dante? Did you get that file to the police?”
A fuzzy memory was tugging at the back of my mind, but it was from my time held by that asshole, and I wasn’t ready to think about it just yet.
“Johnson confessed to Katelyn’s murder,” Beck reminded me. “We don’t need the file any longer. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dante is out right now.” He paused with a grimace. “Which is good, considering we don’thavethe file anymore.”
