“Arrgh!” Rory shouts, rubbing his rump. “Ow! Jesus, Seth, what the—” Rory shoots his head up the second he sees Briella in my arms. “Bloody hell and devil take me!”
“Promise?” Briella slurs as I slowly and gently roll her onto her stomach. Jude’s next to me with his suture kit and more bandages.
“Be right back,” Seth says, rushing out of the cave, probably solving the mystery of how she got out.
“Oh, God!” she cries out when Jude peels back the bloody bandage and presses an alcohol wipe to it.
Raphael stands beside the bed now, his shadow drowning her. Her watery eyes gaze up at him like she’s fucking worshiping the psycho. But the dark, shadowed look in his eyesconfirms he’s doing the same. As much as worship is possible for the devil. More like the devil’s evil twin.
Rory stomps over, rubbing his eyelids with utter disbelief in his eyes. “How in all holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph did she get out?”
“Ohhh!” Briella screeches when Jude injects a syringe into her flesh, numbing the site. I give her my hand again so she may use it like a gag. Fuck! She bites hard, but not enough to break my fingers this time. Jude has those in a splint, even though I told him not to worry. I already realigned them. Even after all these years, I’m still used to the occasional broken bone, fracture, bruise, and deep gashes in my flesh.
Perfect timing when Seth bursts back into the dungeon. “You won’t believe it,” he says with wide eyes.
Rory charges for his partner and grips his throat. “Fucking talk already. What happened?”
Seth grins from ear to ear and deadpans with him. “I’m in love!”
“Fuck you,” Briella mutters, then bites down again as Jude starts stitching her back up. “Fuck all of you!”
“She used the bones!” Seth exclaims, and Rory loosens his grip. Even the sociopath is stunned.
“She what?”
“She made herself a goddamn bone ladder!” Seth adds, his wide eyes riveted on her.
“Mmm,” she moans again, flinching as Jude finishes. “And I expect some serious, fucking worship from you boneheads for the next five days. Oh, for fuck’s sake.” She turns to eye the TV. “You guys need better taste in movies.”
She passes out.
20
Jude
“SHE’S HERE TO RATTLE OUR BONES. AND SHOCK OUR HEARTS.”
Citizen Soldier Playlist
“Stronger Than My Storm”
“Six Feet Under” - Smash Into Pieces feat Citizen Soldier
“Level 5, Raphael,” I say to my partner while disposing of the bloody bandages, then closing my suture kit.
“What did you give her?” Raphael’s gaze sharpens against mine.
“She deserved a sedative.”
His jaw clenches. “I wanted her awake.”
I shake my head. “Not this time. Punish me for it if you wish. But I’m the only one here with medical experience. You’re a shrewd, cunning, and deadly son of a bitch, Raphael, and we all owe you our lives, but Briella needs rest. As much as we can give her.”
He narrows his eyes. “You will contend with her when she wakes.”
I lift a brow.
“She doesn’t want sedatives,” he clarifies.
