“You were on the ground,” I mumble as I get rushed through the room full of people. I feel suddenly tired, and no matter how hard I try it’s like my eyes won’t stay open. I rest against Lincoln’s chest. The second I do, he’s barking at me. “Eyes open, Pet!”
He scares the crap out of me, and I squeal. The pump of adrenaline is much needed, and I get clarity back to my thoughts. Obviously, they all see it too because when I lean back against Lincoln’s chest, I can hear him laughing and purring at the same time.
“You back with us, killer?”
“Apparently, not for long. Call me Killer again and you’re next,” I growl back at Gabriel without opening my eyes. But yeah, I’m back.
I keep my eyes shut when Valak talks with the courthouse staff as they guide us into a secure room.
A woman speaks. “There are medical supplies in the cupboard. If you need a hand, I’m a fully trained doctor. I’m a beta and have been working here for years. I’m happy to sign any NDA you need; I’ll follow the directions of your pack alpha. Press 6 on the phone if you want me. Guards are on the door. Pack Bailey is next door.”
She sounds mild and meek but talks a mile a minute. The door closes and then it’s just us. I open my eyes and Noah’s glaring at me.
“You got shot.” His voice is empty of emotion. He sounds like a robot, and I reach up and snag his dangling tie from in front of my face and yank him down.
“Noah, look at me!” I growl, doing an excellent impersonation of an alpha, if I do say so myself.
His grey eyes are full of so much panic.
“Noah, I did not get shot. Something hurts like a bitch, but I know the difference between a gunshot and being hurt. Remember you helped me put on my vest. I promise I did not get shot. I panicked before because I thought Val was hurt.” He shakes his head, not believing me, and goes to step away, but I’m still holding his tie so he can’t move. “Looks like you’re not going anywhere either, Dr. Teo. You get that? Noah, we’re stuck together now. Although, I have a feeling Kris King is going to go ballistic, he actually might shoot me.”
Noah’s nostrils flare, but Gabe suddenly appears. “Len, maybe let’s not keep saying stuff about you getting hurt, hey? Noah’s struggling, you’re bleeding, cops want to swarm in here.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say gently, refocusing on Noah. I pull his face to mine using his tie. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
He nods once, letting me know he heard me, but he looks off into the distance. I keep his tie in my hands, acting like his anchor. Gabe doesn’t wait for anything; he just kisses me. And this time I start to get all dizzy in the head because of the air he steals from my lips.
“Len, don’t ever pull that shit again. I nearly had a coronary.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I push him out the way, letting go of my hold of Noah too, and standing up for myself.
Lincoln’s hands are on my hips, Valak is on his knees in front of me, his hands already pulling my shirt and bulletproof vest up so he can see what’s bleeding. He leans in close before shaking his head.
“Noah, she’s bleeding pretty good, but it’s not a gunshot,” Valak says, and Noah squats down to have a look too.
Gabe rests his hands on Noah’s shoulder before he leans in to have a look, “What the fuck?”
There’s a quiet knock at the door and I push them out the way in case we need to fight or run.
“It’s Henley Bailey and Bailey Bailey asking for entry.” A man’s voice sounds from a small crack in the door.
Gabriel rushes over and opens the door, letting all of Pack Bailey swarm inside. Bailey looks as pale as a ghost, and my eyes make a sweep over her to make sure she’s not badly injured. She’s not. She looks like shit, but it’s understandable.
“What happened to your hand?” I ask, she’s holding it weirdly.
Bailey comes over to show me her right hand: there’s blood all over it, her knuckle looks purple. “Reno said I broke it. I can’t figure out how.”
It’s like a jigsaw puzzle that takes me three seconds to figure out.
“Because, bitch, you stabbed me with that fucking hideous ring on your finger.” And I pull up my top to show her. “Bailey Henderson, look what you did!”
In fact, I show everyone how it happened, when I raise my arms, and my vest lifts too.
“Far out, they’re going to make me wear a bulletproof cat-suit next time,” I mutter to her when she leans in close.
Bailey’s gorgeous face grimaces. And when she goes to touch the bloody gash, I slap her hand away.
There’s a brief pause where we look at each other before we crack up laughing.
