He’s lucky we didn’t do it with a bullet to the head first.
“Here we go,” I murmur.
Cassidy holds Bellamy’s head to keep him still as I stitch him up, and he doesn’t wake up until I’m done.
“What—?!” His confused moan makes me feel like shit, but there’s no reason to put him through unnecessary pain.
“You got nicked by the bullet when Shi killed the guard,” I remind him. “I had to give you a couple of stitches. I’m hoping it doesn’t scar.”
“Hmm. I rarely do,” he mumbles as Cassidy releases him.
“I’m so sorry,” Shi groans. “The prick wouldn’t stop spinning like a top.”
“He did it on purpose,” Bellamy says, pushing himself up until he’s sitting. He accepts a bottle of water from Shiloh, drinking deeply from it. “One of the guards shot Winter with a tranquilizer gun. I think she might be out for a while. I’ll sit with her if you need me to.”
“Boss?” Henri stands at the door with no expression.
“Tell me,” Abbott commands, still holding Winter.
“The blonde auction madam is gone,” he explains. “She slipped out during the melee and no one saw her.”
“Fuck,” I sigh.
“Thanks, Henri,” Abbott says. “Think you can string Matilda up for me? Feel free to loosen her up. Bats, knives, let the whole goddamn crew at her. She tried to sell her niece and nephew again.”
Henri’s eyes move to Winter and Bellamy, his features showing a trace of rage before he nods.
“I’ll make certain she’s still alive enough,” he promises, leaving us.
“Your men will be upset she sold us?” Bellamy asks. “In my experience, this happens more often than people realize.”
“Yes,” Shi answers for us. “You’re supposed to protect the people you’re responsible for. Winter’s mother trusted that Matilda would care for you, right?”
“Yeah. I don’t think her sister could do any wrong in Helen’s eyes. It’s one of the few blind spots that she had,” Bellamy says sadly.
“We believe the same,” Shiloh says. “Abbott won’t employ people who beat on their children or packs. We’re not perfect. Even we make mistakes. We’ve rectified those mistakes by killing the abusers we’ve employed, and made sure their family received a large severance check.I killed my own father for beating my mother and I for years just as soon as I was able to. It’s unacceptable behavior.”
“Our crew will enjoy this,” I reassure him. “We’ll be able to stay with you, and make sure you don’t have any complications.”
“It was a graze,” Bellamy says with a chuckle. “I’m fine, just a little covered in blood.”
“I can fix that,” Shi says, pulling out a t-shirt from the bag.
“Did Mary Poppins pack that thing?” Bellamy snorts, pulling off his shirt.
My lips twitch in amusement and Cassidy shakes her head.
“Did you know he chirped and heckled at Clara’s men? He was fucking singing at one point!”
“I can’t be alpha barked if I can't hear it,” Bellamy reminds her, and it sounds like something they’ve discussed before.
“You can spank Bellamy later,” I tease Cassidy.
Bellamy fixes his new shirt as he glances at me with a smirk, unrepentant. I think if he wasn’t starting to trust us that my statement wouldn’t have landed well. I’m calling this a small win.
“I just may,” Cassidy says with a wink. “I’m going to go watch them beat the shit out of Matilda. I think I’ll need to take a few shots at her myself. I’m too wired to sit still.”
Cass is scared. Her alphas can see it, and Bellamy’s eyes follow her as she walks toward the door. If we hadn’t been waiting, if Winter and Bellamy hadn’t pushed the button on Winter’s bracelet to alert us that things were getting too hot for them, this could have all ended very differently.
