Colin was usually talkative, even if it was annoying.He’d seemed angry when he dumped Niall in the room with her.Angry at Niall for coming to get her or for another reason?
The key turned, and the door opened.
It was Colin again.He flung a stack of cloth at her.“Look after him.We don’t want him to die.”
“Then you shouldn’t have hit him,” Suzie snapped.“Call a doctor.You shouldn’t mess around with head wounds.”
“No doctor.Euan and I don’t have any shifter contacts.You’ll have to do your best.”
“Wait.What’s going on?”Suzie asked.
“A major clusterfuck,” Colin snarled and slammed the door in her face.
“Well, that was helpful.”Suzie gathered the fabric strips he’d tossed in her direction.She wondered what had Colin’s knickers in a twist.What had gone wrong with their planning?Niall wouldn’t give them money because he wasn’t a stupid man.He understood they’d keep coming back.They’d gamble away everything they had and keep going if he enabled them.Niall would never get rid of them.
Shouting came from behind the door, followed by a bear-like growl.While there weren’t any near neighbors, someone might hear and call the police if they continued with that racket.Suzie stood to retrieve the water bottle she’d discovered in the room.She moistened the cloth and cleaned the cut on Niall’s head.From what she’d heard, head wounds bled a lot, but surely the bleeding should’ve slowed, given Niall’s shifter status.
She turned another cloth strip into a pad and pressed it against the wound.That might help to slow or stop the bleeding.He’d created quite a puddle.
The shouts continued, combined with a crash or two.Loud footsteps came closer, and she tensed as the scrape of a key signaled someone was incoming.
Euan stood in the doorway.From her spot on the floor beside Niall, she observed another man standing in the shadows.He was keeping to the background, but she suspected he might be the one pulling their strings.She scooted a few inches away from Niall, trying to see the stranger’s face.He retreated before she got a clear view.The man wasn’t overly large, nor was he short.He wore black trousers and a button-down shirt rather than the T-shirts Niall’s brothers sported.
Euan shut the door and locked it at a curt order from the man.Frowning, Suzie returned to Niall’s side.His breathing was even, and the bleeding seemed to have stopped, but she didn’t like the paleness of his face.As a shifter, he should heal rapidly.All she could do was make him comfortable while hoping he’d regain consciousness soon.
Sighing, Suzie curled beside Niall, sharing her body heat with him.She tried to make a plan and discarded every idea that came to her as unworkable.She must’ve fallen asleep because she jolted awake when a big hand grasped her shoulder.
“Shush, lass.It’s me,” Niall said.“Are you all right?Did they hurt you?”
“I’m fine.”The tension seeped out of Suzie, and she pushed to a sitting position, every muscle protesting.“How is your head?”
“I have a low-grade headache,” Niall said.
“What’s the time?”
Niall checked his watch.“Almost three.I heard voices outside.”
“Your brothers?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Niall?Suzie?”a familiar masculine voice shouted.
“You can’t go in there, sir.Wait outside,” another man said, annoyance simmering in his tone.
“That sounds like Scott and Liam.”Suzie climbed to her feet and groaned.“Remind me not to sleep on the floor again.”
“It’s not so bad,” Niall said, rising with a grimace.“I woke with you pressed to my side.I can think of worse ways to wake.”
“Silver tongue.”
“Hello.Is anyone here?”a man called.
“We’re here,” Niall said in a calm voice.“We’re locked in.”
“There’s no key,” came the reply.
“Bastards took it with them,” Suzie said.“Just wait until I see your brothers again.I’ll knock their heads together.”
