Page 55 of Caretaker

Chapter Eighteen

“Get off me, baby hunter.”

I ignored his words and continued my frantic search of his body. He was covered with blood—a piece of sharp metal from my destroyed car had embedded itself in the side of his head, and when I felt the back of his skull, my fingers came away sticky and wet and red. “Get the paramedics over here,” I said calmly.

At least I thought my voice was calm until Rhys squeezed my shoulder.

“Breathe, Trinity,” he murmured.

Shane’s face was so pale it was nearly blue, and as I stared down at him, his eyes rolled wildly, like a frightened horse. “Where’s Betty?” he mumbled.

Then he focused on my face. Sort of. “Trinity.”

I took his hand. “I’m here.”

His grin was crooked. “You’re my one.”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

But he drifted into unconsciousness and did not repeat himself. I glanced up at the circle of faces surrounding us. “Get the paramedics.”

“Clayton,” Miriam ordered, and she dropped to her knees beside me. Clayton turned immediately to fetch the paramedics.

She traced Shane’s face tenderly, and I saw that Shane wasn’t the only one bleeding. Her fingers were coated in blood.

“You’re hurt.” Then I glanced up to tell Clayton to have them bring two gurneys, and froze. The entire back of his body was covered in blood. Miriam wasn’t hurt—she was just bloody from touching Clayton.

“Clayton,” I cried. Then I leaned forward and grabbed Miriam by the front of her dress. “Tell him I can touch him.”

Dazed, she stared at me. “What?”

“Tell Clayton I can touch him,” I screamed.

Shane groaned, and then all her attention was on him. “Shane,” she murmured.

I shook her. “Miriam—”

She looked at me. “I will not. Get away from me, Trinity, before I order that motherfucker to rip his own heart out.”

She was furious, but she was also scared. Clayton had somehow circumvented her command and had thrown himself on top of me to save my life.

Yeah, she was scared.

Rhys grabbed my arm. “Come on, love.” He pulled me to my feet and we rushed to Clayton, who walked doggedly on.

“Clayton.” I pulled back just before I touched him. He didn’t need to lose any more blood. “Sit down. Sit down.”

He stumbled but continued on. “I can’t.”

“Miriam told him to fetch the paramedics,” Rhys reminded me. “Hang on, buddy.”

He jogged toward a couple of the paramedics, who were bent over a prone body. Even as I watched, the person on the ground sat up.

Rhys returned with two paramedics and a cop in tow. We could have done without the cop, but it wasn’t like we could force him to leave.

The paramedics stopped in front of Clayton. “Let’s get him on the cot.” One of them took Clayton’s arm.

Clayton shoved the paramedic away. “See to the human.” He pointed toward Shane.