Free Moonlit Embrace by Lyn Brittan Page B

Allison.”
    “Word.”
    Word?
    Baron ended the call, head still shaking. When he was brave enough, he’d ask Kate what happened between them. For now, there were more pressing things. He and Johanna both needed food and her bandages had to be changed. They were starting to stink.
    Standard breakfast fare was not on the menu, even at two in the morning. He wanted carbs - mountains of pasta, heaped with all the meat he could muster up. He set the water to boil and left for the bathroom, hoping for the best. Few of their kind kept bandages around. He might have to improvise something to bind her wounds. Leaving her alone to get something from the store wasn’t on the table.
    He couldn’t have been more wrong though. He’d been under the sink since he’d been here, but the storage closet was another matter. The woman had stacks of bandages, pills, tampons and enough toilet paper to wipe the ass of every neighbor in the complex. He grabbed a box of surgical wraps, one of the three hundred-million tubes of antibiotic ointment and joined her in the bedroom, not the least bit shocked to find her awake. She’d twisted and turned all night. “Another dream about the robbery?”
    “I thought I heard you ruffling around in there.”
    “So you don’t want to talk about it? Okay. New question: why is there a pharmacy in your closet?”
    “Nothing wrong with being prepared. You know how it is. I need three or four times the normal dose. When you think of it that way, it’s not very much at all.”
    Baron lowered the blanket and opened the top of her pajamas. The dragon had wrapped her up in one long strip of tan banding. She sucked in air every time Baron tried to separate it from the coagulated blood binding it to her skin like glue. Best to keep her talking. “Prepared for what?”
    “Stuff. Weather’s rough in the winter and ow—”
    “Sorry. Nearly done and you’re a prepper.”
    “I’m not.”
    “You are and newsflash, you’re also a wolf. If it all goes to hell you can just take what you want.” He put healthy dollops of ointment on her wounds, but was relieved to see her healing so well. The purpling flesh fused together, though it would take some time for all her pain to go away. “You need to rest and eat for the next little bit. I’ll call Kate later and we’ll work out a schedule to keep you company.”
    “That won’t be necessary.”
    “That wasn’t up for debate. Do you feel like eating? I’m going to whip up a batch of pasta and meatballs with a side of steak.”
    A wince followed Johanna’s too brief laughter. He went to the painkillers, but she waved them away. “I don’t have spaghetti. Ramen lasts longer.”
    “You’re the only woman who could offer me such filth and keep me around.”
    “I never thanked you.”
    “You never have to. You’re also the only woman I would order takeout for.”
    He called in five large pizzas and held her close while they waited. He kept the tone light, easing her into conversation about everything other than yesterday’s events. Inside, his chest ached with rage and worry. He’d never killed before, but would have no problem doing it now. He hoped for all their sakes that the cops found her shooter before he did.
    They caught a rerun of last night’s news while flipping through the channels. Jack’s face blazed across the screen as the winner of an unexpected shootout. No wonder he’d been celebrating. Two men captured. Grainy surveillance images picked up a third masked man, but there were no more leads. The first two claimed only to have just met him – that he’d planned this himself and invited the druggies for backup. They said he’d had a hard on for murder. “We’ll find the man who did this to you.”
    “I know.” But her shaky voice didn’t carry the confidence of her words. She had to know he’d protect her. She’d never live in fear again.
    “No one will get close enough to hurt you. You know I mean that.”
    “Uh huh.”