Elliot’s eyebrows rose. “Do tell.”
“He’s got an older injury—a few weeks old, by the looks of it—that was a bit infected. Testing confirms the blood on the knife washis.” Hart looked over at me. “Seems like your mother got in a good stab to the shoulder that’s going to cause him some problems for a while.”
“Serves that fucking fucker right,” Elliot grumbled. “I don’t supposed you can withhold medical treatment.”
Hart rolled his lavender eyes. “Jesus fuck, you’re vicious, you feral rodent.”
Elliot bared his teeth.
I smothered a smile, knowing that neither of them would appreciate it. But, despite the circumstances, there was something that was just weirdly endearing about the way the two of them went after each other—not in a mean way, but the way that Noah and I did. Like brothers, which I suppose they were, despite the lack of genetic connection.
Not all family is blood.
And not all blood was family.
I knew that better than pretty much anybody.
Elliot had returned to the subject of my father. “They’re charging him with Seth’s mom’s murder, too, right?”Too, as in, in addition to the attempted homicide of both Elliot and myself, assaulting a federal officer (Hart), and resisting arrest. Raj was currently working on figuring out of there were anyothercharges that could be laid at his feet, something the tiger shifter probably shouldn’t have told me, but had.
“You bet your furry ass they are,” came the answer.
“Good,” Elliot replied. “But I still don’t like that he’s still here.”
“Unfortunately, you not liking it will not make the federal government move its monumental ass any faster,” Hart informed him.
Elliot made a face.
17
Seth Mays
When are you coming over today?
The surgeon wants to talk to both of us.
Elliot Crane
I was going to do laundry because neither of us has clean underwear.
But if you need me, I can be there as soon as I put on pants.
And feed your stupid cat.
Sassafras is not stupid.
She’s been sitting on the bed screaming at me for the last half-hour.
Because she’s hungry.
I was in the shower.
The whole time?
Well excuse me if I have to take a shit sometimes.
I couldn’t help laughingat that.
Pretty long shit.
