“Jesus,” the cop muttered, looking down as Rick was extracted from the body bag. “You really beat his ass, didn’t you, buddy?”
He was looking at me, but I pointed to Cameron. “Wedid. I couldn’t have done it without her.”
“No shit?” The cop shifter gave Cameron an appreciative smile. “You’re a badass, lady.”
Cameron flushed as we climbed into the van, but I couldn’t help but smile. Shewasa badass. I held her close to my side, not wanting to lose her again.
Alec hopped into the passenger seat, and the cop drove us away from the building. Glancing out the windows, I watched the blue, red, and white strobing lights of emergency vehicles. Dozens of people stood huddled on the sidewalk, staring up at the building.
The way JC had managed the extraction was impressive. In my past dealings with the Toronto pack, I’d realized how integrated the pack was in human society, but I hadn’t thought they were this efficient and capable. It was eye-opening.
“We’re going to another of our safe houses,” Alec said, glancing back at us. “JC has a nurse there to patch you all up. There’ll be some folks there to take our friend Mr. Masters into custody, too.”
“Great,” Cameron said absently.
She ran her hand across my chest, pressing her face into my shoulder. I heard her taking deep breaths, pulling my scent into her lungs. I ran my good hand over her back and shoulders. Now that we’d finally expressed our emotions for each other, we were both hungry for a physical connection, something even more substantial than words to seal our bond. My cock stirred to life, but I quickly tamped down my desire. That would have to wait.
The van pulled up outside the safe house. JC wasn’t there. I’d have preferred to tell him what happened in person, but I understood. If I had to guess, once word spread that Rick had attacked Cameron again—withaudio-recording proof—chaos would erupt. Most likely, it would be political chaos rather than physical.
From what JC had said, Lincoln Masters had forged his alliances with money and power, not with emotion and respect. Anyone who might have been leaning toward backing him in whatever coup he’d tried to orchestrate would most likely turn their backs on him. JC was probably dealing with a metric ton of bullshit at the moment.
“Come on,” Alec said, opening the side door of the van. “Let’s get that arm looked at.”
While we headed inside, a few other guys secured Rick with zip ties and wrapped him in burlap strips. Even if he woke and shifted back to his human form, he wouldn’t be able to get away.
“How are you feeling?” Cameron asked as we stepped through the front door.
“Fine,” I said, trying not to wince. “It’s healing already, but the bite was deep. I think he twisted his head, so the skin and muscle tore. It will probably take a couple days to heal completely.”
“What kind of bullshit have you brought me, Alec?”
Turning, I found a beefy woman standing in the hallway, hands jammed on her hips, staring at my arm. She looked like a combination powerlifter, nurse, and professional wrestler.
“Calm down, Sandy,” Alec said. “We just need a wound stitched up.”
She sighed as if we’d ruined her entire day, then waved at the couch. “Fine. Sit his ass down over there,” she said, and vanished down the hall.
Sitting on the sofa, I eyed Alec warily. “She’s pleasant,” I whispered, keeping my voice low enough so she couldn’t hear the sarcasm.
“To say the least,” Cameron agreed.
Alec grunted a short laugh. “Sandy is one of a kind. We have her on call for stuff like this. She was a combat medic in the army. She’s patched me up a few times. The lady knows her shit,andshe could probably kick all three of our asses if she wanted to.”
Alec was right about that. When Sandy returned, she had my arm unwrapped, cleaned, sewn, and rebandaged in record time. Her fingers moved with a swift dexterity that shocked me. When she caught me staring at her finished work in open-mouthed surprise, she grinned at me.
“Hope you like it,” she said, then held a warning finger up to my face. “Don’t fuck up my work.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
An hour later, Alec dropped us off at Cameron’s apartment.
“I’m still leaving a couple guys here to watch you,” he said as I helped Cameron climb out of the van. “I’ve got to go help find Sam.” He shook his head sadly, then glanced at Cameron. “If what Rick said is true, he’s probably dead, but we need to try and find his body. As morbid as it is, that will be more evidence for what Rick and his father did.”
“Do you need help?” I asked.
Alec grinned ruefully, then pointed at the apartment. “Get your ass inside and rest. We’ve got this handled. Someone will notify you with the new time for the hearing.”
“Come on,” Cameron said, tugging at my shirt.
