After a long gulp, Wheeler slid the bottle in front of him. “I see you’re still bringing the badassery, little bro.”
Jericho took a drink and pushed the bottle back toward Wheeler. “Well, when you’ve spent twenty years fighting off groupies, days like these are a walk in the park.”
Wheeler chuckled and took another swig.
I walked around the bar and surveyed the dead Shifters spread about the club. I counted thirteen, which was more than we’d initially thought.
Lexi handed Austin a shirt while he talked on the phone with a local Councilman.
Tables were tipped over, chairs broken, and bloodstains almost hidden by the dark décor. Lexi snorted as she straightened her shirt. “This is going to cost us a fortune. Dammit! Where’s my bra?”
Austin eased up behind her and combed her hair with his fingers. “Ladybug, the last thing you need to worry about right now is your bra.”
She turned around and folded her arms. “I can’t just walk out there wearing a thin T-shirt that’s wet from all the spilled beer.”
“Why not?” he asked, his eyes sexily roaming down her body. “Looks pretty good on you.”
I walked around the bar toward the kitchen. Lynn was sitting at a small metal table with Maizy on her lap, humming a song. Denver, still in wolf form, lifted his nose to pull in my scent.
“I wanted to make sure you two were okay in here,” I said.
“Is it over?” Lynn asked.
“Yes, it’s finally over. I’ll have Austin get Denver to shift. He’s talking to the Council and they’ll probably send cleaners over to take care of the bodies and record their findings. You might have to give a statement. Why don’t you two stay in here for a little while; it’s a mess out there. Maizy, do you want me to bring your blanket and toys? Maybe your mommy will fix you a nice lunch and you can help her.”
She calmed at my suggestion. Sometimes I felt Lynn coddled her too much and maybe that was how humans conditioned their young to feel fear.
“Okay, Miss Ivy. Can I have a coloring book?”
“Sure. You two stay here and I’ll bring everything you need. We’re going home today, Maizy. Maybe if you aren’t tired later, we can take a short walk on the property and collect rocks.”
“Can we do that if it’s okay?” she asked her mom.
Lynn brushed her tangled hair away from her face. “We’ll see how your knee feels, hon. Let’s just wait until we get home.”
I left them alone and went back to our private room, pushing a few chairs out of the way to gather up Maizy’s things.
“What happened in here?” I asked Izzy.
She nibbled on a cookie, and by her calm demeanor, I had a feeling Jericho had popped in before I did to let her know he was okay. “We kept the door locked. It was so quiet that Lynn didn’t think anything was going on. She cracked it open and we heard all the commotion. Before she could close it, one of those Shifters shouldered the door open and knocked her down. Lynn fell backward over one of the chairs.”
I noticed her hands were beginning to shake. “Everything’s fine now,” I said reassuringly. “Maizy’s fine.”
Izzy nodded. “Maizy was within reach and he snatched her and ran out. I slammed the door to keep more from coming in, but Lynn grabbed the shotgun and went after him. Hell’s bells, it killed me to sit in here. But I have this baby and I don’t know, I suddenly don’t want to do stupid things that would put him or her in danger,” she said, curving her hand around her stomach. “The only way to protect my baby is to protect myself. Maybe that’s selfish, but it wasn’t about me.”
“You don’t have to explain. I know.”
I limped to the sofa and sat down beside her. “Do you mind taking Maizy her things for me? She’s in the kitchen with Lynn. Tell Austin to make Denver shift back, if he hasn’t already done so. Denver’s wolf isn’t in a good state of mind and I don’t want him accidentally lunging at a Councilman.”
“Super. That’s just what we need, Denver mauling a member of the Council. I’ll be sure to let Austin know. Be right back.”
When she left the room, I could finally breathe. My child was safe.
My eyes were heavy and my body weak. The light by the door flashed, but I didn’t have the strength to get up. It quietly opened and Lorenzo stepped inside.
“It was unlocked,” he said.
I listened to the sound of his feet treading across the carpet, and the soft whisper of his pants as the fabric brushed together.
Lorenzo knelt in front of me. “Are you in any pain?”
“I just need to rest for a while. Did Fox hurt you?”
He placed his hand on my leg. I’d never taken the time to admire what nice hands he had. Graceful fingers that touched me with tenderness but could also inflict pain upon an enemy.
“Your wolf will be at peace now that your tormentor is dead. His dark spirit will haunt you no more. You can throw out your dreamcatcher and sleep soundly tonight.”