“I never thought I’d say this, but cuff him.”
Shepherd didn’t just cuff him, he hog-tied the man so he wouldn’t be able to use his Mage energy. When Shepherd finished, he assessed Wyatt’s injuries and discovered a few broken ribs from when Darius had slammed the door on him.
“Sit down,” Shepherd ordered me, setting the leather chair upright. He tore the bottom off Wyatt’s shirt and held it between his teeth. “Looks like a clean shot. Didn’t hit a major artery. That gash is a problem.” He skillfully wrapped the cloth around my arm and tied it tight.
“You’re good at this,” I said, noticing how he doctored my wounds as if he’d done it a million times before.
Viktor entered the room with a flashlight. “Shepherd, take the vermin out of here. I’ve made a call to the higher authority; they’re sending in Regulators for an official investigation.”
Shepherd stood up, clearly exhausted, but he didn’t rest for a moment before dragging Darius out of the room by his feet.
I looked myself over for other injuries but only noticed a few bumps and bruises. I’d never taken on anyone who was armed with a sword, so I was lucky to have made it out alive and with all my limbs intact.
Viktor knelt in front of Wyatt and patted his leg. “You did a good job finding those documents. Selfish men always make stupid mistakes, like keeping records of the money transactions from the people they’re extorting. It makes them feel accomplished to look at the numbers and add to them.”
Wyatt clutched his chest and grimaced. “And making a list of their victims so they can cross out the ones they disposed of. Why is it that most of the guys we catch get caught because they did the most inane things?”
“You found them,” Claude said, making his way into the room.
Wyatt lazily looked up. “The trick doors automatically close. I just happened to walk by when I heard someone yell. It took me a minute to figure out how to open that blasted thing.”
Viktor rose to his feet. “Where’s Christian?”
A loud scream came from upstairs, and we all simultaneously looked at the ceiling.
“He’s, um… indisposed,” I said.
Claude’s piercing yellow eyes locked on my blood-soaked bandage. I tensed when his fangs descended and a creature who was my mortal enemy approached me. One bite with all four canines was all it would take to end my life.
“Come here, female,” he said, lifting me into his arms.
His purr was hypnotic, resonating in his chest and calming me almost immediately. I pressed my ear against him, curious about the bizarre reaction it elicited.
I heard Gem giggle. “Someone made a new friend.”
Claude turned around, clutching me tighter.
Gem put her hands on her hips and erupted with laughter when she looked at Wyatt. “I love the crop top look. I just happen to know a fabulous Relic who’s looking for a new friend.”
He stared daggers at her.
A little embarrassed by the coddling, I drew back from Claude. “Why are you purring?”
He looked between Gem and me. “My girls are safe.”
I’d never been anyone’s girl, but the inclusive sentiment—sincere or not—kept me from sliding out of his arms and walking out the door. I had no excuse to lie in his arms like some helpless woman. My legs weren’t injured, and I was perfectly capable of helping the men clean up.
But damn if I didn’t let that Chitah carry me all the way out to the van.
Niko had his work cut out for him. Wyatt’s ribs were so bad that he couldn’t tolerate the constant pain whenever he took a breath, so Niko used his healing light to mend those breaks. Wyatt periodically gripped his crotch as if checking to make sure the boys were still there after his close encounter with the sword. Viktor had been shot three times, but he’d shifted into his wolf during the fight and then back. Exhausted, he sat in the passenger seat and napped while Claude took the helm and drove us back to Keystone.
No one stayed behind to give a statement. Viktor said the Regulators were given specific orders to collect the evidence left on the coffee table downstairs and document the scene. His contact with the higher authority would take care of the rest. Christian stayed behind for other reasons.
It was the first confrontation I’d ever walked away from victorious where I didn’t want to vomit because I’d ingested blood or dark light.
The van hit a big bump, and everyone shouted and groaned at Claude’s driving.
Niko wrapped his hands around my arm, gathering up his energy and forcing it into me with a snap of light. He leaned against the van, breathing heavily as if he’d run a marathon.
“Thanks, Niko. You didn’t have to.”
He laughed. “Women.”
I rubbed my hand over the healed skin. “Why were they all armed with guns instead of stunners?”