Bite Me
Page 90
The shifter-run one on Old Country Road?
Yes. I have privileges there, and I already have a call in to Dr. Ford. Hes an arrogant male lion I have thought about beating to death on more than one occasion, but he was a combat doctor for several tours. He would know how to deal with this if it gets bad.
Good. But we need to be careful who we involve in this. We dont know if Chumakovs men are still around. Whether they know Livy survived or not, and if they do know she survived, if theyre waiting to take another
Cellas words stopped abruptly when the door behind her and Jai opened, and a naked Livy walked out.
What time is it? the badger asked.
What the fuck are you doing up? Jai snarled.
Did you get all the bullets out? Livy asked in her usual calm tone.
I believe so
Then Im fine.
Livy gave a short whistle at one of the badgers on the floor and someone threw her a T-shirt. She pulled it on, then stopped to bend and twist her back. Something cracked into place, and she gave a little head shake. There we go. Livy looked around. Wheres Vic? I thought I heard his voice.
Upstairs.
Livy patted Jai on the shoulder. Nice work, doctor. Thank you.
They watched the honey badger confidently step over and around her relatives as she walked through the basement in only a T-shirt. Cella would admit she was no surgeon, but the predator in her knew when another animal was strong and would be too much trouble to attempt to kill unless you were starvingwhich was what Cella saw when she watched Livy.
Cella? Jai asked.
Huh?
I gave that woman enough pain medication to take out an elephant with a strong constitution. I pretty much put her in a short-term coma so her body could heal.
Okay.
So, it was a really great idea, Jai softly pointed out, bringing a dangerous, unstable species to our home where our daughters live. A species that is apparently impossible to kill. Next time you should just bring in a serial killer. Or an atomic bomb!
Drink this.
Vic looked at the cup Novikov held out to him. What is it?
Tea.
What kind of tea?
Earl Grey.
Just Earl Grey?
As opposed to . . . ?
Some magic tea for hybrids that will calm me down?
Novikov looked deep into the cup. I didnt know there was a magic tea. Thats kind of cool.
I dont know what Im going to do, Vic said, deciding he was done with the tea conversation.What if she
Dont. Dont do that to yourself. I almost killed my annoying, asshole cousin because I started what-if-ing about Blayne when she was hurt bad once. But Dr. Davis is really good. Lets just wait and see what she says.
Okay. Vic lifted his tea. Thanks for this.
No problem. Blayne always says hybrids have to stick together. Maybe shes right.
They both looked up at the same time, nodded at Livy, and went back to their conversation.
My parents are coming tomorrow, Vic said.
To visit? Or about this?
About this before anyone went after Livy.
Have you arranged to have them picked up from the airport?
I was going to do it
You cant go now. Give me their information and Ill arrange a car to pick them up.
Thanks, man, thats really
Vic abruptly stopped talking and jerked around. Olivia?
She grinned. Were you really the one who fucked up Smiths car? Livy asked. Because shes still in the house snarling about
Vic shot off the bench, picked Livy up in his arms, and held her against his chest. He needed to feel her. He needed to feel her skin against his, know that she was warm and safe in his arms.
Now that were dealing with awkward emotions, Novikov muttered, Im going . . . away.
The back door of the house opened and closed, leaving Vic alone with Livy.
Vic, unable to help himself, held her tighter.
Im okay, she whispered, her legs wrapping around his waist, her arms clinging to his neck. I really am.
I thought I lost you, he admitted against her neck.
You know my kind is too mean to go out that easy. We make a man work for it.
Olivia
Hey. She pulled back, and urged his head up with her hands, forcing him to look her in those dark eyes. They failed. They tried to kill me, and they failed. So Im not going to sit around and think about what was supposed to happen or what could have happened or anything else. I dont care about any of that.
The problem is, I do care. I care about you, Livy. So, pretending this didnt happen and just
We cant pretend this didnt happen, Vic. We wont.
We?
Livy glanced over, and Vic saw that the once-empty yard was now filled with Livys family. They silently stood there, in the brutal cold, watching and waiting. Waiting for Livy.
Yes. I have privileges there, and I already have a call in to Dr. Ford. Hes an arrogant male lion I have thought about beating to death on more than one occasion, but he was a combat doctor for several tours. He would know how to deal with this if it gets bad.
Good. But we need to be careful who we involve in this. We dont know if Chumakovs men are still around. Whether they know Livy survived or not, and if they do know she survived, if theyre waiting to take another
Cellas words stopped abruptly when the door behind her and Jai opened, and a naked Livy walked out.
What time is it? the badger asked.
What the fuck are you doing up? Jai snarled.
Did you get all the bullets out? Livy asked in her usual calm tone.
I believe so
Then Im fine.
Livy gave a short whistle at one of the badgers on the floor and someone threw her a T-shirt. She pulled it on, then stopped to bend and twist her back. Something cracked into place, and she gave a little head shake. There we go. Livy looked around. Wheres Vic? I thought I heard his voice.
Upstairs.
Livy patted Jai on the shoulder. Nice work, doctor. Thank you.
They watched the honey badger confidently step over and around her relatives as she walked through the basement in only a T-shirt. Cella would admit she was no surgeon, but the predator in her knew when another animal was strong and would be too much trouble to attempt to kill unless you were starvingwhich was what Cella saw when she watched Livy.
Cella? Jai asked.
Huh?
I gave that woman enough pain medication to take out an elephant with a strong constitution. I pretty much put her in a short-term coma so her body could heal.
Okay.
So, it was a really great idea, Jai softly pointed out, bringing a dangerous, unstable species to our home where our daughters live. A species that is apparently impossible to kill. Next time you should just bring in a serial killer. Or an atomic bomb!
Drink this.
Vic looked at the cup Novikov held out to him. What is it?
Tea.
What kind of tea?
Earl Grey.
Just Earl Grey?
As opposed to . . . ?
Some magic tea for hybrids that will calm me down?
Novikov looked deep into the cup. I didnt know there was a magic tea. Thats kind of cool.
I dont know what Im going to do, Vic said, deciding he was done with the tea conversation.What if she
Dont. Dont do that to yourself. I almost killed my annoying, asshole cousin because I started what-if-ing about Blayne when she was hurt bad once. But Dr. Davis is really good. Lets just wait and see what she says.
Okay. Vic lifted his tea. Thanks for this.
No problem. Blayne always says hybrids have to stick together. Maybe shes right.
They both looked up at the same time, nodded at Livy, and went back to their conversation.
My parents are coming tomorrow, Vic said.
To visit? Or about this?
About this before anyone went after Livy.
Have you arranged to have them picked up from the airport?
I was going to do it
You cant go now. Give me their information and Ill arrange a car to pick them up.
Thanks, man, thats really
Vic abruptly stopped talking and jerked around. Olivia?
She grinned. Were you really the one who fucked up Smiths car? Livy asked. Because shes still in the house snarling about
Vic shot off the bench, picked Livy up in his arms, and held her against his chest. He needed to feel her. He needed to feel her skin against his, know that she was warm and safe in his arms.
Now that were dealing with awkward emotions, Novikov muttered, Im going . . . away.
The back door of the house opened and closed, leaving Vic alone with Livy.
Vic, unable to help himself, held her tighter.
Im okay, she whispered, her legs wrapping around his waist, her arms clinging to his neck. I really am.
I thought I lost you, he admitted against her neck.
You know my kind is too mean to go out that easy. We make a man work for it.
Olivia
Hey. She pulled back, and urged his head up with her hands, forcing him to look her in those dark eyes. They failed. They tried to kill me, and they failed. So Im not going to sit around and think about what was supposed to happen or what could have happened or anything else. I dont care about any of that.
The problem is, I do care. I care about you, Livy. So, pretending this didnt happen and just
We cant pretend this didnt happen, Vic. We wont.
We?
Livy glanced over, and Vic saw that the once-empty yard was now filled with Livys family. They silently stood there, in the brutal cold, watching and waiting. Waiting for Livy.
