The Mane Attraction
Page 20
I see three entrance wounds. The one on his neck is mostly a graze. The other two She reached under Mitchs shoulder, managing to ignore the way he winced, and felt around. Yeah. They went through. Which is good. Wont have to dig around.
She gripped Mitchs shoulder, and he snarled at her. Yeah. The bullet hit some bone on the way through. Thats gonna hurt like a bitch when it heals.
She grabbed more gauze and again put pressure on the wound. Sissy. Immediately, Sissy replaced Roxys hands with her own and applied pressure.
Gwen, what have we got in the kit?
For closing his wounds? Gwen looked inside without waiting for her mothers response. Weve got your staple gun.
And Mitch snarled again.
Roxy patted his head. The last thing we need is for him to heal over those. Theyre a bitch to get out after. What else?
Butterfly bandages.
Perfect. Well work with those.
Why not stitches? Brendon asked, pacing restlessly while he watched.
I dont know when theyll get taken out. And again, I dont want his wound healing over them. Gwen, take Sissys place. Youll help me.
Sissy stood up and moved out of Gwens way. She stared down at her blood-drenched hands, quickly realizing the white sweats she wore were also covered in blood.
Mace took her elbow and steered her toward the bedroom door. The last thing Sissy saw was the tears streaming down Marissa Shaws face before Mace pulled her into the small living room of the suite.
Talk to me.
She shrugged. The blood was drying on her hands and arms. Right now, it was sticky. Soon it would be dry and
Sissy. Tell me what happened.
We were standing at the window, talking. And then I heard pop sounds, and he went down. She closed her eyes as the recent memory washed over her. He moved, Mace. At the last second he moved, and if he hadnt The words stopped as an image of Mitchs brains covering Ronnies nice white sweats nearly choked Sissy to death. Lord, she was barely holding it together.
Hes one of us, Sissy. Mace stroked her back. And God knows hes tougher than most.
I know.
Now what about Smitty?
Sissy blinked and looked up at Mace. What about him?
We need to let him know.
Hes already on a plane. They left before the sun rose. Besides, whats he gonna do except worry and drive you insane?
Youve got a point, Mace grumbled.
No. We leave him out of it for now.
Ronnie tugged on her shirt. I got you clean clothes.
Thanks. Sissylooked back down at herself. Ill need to clean up first.
But before she could escape to a bathroom, T appeared in the doorway. The She-bear almost had to duck to walk in. We lost him.
Sissy could see Mace getting that look on his face. This was why the staff liked dealing with Bobby Ray instead of Mace. Mace had a very low threshold for failure. Even failure that couldnt be avoided.
Any sign of where they were? Sissy knew that this third-floor room had been chosen specifically for Mitch because of its location and his need for additional safety. No trees for anyone to hide in right outside the window and no buildings remotely close. And he was surrounded by shifters, so no one would be sneaking in.
No. But were still looking. T leaned to the side, trying to see into the bedroom. How is he?
Alive.
Ts brown eyes closely examined the bloodstains on Sissys clothes. Okay.
So what now? Mace asked. Whats the best thing we can do for him?
Brendon walked into the roomSissy got the feeling Roxy had thrown him outand said, I can take him to Philly on the family plane.
And we can give you protection for as long as you need it.
Sissy shook her head. You cant take him to Philly.
Why not?
Everyone who wants him dead is there.
But were not there now. Were in fuckin Long Island. And he wasnt safe here.
Shes right. Roxy walked in, wiping blood off her hands with a hotel towel. He shouldnt go back to Philly. Not yet. Not until he at least has his full strength back.
So then where?
Mace rested his butt against the back of the couch. Will Witness Protection take him?
Maybe.
Forget it. I wont have my son trapped with some useless full-humans when hes still too weak to protect himself. Even if they are armed. Hell stay with his Pride if he has to go back.
Brendons barely held patience snapped, and he stepped into Roxy, shocking Mace and Sissybut not Roxy.
Look, I wont leave him vulnerable in the middle of Philly with a bunch of uncaring females.
We cant do any worse job than you and that father of yours.
Sissy let out a breath. She wasnt in the mood for this. And her usual patience was currently nonexistent.
Stop it. Both of you. She didnt raise her voice or even rush her words. At the moment, she sounded more like Bobby Ray or her daddy. Still, they both pulled back and looked at her. How long for him to be ready to travel? she asked Roxy.
She gripped Mitchs shoulder, and he snarled at her. Yeah. The bullet hit some bone on the way through. Thats gonna hurt like a bitch when it heals.
She grabbed more gauze and again put pressure on the wound. Sissy. Immediately, Sissy replaced Roxys hands with her own and applied pressure.
Gwen, what have we got in the kit?
For closing his wounds? Gwen looked inside without waiting for her mothers response. Weve got your staple gun.
And Mitch snarled again.
Roxy patted his head. The last thing we need is for him to heal over those. Theyre a bitch to get out after. What else?
Butterfly bandages.
Perfect. Well work with those.
Why not stitches? Brendon asked, pacing restlessly while he watched.
I dont know when theyll get taken out. And again, I dont want his wound healing over them. Gwen, take Sissys place. Youll help me.
Sissy stood up and moved out of Gwens way. She stared down at her blood-drenched hands, quickly realizing the white sweats she wore were also covered in blood.
Mace took her elbow and steered her toward the bedroom door. The last thing Sissy saw was the tears streaming down Marissa Shaws face before Mace pulled her into the small living room of the suite.
Talk to me.
She shrugged. The blood was drying on her hands and arms. Right now, it was sticky. Soon it would be dry and
Sissy. Tell me what happened.
We were standing at the window, talking. And then I heard pop sounds, and he went down. She closed her eyes as the recent memory washed over her. He moved, Mace. At the last second he moved, and if he hadnt The words stopped as an image of Mitchs brains covering Ronnies nice white sweats nearly choked Sissy to death. Lord, she was barely holding it together.
Hes one of us, Sissy. Mace stroked her back. And God knows hes tougher than most.
I know.
Now what about Smitty?
Sissy blinked and looked up at Mace. What about him?
We need to let him know.
Hes already on a plane. They left before the sun rose. Besides, whats he gonna do except worry and drive you insane?
Youve got a point, Mace grumbled.
No. We leave him out of it for now.
Ronnie tugged on her shirt. I got you clean clothes.
Thanks. Sissylooked back down at herself. Ill need to clean up first.
But before she could escape to a bathroom, T appeared in the doorway. The She-bear almost had to duck to walk in. We lost him.
Sissy could see Mace getting that look on his face. This was why the staff liked dealing with Bobby Ray instead of Mace. Mace had a very low threshold for failure. Even failure that couldnt be avoided.
Any sign of where they were? Sissy knew that this third-floor room had been chosen specifically for Mitch because of its location and his need for additional safety. No trees for anyone to hide in right outside the window and no buildings remotely close. And he was surrounded by shifters, so no one would be sneaking in.
No. But were still looking. T leaned to the side, trying to see into the bedroom. How is he?
Alive.
Ts brown eyes closely examined the bloodstains on Sissys clothes. Okay.
So what now? Mace asked. Whats the best thing we can do for him?
Brendon walked into the roomSissy got the feeling Roxy had thrown him outand said, I can take him to Philly on the family plane.
And we can give you protection for as long as you need it.
Sissy shook her head. You cant take him to Philly.
Why not?
Everyone who wants him dead is there.
But were not there now. Were in fuckin Long Island. And he wasnt safe here.
Shes right. Roxy walked in, wiping blood off her hands with a hotel towel. He shouldnt go back to Philly. Not yet. Not until he at least has his full strength back.
So then where?
Mace rested his butt against the back of the couch. Will Witness Protection take him?
Maybe.
Forget it. I wont have my son trapped with some useless full-humans when hes still too weak to protect himself. Even if they are armed. Hell stay with his Pride if he has to go back.
Brendons barely held patience snapped, and he stepped into Roxy, shocking Mace and Sissybut not Roxy.
Look, I wont leave him vulnerable in the middle of Philly with a bunch of uncaring females.
We cant do any worse job than you and that father of yours.
Sissy let out a breath. She wasnt in the mood for this. And her usual patience was currently nonexistent.
Stop it. Both of you. She didnt raise her voice or even rush her words. At the moment, she sounded more like Bobby Ray or her daddy. Still, they both pulled back and looked at her. How long for him to be ready to travel? she asked Roxy.
