Page 68 of Forsaken

“Have a chat with him,” Memphis said, though it sounded more like a question than a statement.

“Cut the shit, asshole,” Cade snapped, but he fell quiet when Dom put his hand out.

“What happened when you got to the apartment?” Declan asked.

“I got to the apartment about a minute before Brennan arrived with the dog. I watched him take it into the apartment and a few seconds later, I heard a gunshot.”

Eli stiffened next to me. I wasn’t sure if Ronan had already talked to Memphis about all of this, but it was our first time hearing Memphis’s version of events.

“When I got into the apartment, Brennan was lying on the floor and the dog had one of the guys by the arm. His gun was on the ground, but he had a knife and was stabbing at the dog. The other guy took a shot at me when he saw me. He missed, I didn’t.”

“And the guy that Baby had a hold of?” Dom asked.

“I couldn’t risk hitting the dog, but it wouldn’t let the guy go when I tried to call it off. I went to check on Brennan when I heard the guy scream as he fell. The dog got him by the throat and that was it.”

Eli let out a startled gasp at that and I sat back in my chair. I’d seen the blood beneath the guy, but he’d somehow ended up on his front when he’d died so I hadn’t seen his throat. My respect for the Rottweiler jumped several notches. Damn dog would get steak dinners for the rest of his life if I had anything to say about it.

“What happened next?”

“Brennan was still conscious, but he was having trouble breathing. I called 911 and tried to keep him calm and talking.”

I felt Eli reach for my hand under the table and I gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Ronan and Mav arrived a couple minutes later.”

Declan’s eyes shifted to Ronan. “I understand you’re a trauma surgeon, Dr. Grisham,” Declan said.

“I was,” Ronan said. “But I’m not anymore. And it’s just Ronan.”

“So what is it that you do now, Ronan?” Declan asked as he glanced at all three of us one by one. “That necessitates you carrying a gun.”

“Protection,” Ronan said simply and then he looked at Dom pointedly. “Seems we’re in the same business.”

Dom didn’t respond so I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“You saved Brennan’s life, Ronan,” Dom murmured and then he glanced at Eli. “But I suspect you did a lot more than that.” He sent Eli a quick smile and then his eyes settled on me.

“What about you, Mr. James?”

“Dom,” Eli began, but Dom put up his hand and Eli fell silent.

“What about me?” I asked casually, though my insides were tight with worry. I could not afford to piss this man off. He was way too important to Eli.

“When did you know Jack was a threat to Eli?”

“The day you came to his apartment and found us arguing.”

“What did you do about it?” Dom asked.

“He followed me,” Eli interjected. “And when he couldn’t have eyes on me, he asked his friends to do it. He also taught me how to defend myself. From the moment he knew I was in trouble, he refused to walk away from me.”

Dom studied me for a moment and then glanced at Declan. “You think you have enough for now?”

Declan nodded. “Mr. Wheland, I’ll need to collect your firearm for ballistics testing, but it’s just standard operating procedure.”

“He’ll provide it to you, Captain,” Ronan said before Memphis could spout what I could only assume were some very crude words, if the look on his face was anything to go by.

Everyone began to stand when Declan did, but Dom pinned me with his gaze and said, “Mr. James, I’d like a word with you.”

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