Page 79 of Return to Me Always

"Looks like talking to the po-po took a lot out of our poor Kit Kat," Ben said.

It had, especially because I couldn't really explain everything, why Malcolm had been after me in the first place, or discuss our whole history.

The two officers who questioned me hadn't been happy that we had taken off running instead of turning ourselves in. But once I explained that I was scared of what Malcolm would do if we were in custody, they backed off a bit.

It'd be nice to explain everything to my mom, but for once in my life, I could hardly talk, and I definitely wasn't capable of weaving together any kind of believable story at the moment.

An orderly pushed a wheelchair into the room and helped me into the seat, still wearing my old, bloody shirt and muddy shoes. On top of everything else, I felt disgusting and so dirty.

Never in my life had I needed a shower more than I did now. But I didn't even think I could manage it. All I wanted to do was sleep. Sleep for days.

"Oh, hon, I should have thought of clean clothes. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Mom. I'm fine. Really."

Who was going to see me anyway? Tyler and Ben were certainly used to this side of me, dirty and grimy with crazy, tangled hair.

The orderly wheeled me through the long hallways—my "entourage" following and carrying my bag of bandages, medicine, and care instructions—then the elevator and toward the front doors.

"Head's up," he said. "There might be a wee fuss when you leave."

Chapter Twenty-Four

"What do you mean?"

He didn't answer, just pushed me out the door into the night. Suddenly, flashes blinded my eyes. What the hell was happening? And loud voices surrounded me.

"Kat! How are you feeling?"

"Kat! Tyler! This way!"

"Kat! What was it like getting shot?"

Another round of flashes. I couldn't see anything but bursts of bright lights against the darkness. Struggling to stand up and get out of this damn wheelchair, the nausea and pain exploded through my body.

"Bloody fucking hell," Tyler muttered from behind me.

Before I could even figure out what was going on, I felt strong arms grab me and lift me.Tyler. One of his arms slid under my shoulders, the other beneath my knees, carrying me through the insanity.

The flashes only grew more frenzied, the shouting louder.

I buried my face in his chest, reaching my good arm up to cling to his neck. Despite the chaos surrounding us, I knew I was safe. Safe in this man's embrace. As he rushed through the crowd, his arms tightened even more, crushing me to him.

"Kat! Look this way!"

"Kat! Over here!"

No way was I looking up. No way was I lifting my head.

"Hold on, lass. Almost there," Tyler said, the vibrations in his chest comforting.

Finally, he set me down in front of a car door, throwing it open for me. I scooted across the back seat while he followed, his large body blocking everything behind him. Ben scrambled into the driver's seat as my mom took the other front seat.

"Get us out of here, Ben," Tyler said. "Fast."

Tyler's arm came around me, squeezing me into his side, his surrounding body tense.

"That was insane!" my mom said. "They should have at least warned us. Taken us out the back way or something."

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