Page 66 of Serving my Dragon
I hugged her to me. “Because she wasn’t a true friend.” True friends and family were willing to break the law and risk themselves to help. I was blessed in that respect.
A clamor arose as my relatives spilled from the cars and joined my soaking uncles by the fence. People fired questions and Juan barked, “Later. We need to get out of here before we are spotted. Go. Vamoose.”
Before we loaded Kayleigh in a vehicle, Santiago snipped her wrist cuffs, after he freed Polly. My dragon would have had a fit at being released second.
She and Kayleigh rode in my lap for the drive to Mama’s house because the latter refused to go to the hospital. I kind of understood. I wanted to avoid it as well, seeing as how the bullet hole would result in people asking questions.
“I’m fine,” she kept insisting. “No nausea or dizziness, just a headache which some Tylenol will fix.”
We’d see about that. I planned to watch her closely.
Seeing the normality of my neighborhood and Mama’s house felt surreal after the night we’d had—which included stopping to grab a large meal for the very hungry dragon. The detour led to us arriving last.
Mama’s windows glowed with lights and the vehicles parked all over made it evident the whole family had gathered. Including Mama, apparently.
“What are you doing out of the hospital?” I cried as I limped in with an arm around Kayleigh, who insisted she could walk. Pollita perched on my shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Mama declared. “But you are not. I’ll get some needle and thread.”
Mama went to stand, and Juan barked, “Sit back down. I’ll stitch up the boy. Sophia, fetch the sewing kit and a bottle of something strong, then meet me and your cousin in the kitchen.”
I ended up pants off, sitting on the table while my uncle squinted at my wound. Kayleigh held my hand as Juan poured tequila on the bullet wound and I did my best to not whimper like a baby when he used a threaded needle to close it up. At least the bullet went right through without shattering anything.
Sophia did double duty, holding a light for Juan while peppering Kayleigh with questions. She’d almost become a nurse before deciding to switch to cosmetology, which turned out to be more lucrative with better hours. She seemed satisfied that Kayleigh wouldn’t pass out on us, but warned if the headache didn’t ease or worsened to head straight for the hospital.
“Take it easy on that leg,” my uncle advised when he finished and tied off the end of the thread.
“I’ll make sure he does,” Kayleigh promised.
Juan and Sophia left us to join the family in the very crowded backyard. Hopefully the neighbors wouldn’t complain. At least the high walls gave them privacy or I’d worry about someone seeing Pollita.
I slid off the table and eyed my ruined pants. My favorite pair, of course. I hobbled to a laundry basket by the washer and, sure enough, Mama had some of my clothes. It took some maneuvering to get the track pants on and Kayleigh giggled.
I arched a brow. “You could help, you know.”
“Much more entertaining like this,” she said with a bright smile.
The pants went on and I growled, “Come here,” opening my arms wide. She tucked against me, head on my chest, hands linked around my waist. The adrenaline had long since faded but only now did it get replaced with relief. We’d done it. We’d saved Kayleigh and Polly and escaped with minimal injury.
“We should go let your mama know you’re okay,” Kayleigh murmured.
Only it turned out, she’d forgotten about her baby boy.
I walked into the yard to find Mama holding court with a dragon in her lap.
And was Pollita being discreet?
Nope.
“…and if you show yourself worthy and serve me well, then you shall be a part of my personal retinue with special privilege.”
My audible groan caught my lizard’s attention.
“There you are. Took you long enough,” Polly grumbled in English.
“I’m sorry, but some of us had holes that needed patching.”
“Excuses,” Polly sighed. “But I forgive you.”
