Page 36 of Vallaverse: Noir
I can breathe.
“The pharmacy!” Kyle screams. “They can tell you.”
“Okay,” Dana says sweetly. “Look away, Beckett.”
I don't need the order this time. I turn all the way around and face the building again. I barely even jump when the gun goes off.
Chapter Seventeen
Dana
He's just going to have to pout. I am not taking him with me to the pharmacy. He would attract too much attention. It's going to be bad enough with Beckett in tow.
Honestly, I'd feel a lot better about it if Beckett didn't go with me, either. It isn't that I think something will happen to him. I have a decent, functional relationship with the pharmacy. They even encouraged me to go to the Selection. They would probably be happy for me, and would celebrate Beckett … if I wasn't walking in there with pictures of their recently departed flunkies, or whatever those men were.
I've never felt such rage as I did when Beckett froze up on the lawn at the center. Never. I had tunnel vision. All I could hear was him confirming that those were the Alphas who left marks on him, and all I could see were their faces. There was no thought behind my movement. I barely remember pulling the gun or firing it. I do remember breaking every single one of those bones. I remember every satisfying pop.
“If you're not out of there within ten minutes, I'm coming in,” Pierce says before leaning across me and opening the door. “I can see the front of the building from here. I'll start timing when the front door closes behind you.”
“Be right back.” I get out of the car first and scan the street, then nod at Beckett. “Are you sure you won't stay back?”
He climbs out and adjusts his clothes. “Not a chance. You're not going in there alone.”
“Okay. I don't think anything will happen, but if it does, you run. Understand? You run.”
He nods. “I understand. I won't, but I understand that you're telling me to.”
“Beckett.”
“Look. You can be a badass detective. I won't get in your way. But I don't have it in me to let you walk into the pharmacy alone. Understand?”
“Fine.” I sigh. “But I don't like it. Don't make yourself into a target.”
He nods and offers me his arm.
As a rule, I don't hang on men's arms. I don't let them help me. That stopped years ago, with everything else. But I can take Beckett's arm. I might actually need it right now. I haven't said anything about the burning ache running up and down the length of my leg since that little altercation at the center, and I don't intend to. I just need to finish up at the pharmacy and then I'll make a beeline for a hot bath and an evening in bed with my heating pad. Hell, I might actually take the pain meds the doctors keep prescribing me.
The pharmacy is empty when Beckett and I walk in. That's a bit of luck to be grateful for. Hopefully this will be a quick and easy conversation. Reminding myself again that Michael and Jonah like me, I walk right up to the counter.
Rebecca's eyes widen and her smile brightens as she eyes Beckett. “Good evening, detective.”
“Hey,” I smile. “Are you all terribly busy right now?”
She shakes her head. “Not really. They're just working up the last of today's orders. Do you need something?”
“Actually, I do. I just have a few questions for them, if they can give me a minute or two.”
“Oh,” she says, going straight into seriousness. “Official business. Let me go ask. One second.”
Beckett moves his arm around my waist and I look at him. He winks at me and nods back toward the counter.
Rebecca comes back a moment later. “They'll be right with you. Just step over to the side.”
“Thanks, Rebecca.”
Beckett accompanies me to the side counter partition to wait. He keeps his arm around my waist, his hand on my hip. The pressure and warmth is worth not leaning against the stool like I usually would.
After a minute, Jonah comes to stand in front of me. “Rebecca said you have some questions?”
