Page 45 of Mikhail
The woman continued to stare at him for a long second. “Are you sure? I can take you to thehospital.”
“No.” He cursed Conrad for numbing his dragon. Otherwise, he would’ve been able to make this woman do his bidding. Right now all he had were his human instincts to get him throughthis.
“All right, but I really think you need a hospital.” The woman unlocked her car. He climbed into the passenger side and didn’t bother buckling himself in. The woman didn’t say another word until she started to pull out onto thestreet.
“Where am I headed?” sheasked.
Belishaw gave her the address and then rested his forehead on the window, briefly closing his eyes. Everything was fucked up. Conrad was after the jewels, and he would kill Mikhail to get tothem.
And I’m the bastard who gave himup.
He opened his eyes again, the lights outside blurring into white and yellow lines. He recognized Jodie’s townhouse and pointed. “There. Stopthere.”
The woman pulled over, and he fumbled for the door handle. The woman got out and helped him to the sidewalk. Uncertainty shadowed hereyes.
“I really don’t think I should leave you like this,” shesaid.
“No…I’ll be fine. Thank you…for the ride.” He cradled his left hand and walked up the steps. He gave her as much of an English stiff upper lip as he could manage, and she nodded. He heard the car drive off once he started to knock on Jodie’sdoor.
A few seconds later the door opened. He fell heavily againstJodie.
“Randolph!” She braced him with her arms. “Oh my God, what happened? You’rebleeding.”
“I need a phone, quick…” hepanted.
Jodie stared at him. “Phone?” He moved in slow, shuffling steps to the stairs that led to the upper rooms, collapsing on the second-to-laststep.
“The phone, love, please.” His ragged whisper sent her running. She came back with her phone, and he dialed Mikhail’s cell. It rang for a long time, but there was noanswer.
“Fuck!” he growled. Then he tried Mikhail’s landline. When he got the answering machine, he spoke quickly. “Mikhail. Conrad Sinclair is coming for you and the jewels. He knows where you are. Watch your back—he is one of us. I’ll be there as soon as I can, and I’ll bringhelp.”
He hung up and realized the room was silent. Jodie was watching him, barelybreathing.
He rubbed a hand across his cheeks, wiping off smears of blood along his palm. “Jodie…”
“What’s going on, Randolph? You’re scaring me.” Her beautiful dark eyes were wide withterror.
Belishaw rubbed his good hand over his eyes and exhaled. “It’s a very longstory.”
She moved to sit down beside him on the narrow stairs. Jodie took his hand in hers, ignoring the blood, and held it tight. The connection gave him much-neededstrength.
“I’m listening.” The soft, warm pools of her eyes drew himin.
“I’m not exactly…human.” It was the first time he’d ever told a mortal woman what he was, and he prayed she wouldn’t run awayscreaming.
“Okay…” There was confusion in her eyes, but she hadn’t run and hadn’t let go of hishand.
“I’m only half-man. I’m…a dragon shifter. I’ve walked this earth for more than two thousandyears.”
* * *
Meg Stratford parkedher car half a block away and watched the injured man disappear inside the townhouse. Her mind raced as she tried to puzzle out what she’d just seen. Eventually, when she felt she had no other choice, she pulled out her cell and dialed anumber.
A woman’s voice came on the line. “HQ. Please provide youridentification.”
“Stratford, Meg. 3592BFHS,” Megsaid.
“Voice print verified,” the woman said. “What is yourstatus?”
