Page 29 of Nauti Siren (Nauti 7)

“I already know what damage has been done,” she muttered angrily. “Trust me; I can feel every bruise. ”

And she could. Every single bruise, scratch, and jab that had been plowed into her undefended body.

“I’m certain you can,” the nurse agreed compassionately. “But that concussion could be dangerous. Your brother’s due at any time—”

“Excuse me?” Piper knew she’d just lost her breath as trepidation began to race through her system.

Oh, God.

No.

Not Dawg. Surely to God no one had actually called Dawg.

“Your brother Jed. ” The nurse smiled again. “His name and phone number was in your day planner, thank goodness. ” She moved to the bed and, as Piper stared back at her in shock, actually managed to wrap the blood pressure cuff around her arm. “Your purse was stolen. If it hadn’t been for his name and number in your planner, then we’d have had no idea whom to contact. ”

Her brother Jed, not her brother, Dawg? No doubt Jed had called Dawg. Dawg, Rowdy, and Natches were probably just ahead of his arrival and blowing fire and brimstone. And once they stepped into the hospital, hell would have no fury like the Mackay men pissed off.

“God, this isn’t good. ” Lying back against the hospital bed, Piper closed her eyes wearily. “How long ago did you talk to him? Forget it. ” She gave a quick shake of her head. “Doesn’t matter; he could be here in two minutes or in two hours. ” Opening her eyes, she levered herself up on the bed. “Where are my clothes?”

Nurse Dade widened her eyes in surprise. “Ms. Mackay, where your clothes are doesn’t matter,” she informed Piper. “You need to rest. ”

“I’ll find the damned things myself then. ” Piper sighed.

She really didn’t feel like finding anything, especially her clothes, but sometimes a girl just had to do what a girl just had to do, right?

“Ms. Mackay, you’re in no shape to leave the hospital alone. ”

“Nurse Dade, you really have no idea the forces of nature getting ready to rip through this hospital,” she informed the nurse as dread began to fill her. “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have nothing—and I mean absolutely nothing—on my brothers. Famine, pestilence, war, and disease are a kiddie playground in comparison, and I have no intentions of hanging around for the fallout. ”

Nurse Dade’s eyes widened. “Sweetie, I talked to him myself. ” She gave a small, nervous little laugh. “He was as nice as he could be. I think you may have hit your head harder than the doctor thought. ”

Struggling from the bed, Piper ignored the nurse’s disapproving glare as she shuffled to the small cabinet next to the end of the bed.

Aha, clothes.

“Ms. Mackay, this isn’t advisable. ” The nurse sighed as Piper struggled past the roommate who had been listening in amused interest.

“It’s not advisable to be here when Dawg Mackay arrives either. ”

“Who is Dawg Mackay?” The nurse was all but laughing at her. “His name is Jed. ”

“You really don’t want to know. Trust me. ”

“You’re going to hurt my feelings, sis. That just wasn’t nice. ”

Piper came to a slow stop no more than a few feet from the bathroom door when Jed stepped slowly into the room.

His voice was gentle, amused, and patient. The look in his eyes was damned scary, though.

Scary, that was, if her attacker ever had the misfortune to stare into them.

She could see murder in those eyes. As Jed took in the bruised, swollen condition of her face, the hesitancy in her stance as she stood before him, then the livid bruises on her arms, the navy blue of his eyes flickered with a deep, black rage.

Shaking his head slowly, he advanced on her, all lean-hipped, predatory male grace and dark intent.

“How far behind you is Dawg?” Resignation slumped her shoulders.

If she had been on a leash before where her brother was concerned, no doubt it would feel like prison even before they left the hospital.

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