Page 26 of Bonded By Christmas
I grimace, offering the little omega a chagrined smile. At least he was able to string together three words, but did it have to bethosethree words?
“What?” Lacey squeaks. “You two know each other? How?”
“We’ll get into all of that,” I say, gesturing toward the bodies. “Grim and I need to get these away from the street.”
“You can’t touch anything.” She’s now back on her feet, but she pulls a hand up, blocking the dead guys from view. It’s almost like if she can’t see it, she can pretend they don’t exist, which is funny as fuck and very Lacey. “This is a crime scene.”
“Can’t call it in,” Grim says firmly. “They’ll haul my ass in before you can blink.”
“I have to agree with the big guy. It’s not a good plan, Lace.” I shrug as her eyes widen.
“But someone will find them…” She glances from one end of the alley to the other. There’s no way we’re getting off the hook this easily. Eventually the shock will wear off, and she’s going to have all sorts of questions about how Grim and I know each other, why he was following her tonight, and how we’re so at ease with body disposal. “Okay, what we need is a bunch of garbage bags and a really big trunk. Does anyone own a Buick?”
“What?” I snort. If I wasn’t already half in love with her, that would have sealed my fate.
“They’re going to take up a lot of room… A van could work.” Her eyes narrow. “You could help come up with solutions to this problem rather than looking at me like I’m stupid.”
“Pretty girl,” I coo, taking a few steps toward her. “I would never. Just chill, we’ve got this.”
Grim, that stealthy motherfucker, comes out of nowhere, wrapping his hand around my throat.
“Too close.” He bares his teeth, squeezing the fuck out of me. “Mine.”
I punch him in the kidney, but it does exactly nothing.
“Oh, great,” Lacey mutters. “We’re all going to prison. Could you please focus on the problem at hand.” She gestures aimlessly at the bodies she still won’t look at, and Grim finally releases me.
“You’re a dick,” I grumble as his hold loosens. “But she’s right. We need to move those assholes and check to see if any of them have a pulse.”
Lacey faces the wall while Grim and I haul the bodies deeper into the alley, but I make it back to her first. I’m not letting Grim think for even a second that he gets to pull that kind of bullshit where he keeps her away from me.
“Are you doing okay, baby girl?” I tug her into my arms.
“I’m not sure,” she whispers, tilting her face up to meet my eyes. “I think I’m in shock. I’m not built for prison, Cal.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I assure her. “No matter what, I can assure you, you won’t go down for this.”
The blood all over her face and neck is really starting to grate on my instincts. I need to get her home, help her into a quick shower to rinse off, and then soak with her in the tub.
Too bad I don’t see that happening.
I’m sure Wilder is going to order me to stick around to direct the cleanup team.
Lacey twists her head toward the noise of Grim approaching. Two bright red canine marks mar her perfect skin just under her ear.
“No fucking way.” My eyes widen, and I find myself bringing a hand up to run over her throat just below them. “Wait, was that a consensual deal or…”
It was Grim who bit her, right? Not one of those assholes that I will resurrect just to slaughter all over again if they tried to forcefully bond her.
No.
Rejected bites turn black.
That means it must be Grim’s bite.
“You know bonds can’t be forced,” Lacey says indignantly. “Of course I consented. Do you know what it would have done to him if I declined?”
“Um, yeah. I get it, but I’m not sure that’s a solid reason to accept alifelongconnection…” Okay, maybe I should shut my mouth. I don’t want to discourage her from being excited about bonding.
