Page 55 of New Nebraska Heat
“You could let him tellmyjaguar, you know.”
“No, I couldn’t,” I said in dangerous tones. No way I was letting him back in my mind. I didn’t even want my jaguar in there.
“Fine,” Dagger snapped. What?”
“Knock knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Me. Shut the fuck up, we’re trying to sleep.”
The next afternoon, Dagger was deemed fit enough to leave his hospital bed.
Serenity was still dead set on him staying at my place, and I was still caving like a big pussycat. Her big hazel eyes rendered me powerless every time they got that gleam in them. She wanted to help, and I couldn’t deny her anything.
The hospital’s insurance policy said he had to exit in a wheelchair, so I was cursed with the esteemed honor of pushing him. The axles on the thing must have been drenched in WD-40 because I was pushing the big, tattooed lump toward the sliding glass doors with a lot more ease than I’d expected. I even maneuvered him on and off the elevator without breaking a sweat.
A kindly nurse had left latex gloves for Bryce on one of the suite’s tables, and he walked a few feet behind me, talking on his phone to Gerald, looking around cautiously for anyone who might accidentally bump into him.
Someone kind of did.
A young guy with bright eyes and a blue tie came through the entrance as we were approaching. His broad smile revealed stunted vamp fangs. I guessed a half-human mix. Vamps tended to be pale as old bones, and he had some color. Although… he did look a little hollow in the cheeks, and a subtle sheen of sweat clung to his neck and forehead.
Bryce slipped his phone into his pocket, returning the smile. “Seb, good to see you. What a surprise!” He greeted then gave thehalf-vamp a closer inspection. “Everything’s okay with you, I hope? You’re not under the weather?”
“Oh, I’m absolutely fine, Mr. Harding,” he said in a cracking voice. He pushed up his glasses, eyes flicking toward Serenity. “I’m just popping in to visit my new buddy, Rico. But I should be asking all of you the same question. It’s the top story across the whole of New Nebraska. Are you guys okay?”
Rico, the overdose teen from the shelter. This kid was taking the time to give a shit.
Dagger, slouched in the wheelchair and double checking that his pistol was securely clipped on, was less impressed. “Just fucking peachy, dude.”
The half-vamp politely passed over Dagger’s sour attitude with a smile and redirection. I liked that. Classic stoic. “Detective Pierce? Wow, it’s an honor, sir. Everyone’s saying you fought off a whole gangster coven single-handed and destroyed the biggest drug lab in New Nebraskan history. Did you really—”
Dagger perked up. “They’re saying that? They’re not—Well, I mean, I’d rather not go into the details. I just serve and protect. I’m no hero.”
He straightened his badge, and I rolled my eyes, adjusting my hands on the wheelchair’s handles to keep from slapping him upside the head. “Don’t be so modest.” I gave the chair a jostle. “It doesn’t suit you.”
“I’ll fill you in about the details later, back at Midas, Seb.” Bryce was peering through the glass doors, waving at Gerald, who was standing by the stretch. The gentle old wolf tipped his cap in reply. “Okay, the car’s here. Good to see you. Let’s talk about this more on Monday. Please give our best wishes to Rico.”
Serenity stepped forward before any of us could move. “That’s very caring of you to visit him.” She pushed her hair behind her ear, looking up at him through her lashes. “He’s doing okay?”
The kid’s blush deepened, and he blurted out his response asif he’d been holding them tight in his chest. “He’s doing great. The doctors say a day or two more and he’ll be out. He’s sworn off ever taking drugs again too, for life, so that’s a silver lining.”
“Thank goodness.” Serenity dazzled him with a smile.
It seemed to uncork a gush of words he’d stowed away. “Thank goodness you’re all right, too. He fidgeted with his tie. “I was so worried when I heard your name on the news.” He took an awkward step closer, pushing up his glasses. “You look great though.”
I tucked my index finger into the waist of her pants and gently but firmly pulled her close into my side. She wrapped a squeezing arm around me, but her gaze didn’t waver from his.
“That sure is a nice thing you’re doing. You’re a good kid.” I spun Dagger back toward the exit, turning Serenity with me. “Give our best wishes to your friend. Take care.”
Serenity glanced bashfully over her shoulder, and I caught an enticing whiff of pheromones coming off her that made my jaguar pace the confines of my head. “You’re very sweet,” she called out to him. “Tell Rico from me he’s a very brave young man. And you look very dapper today too, by the way.”
“Thanks so much.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll see you at the station sometime soon?”
She rubbed a palm over Dagger’s short, shaven locks. “As soon as my patient’s better, I’ll be there, for sure.”
My guts knotted, seeing the easy way she touched my twin. He didn’t deserve her affections.
