Page 344 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
“Thank you, son. Appreciate it.”
Logan lets himself out quietly while Mac searches my pants until he comes up with my phone. He towels my hands off before he passes the phone to me.
It takes me three tries to open the phone but when I finally do and dial Kru’s number, he immediately picks up. “Brenna?”
“Hi, Kru.”
“Everything okay?”
“I just got in a fight. Three men tried to jump me.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No, Kru. My knuckles are bruised, and I got puke on my boots but I’m okay.”
“Brenna, are you alone?”
“No, Kru. Mac’s here.”
“Do you mind if I speak to him for a minute?”
I offer the phone to Mac who takes it and puts it to his ear while stroking my cheek with his free hand. Mac listens for a long moment and although I can hear Kru’s deep murmur, I can’t make out what he’s saying.
“I’ve got her in a warm bath and I’m going to give her hot chocolate in a minute,” Mac says. “The sugar should help.”
Kru’s deep murmur starts up again and Mac nods to whatever Kru’s saying. “She wanted to tell you first. Should I put her back on?”
Kru speaks again and then Mac passes me the phone.
“Brenna, thank you for calling me. Tell me about the fight.”
I do, recounting each attack. When I get to the part where Black Mask One hurled all over the pavement, both Mac and Kru chuckle.
“Bet you rearranged that fella’s guts for him but good,” Mac says, grinning at me. I grin back. He wouldn’t smile like that at a victim.
“Other than your hand, how are you feeling now?” Kru asks.
“Okay.” I’d say cold but I’m sitting in a warm bath. How can I be cold? But I am, down in my core, and I give a little shiver.
“I want you to ice that hand until the swelling goes down. Take some painkillers if you need them and I will see you in class. Thursday at the latest. Street fights are not a substitute for training. Understood?”
“Yes, Kru. Understood.”
“Good. I’m proud of you, Bren. I’ve always known you had the heart of a tiger. I’m glad your tiger guided you today. Let me talk to Mac before you hang up.”
“Yes, Kru. See you later.”
“See you later, tiger.”
I offer the phone to Mac again. He tucks it against his shoulder as he picks up the sponge with his free hand and drizzles hot water over my shoulders and chest again. It makes the shivering stop and I smile at him.
Mac listens to whatever Kru is saying for a minute then responds, “Sounds good. I’ll get her there. Thanks for listening.”
He sets my phone on top of my clothes when he finishes and smiles gently back at me. “More hot water or are you ready to get out?”
“Ready to get out.” I like baths but unless I’m masturbating, I don’t stay in them much longer than it takes to get clean.
“Okay, gimme a minute.” Mac gets busy, rinsing out the sponge and putting it away, collecting a towel from the cupboard under the sink, moving the bathroom rug next to the tub so I have something other than cold tile to step on.
