I shivered, remembering his eyes, and the promise of death in them.
The doctor nodded at me, re-wrapping the dressing on my arm. “We’ve sealed the worst of the gashes with liquid stitches. Some just needed to be dressed cleanly, and medicated. The liquid stitches will hold until the wounds heal. The rest just needs to be kept clean and re-dressed once a day. Put some antibiotic ointment on them, and give them some air every day so they can heal. Sunshine wouldn’t hurt them, either.”
I guess I was lounging by the pool for the next few days. What a sacrifice.
The doctor left and a nurse came in with the discharge papers. Draven gave them my healthcare cards that he’d stolen from my purse, and the nurse went to make copies while I signed or initialed where there was highlighter to prompt me to do so. When she came back, Draven took my cards, and then he and Rhys wheeled me out of the hospital in a wheelchair against my futile, protesting wishes that I could walk.
“We need to pick up your pain meds at the pharmacy,” Draven said, loading me into the back of the limo. Mesmer was looking at us in the rearview mirror with a sad, guilty expression on his face. I knew he was beating himself up for not catching the paranormal that kept trying to kill me. He’d been stationed outside of the tea shop, and had searched the area after the blast with Draven, but they hadn’t found anything.
“I’m okay, Mesmer,” I assured him, winking. “Remember, I’m tough. It’ll take a lot more than this to keep me down. And it wasn’t your fault!” I told him sternly.
He nodded, but still looked soulfully at the bandages on my arms, neck, and legs. At least my face had been smashed up against the guys’ bodies and had escaped any damage.
I sighed. He was such a softie, and I loved him for it. I got out of the car against the protests of everyone and opened Mesmer’s door to give him a big hug. “I’m okay,” I whispered into his chest.
He was infinitely gentle as he hugged me back. “I’m very happy about that, Miss Mia. We’ll get the dastard.”
“Ooooh, old timey word!” I praised.
He attempted a smile, and I squeezed his hand, then got in the backseat again.
“I’ll get a Ryde and pick up her meds from Dax’s Drugs,” Rhys said, leaning down to kiss my forehead. I didn’t protest the kiss. I was happy to receive forehead kisses. I just didn’t really want to lock lips with him.
“Thanks, Rhys,” Draven said with a grateful look.
Rhys left, and Draven got into the back of the limo with me. He ignored our seatbelts and pulled me carefully against his chest, wrapping his arms around me.
I leaned against him, relaxing completely and letting my full weight settle against him. Draven grabbed a remote to turn the heated seats on, and I sighed in bliss, falling fast asleep against his chest within minutes.
* * *
I wokeup in my bed to my tiger growling quietly. His gigantic head was over my hand, nuzzling it, and his full body was on the bed with me. A mean feat considering his size. I ran my fingers through his thick fur. “Sorry, boy.” He licked my arm with his rough tongue and carefully put his head on my stomach.
“I don’t think he’s going to let you go anywhere without him ever again,” a voice that made my heart flitter said from my lounge chair.
I looked over and found Draven sitting next to me, leaning forward, with his elbows on his knees.
“Someone is targeting me,” I said, without any preliminaries. I wanted information.
Draven nodded. “I’m sorry, cara. They’re targeting me as well. In the last month, I’ve dealt with numerous attempts on my life. We’ve thwarted each attack, but have been unable to track down who’s behind it.”
I laid my head back down and sighed, staring up at my canopy. “What do we do?”
He sat back in the chair. “Well, for one, I think you stick close to the villa for a while. I’ll send someone else to do the in-town errands that you have.”
“Are they going to buy my tampons for me, too?”
He smiled. “I’ll buy them for you, if you need.”
I scrunched up my nose in protest. Then I laughed at a sudden thought. “Send Mesmer.”
The idea of huge, bulky Mesmer in the pad and tampon aisle, trying to find the right kind, being horrified at the infinite options… It made me giggle. “And send someone along to get video!” Because I seriously needed to see that.
Draven laughed, then sighed again. “Get some rest. Rhys left your meds beside you.” He nodded at my bedside table where a white pharmacy bag labeled Dax’s Drugs waited for me.
“I’ll thank him when I see him again.”
“Dice came by the villa to check on you.”
