“You weren’t gone long, and you look likeshit; what happened to you?” Zeke asked Aiden as he releasedMaggie’s hand.
“Long story,” Aiden replied.
“Anything to do with the commotion Brutusreported outside?”
“Yes.”
“Glad you’re okay.” Zeke glanced at Maggieagain. “Looks like you two could use a drink.”
“Yes,” Maggie said. “I’ll take a glass ofthe best whiskey you have that doesn’t have food dye or blood mixedin with it.” She thrust her thumb at Aiden. “I’m assuming he has atab, so it’s on him, and so is everything else I order.”
Zeke chuckled. “And you?” he askedAiden.
“The same. I also need a phone.”
“You got it.” Zeke dipped into his shirtpocket and pulled out his phone; he tossed it over to Aiden whocaught it. “I’ll be back with those drinks.”
Aiden pulled up the touchscreen pad fornumbers and typed in the one he’d memorized for Saxon earlier inthe night.
“What?” an irritated voice inquired afterthe first ring.
Aiden stepped away from Maggie, who didn’tso much as glance at him before snatching up the glass Zeke placedbefore her and downing its amber contents. She pushed the emptyglass toward Zeke, took Aiden’s drink, and consumed it too. Sheheld up two fingers to Zeke.
“It’s me,” he said to Saxon.
“Where are you?” Saxon demanded. “I’ve beenstanding on a street corner for half an hour waiting for you, andmore than a few women are hoping I’m a male prostitute. I’ve beenpropositioned more times than the last woman on earth would be ifthe entire male population survived. I shit you not.”
“And how many have you taken up on theiroffers?”
Saxon chuckled. “None yet, but there were afew it distressed me to turn down.”
Aiden was aware of what inner battle Saxonwaged to keep his demons at bay as Saxon spent much of his freetime in a woman’s bed.
“I ran into some trouble tonight.” Aidenexplained what happened while Maggie downed another glass ofwhiskey and leaned across the bar to speak with Zeke.
Zeke nodded before heading through the doorconnecting the bar to a back room.
“Where are you now?” Saxon asked.
“I had to come back to Carha’s. I was hopingto find my phone, which is garbage.”
“I see.” Saxon didn’t ask what he’d beendoing at Carha’s to begin with; they all had their ways of dealingwith the darkness plaguing them.
“There’s more.”
“When isn’t there?”
“I foundher,” Aiden said.
“You’re kidding?”
Saxon knew immediately who he meant as therewas only oneherany of them would mention finding. “No.She’s one of the paramedics who picked me up, and she’s sitting atthe bar in Carha’s right now.”
“Get heroutof that place.”
“You think I want her here? The Savages areoutside. I have no weapons, and I’m weakened. I can’t take them on,and I can’t put her at risk by taking her out of here. One of themalready bit her.” Remembering the attack on her caused his fangs tolengthen. “I’d rather have her safe and repulsed by me than haveone of thosethingsget their hands on her again.”
Saxon took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll callRonan and get some backup. I’ll meet you there.”
