“Because Gwen just about bled to death and the Variant are working on her on the dining room table, and we’re trying to get the blood up so none of her people or her sons will notice them when they come in later,” Three snapped.
“They don’t know she’s hurt?” Niko asked, as he stood up.
“Yes, they do. She passed out on the patio outside. Lost too much blood. They all are aware, except her kids, and the kids in the pool outside. They saw it too, but their mothers are downplaying it,” Three said.
“They’re all pretty upset, though. I mean, they hike all the fucking way here, then their Reigna, the only thing they have left of their Pride drops,” Vance said.
“Shit. Shit, shit, shit,” Niko said, turning away from them and heading toward the stairs. “Use hydrogen peroxide! It’ll break down the proteins in the blood and take it right out,” he called before he jogged down the stairs.
Three and Vance looked at each other. “I’ll go find some Hydrogen Peroxide,” Vance said.
Chapter 9
“Hey! Wait up!” Valid called out as he chased after the side by side Alison was driving away in.
She looked over her shoulder and hit the breaks. “Why?”
“Feral said to ride with you, so I’m riding with you.”
“I don’t even know you,” she said, pressing on the gas as he jumped into the passenger seat.
“Then why’d you let me get in?”
“You’re Variant. Alpha Jack trusts you.”
“Where are we going?”
“The manufacturing facility.”
“That the building we passed on the way in?”
“Yes, it’s Laighin Celtic Leathers. We make leather goods.”
Alison drove the side by side like a bat out of hell as she wove on and off the road, avoiding tree roots and pits in the road. To his credit, Valid didn’t say a word, he just held on and steeled himself against the bouncing and the movement. When they arrived at the manufacturing facility, she brought the side by side to a stop, then hopped off and ran into the building. It was mid afternoon and some people were working, though most had already finished for the day. She ran over to her station and grabbed up her soldering iron, then grabbed up the one belonging to the worker who sat next to her, and ran back toward the offices.
Valid stayed on her tail, watching everything she did.
She ran into the offices, then into Vance’s office and started opening and closing drawers and even the storage cabinets behind his desk. “Yes!” she exclaimed, snatching up a box and turning so quickly she almost bounced off of Valid.
“What’s that?” Valid asked.
“It’s a brand new soldering iron. Never been used. But I’m still bringing these two, too, in case the new one doesn’t work.”
“Good thinking,” Valid said.
They hurried back outside, got on the side by side, and she drove them back just as recklessly as she’d driven them there.
She brought the side by side to a stop in front of Jack’s house, turned the key and engaged the emergency brake, then reached for the soldering irons Valid was holding. “What’s your name?” she asked, as she got out of the side by side and ran toward the house.
“Valid,” he said.
She paused for just a second as she thought about his name. “I like that. Cool name,” she said, as he reached around her and opened the door, pushing it open for her to go through. “I’m back!” she announced, rushing over to the formal dining table. “I brought three. Mine, the girl’s next to me, and a new one I found in Vance’s storage cabinet behind his desk.”
“Let’s start with the new one,” Feral said.
“Why three?” Kassidy asked, from her spot near the kitchen where she waited in case anybody needed anything and she had to go find it for them.
“In case one won’t work, and another breaks, right?” Feral asked.
