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“Course I will.” Gracen patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch over him for you.”
Aston felt tears form. This woman understood. Aston had never really had a friend. Other than Gretchen, whom she guessed wasn’t much of a friend.
She would like a friend like Gracen though.
“Thanks,” she said hoarsely.
Gracen nodded and took her seat when she got up. “He’ll be fine until you get back. Promise.”
Aston watched as Victor kissed the top of Gracen’s head, then she followed Regent out the door and down the stairs.
Awesome. That meant she got to climb the stairs again later.
She was so tired, and she’d started limping slightly. She could really, really feel the pain in her feet now.
“Regent,” Victor said as they entered an office that she guessed belonged to Regent. She didn’t know why she thought that. Maybe because Victor didn’t seem the type to have an office.
Regent looked to Victor and they seemed to share a silent conversation.
“Go get him,” Regent commanded with a nod as he led her to a comfortable-looking sofa. “Please sit.”
She nodded, grateful to sit. Another shiver ran through her and she watched as though in a daze as Regent pulled a blanket from a cupboard, and then wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Oh, thank you. That’s kind of you.”
He gave her a strange look. “Actually, sweetheart, it’s probably the least I could do. And I should have done it already. I should have seen to your comfort.”
There was definite censure in his voice, which was odd. Why would he see to her comfort? He didn’t even know her. Maxim was his brother and injured. He should always come first.
She shook her head. “No. You were looking after Maxim. That was more important.”
“Was it?” he asked, moving to the armchair across from her.
She frowned, confused at the question. “Of course it was. He was stabbed. I’m fine. And he’s your brother, I’m just . . . Aston.”
“Just Aston, are you?”
Either she was exhausted, or he just wasn’t making sense. She wasn’t sure which. She rubbed at her head as Victor and the doctor returned.
She stiffened. Why was the doctor here?
“The doctor’s going to check to make sure you’re not injured,” Regent explained in a gentle but firm voice.
“I don’t need that.” She shook her head, stiffening.
“It will only take a moment. But he should have seen to you earlier.”
Huh? She didn’t understand. “I didn’t need him. Maxim was stabbed and beaten.”
“So they didn’t touch you?” Regent asked.
“Ahh.” Crap. She was trying not to lie. “Not that much.”
“Uh-huh,” Regent replied skeptically.
“You might be hurt and not know it,” Victor told her.
She frowned. “I’d know.”
“Adrenaline can trick your mind.”
That was true. And now that she took stock, she was feeling bruised and sore. But nothing that she needed to see a doctor for.
“One of them threw me against a wall. That’s it. I don’t need to be checked over.”
The doctor looked to Regent, who studied her.
“Her feet,” Victor said.
“What?” she asked.
“Check her feet.”
Great. They were the part that was hurting the most. She really wished she’d stopped to put on shoes. But then, perhaps those guys would have stabbed Maxim again.
So, a bit of pain in her feet was definitely worth it.
The doctor kneeled in front of her and held his hand out.
“Feet,” Victor repeated insistently.
She huffed out a breath and raised her right foot. The doctor hummed as he checked her right foot, then her left. “They’re filthy, and there are a couple of cuts that need to be cleaned and bandaged. Nothing deep enough to need stitches, though.”
“I’ll get Gerald to get some supplies,” Regent said.
And she ended up having to put up with some strange man washing her feet, then disinfecting them and putting bandages on them.
“Stay off them as much as you can for at least twenty-four hours,” the doctor ordered.
Sure. She’d get right on that.
He left and she stared at Regent wearily. “Can I go see Maxim again?”
Regent leaned forward. “I need you to tell me everything that happened first.”
She drew in a deep breath. “All right.” Then she told him it all. Seeing Maxim getting attacked, then grabbing a knife and racing down to help him, stabbing one of them and a good Samaritan helping them. And having to drive him here even though she didn’t know how to.
Afterward, both men were quiet. What were they thinking?
“You ran out of the apartment in bare feet, dressed in your pajamas, with a knife?” Regent repeated.
“Um, yeah.”
Lord, she was so tired that her head was thumping.
“Take these.”
She opened her eyes, not having realized that she’d shut them, and saw Victor standing there, holding out two pain killers. The ones the doctor had left for her.
She shook her head. “I don’t need them.”
“You do. Take them.”
“No. Thanks,” she added, not wanting to be rude.
“Take them, or I’ll tell Maxim when he wakes up.”
