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Michel hadn’t argued. It had been a long day for him, Benny thought compassionately.
Dennis had checked in during the early morning hours after they returned from the funeral for John McKenzie. Benny sent him off to bed as well. “You only get Michel for one more day,” he observed. “You need sleep so that the two of you can get the rest of the serum center set up.”
Dennis hadn’t argued either.
And then Benny had a few hours to himself, but rather than think, he just watched the two of them sleep. The metronome kept ticking. He’d have to remember that trick — if he ever saw a metronome again.
But around 6 a.m. he’d had enough of watching them sleep. And if the smell of bacon cooking didn’t wake them up, he’d try coffee next. They had things to do. Benny rolled his eyes. Who was he kidding? He wanted to make sure they were OK.
And sure enough bacon did the trick. “Hungry?” he asked when Jessie opened her eyes. “Want some breakfast?”
She nodded. She propped herself up on an elbow and looked down at Ryder. “Is he OK?” she asked huskily.
Benny brought her a glass of water and made her drink it. “You tell me?” he said.
She glanced at him, and then looked inward. Finally she nodded. “He’s just asleep,” she said with a soft smile. “But I want up.”
Jessie crawled out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. “And don’t you two dare eat all the bacon before I get back.”
Benny closed his eyes in relief. He picked up a piece of bacon and ate it. Maybe he’d cook some eggs too.
“And toast,” Jessie called from the bathroom.
Benny paused. OK, they might be getting a bit too close for comfort. “Come on, bro,” he said. “Time to get up. Coffee’s on.”
“Not until I can get into the bathroom,” Ryder groused, not opening his eyes.
Benny let the relief he felt course through his body. He’d been sure they were OK, he reassured himself. He poured coffee, set a cup of it by the bed for Ryder, and added cream to his. “Coffee, Jessie,” he called.
She came out wearing a T-shirt, Ryder’s by the size of it, and sweatpants. “Gimme,” she demanded. Ryder made a beeline for the bathroom. Benny solemnly handed Jessie a cup, and then he gave her a hug.
“You worried me,” he admitted.
“That poison is bad news,” she said. “We need to find his lab and destroy it.”
Benny smiled at her. “Your job,” he said. “Me? I’m going to round up Titus and go down and kick some butt in the Okanogan. You two can follow down Monday when you’ve had a chance to recuperate.”
She nodded, then her eyes narrowed at him suspiciously. “You just don’t want to have to help with the pack barbeque tonight,” she accused.
“Busted,” Ryder said, coming out wearing sweatpants. His tattoos showed on his arm, and he had a nasty scar on the left pectoral muscle— a scar that looked like it had been made weeks ago, not yesterday. He grabbed the cup of coffee Benny had left for him.
Benny stared at him. “Turn around,” he commanded.
Ryder did. Benny stared at his brother’s back, then looked at Jessie, with a growing smile. “Guess he’s healed in more than one way,” he said softly. “Go look at your back in the mirror, Ryder.”
Ryder ducked back into the bathroom, then came back out again, his eyes wide. “Where did they go?”
Benny shrugged. “I guess you don’t need the reminder to not trust those who watch your back,” Benny said. He grinned at both of them. “I’ll tell the people at the house not to expect you until lunch. Have fun, kids.”
Benny set down his coffee mug, snagged some more bacon and walked out. He smiled. He did like a happy ending —of all kinds. Even temporary happy endings.
He went into Wolf’s Head. Most everyone was asleep, but he found Titus drinking coffee in the kitchen with Jason and Duncan. “They’re fine,” he said briefly. “I told them to hide out until at least lunch — new mates and all.”
Titus smiled briefly at that. The other two men looked too tired to even manage a smile.
“Have you had any sleep?” Benny demanded.
“Some,” Jason said. “But we’ve got a lot of ticking time bombs out there. I kept waking up thinking one of them had exploded. I’d do a walk through, then go back to sleep. I need more men.”
