Chapter 6
Grim
I give the asshole male a gentle shove, and he stumbles forward. I’m already regretting this entire morning.
“In you go,” I growl.
These are my worst of them all. The lazy fuckers who couldn’t give a shit.
I had to pry the gaming control out of this greasy little prick’s hands.
Shenron hasn’t stopped bitching about the unfairness of it all since I dragged him out of his parents’ basement an hour ago. The drive over here was torture. Listening to him whine and complain about his guild, his raid, some boss fight computer game that I couldn’t give less of a fuck about.
“…and now they’re probably wiping without me,” he mutters, his voice dripping with resentment. “Do you have any idea how long it took to coordinate this raid? Three weeks. Three weeks of planning, and you just—”
“I don’t care,” I deadpan. “I’m doing my job. Your parents are going to get fined because you couldn’t leave your stupid game.”
“It’s not a game!” He looks like I just drove over his puppy. His skin is pale, his hair is greasy, and hanging in his eyes. His shirt is stained. He stinks. Kid looks like he hasn’t seen sunlight in months. Looks like he hasn’t taken a shower for longer still.
Disgusting.
Twenty-six years old. Lives in his parents’ basement. Professional gamer, whatever the fuck that means. And almost overdue for his vaccination because he couldn’t be bothered to leave his damned computer.
Sally looks up from her computer as we enter. Her eyes widen at the sight of my latest “client.” Her nose wrinkles for a moment before her professional smile slides into place.
“Hello again, Grim.” Her gaze shifts to Shenron, who’s slouched beside me, arms crossed, looking like I’ve just ruined his entire life. “And you must be Shenron.”
“This is bullshit,” Shenron mutters.
Sally’s smile tightens, but she holds it together. We’ve dealt with worse. “I understand you’re unhappy about being here, but the vaccination is required by law. It’ll be quick, and then you can get back to,” she glances at her computer screen, “whatever it is you were doing.”
“My guild is probably wiping right now,” he tells Sally. “And it’s your fault for not letting me reschedule.”
“I’m afraid that rescheduling at this stage isn’t an option. If Grim hadn’t picked you up today, you would be facing jail,” Sally tells him.
“Fuck jail and fuck this place,” the kid snarls.
I grit my teeth because this fucker is getting on my last nerve.
Sally types something into her computer. “Room Four is ready. You can head right in,” she tells me; her smile is forced at this stage. I reckon she looks a little like I do when I try to smile.
I guide Shenron down the hallway, one hand on his shoulder to keep him moving. He’s dragging his feet like a petulant teenager being forced to do homework.
“This is so stupid,” he mutters. “I don’t even get sick. Shifters don’t get sick. There hasn’t been a case of this bullshit fever in forever.”
Room Four’s door is open. Inside, a human female is preparing supplies at the counter. I have seen her before, but like the others, I’ve never really taken much note. Her back is to us.
“Have a seat on the gurney,” she says without turning around. Her voice is soft and pleasant. “I’ll be with you in just a moment.”
“Hey, lady,” Shenron says, voice raised. “You need to get a move on. Have you ever heard the saying ‘time is money’?”
“Apologies.” The nurse turns, looking concerned. “I won’t be long. I need to complete this chart. Just a few seconds, I’m almost done.” She goes back to what she was doing.
“A few seconds, my asshole, bitch. Get a fucking move on and—”
That’s it!
I growl low and pop the fucker right in the nose.
It’s not a full-force hit. I pull it back just enough to prevent serious injury. But it’s hard enough to hurt him. Hard enough to make his eyes water and his head snap back.
Perfect.
His hand flies to his face.
“Owwwwww!” It’s all nasally. “What the fuck!” He grabs his nose, tears streaming down his face. “You hit me!”
He takes his hand away, looking for blood, but finds none.
“You’re damn right I did. You were seriously fucking rude.” I lean in close, my voice dropping to a growl. “That was a warning. Next time you speak to her like that, I won’t be so gentle.”
“You broke my nose.” He’s gasping, still swiping at his nose and checking his hand for blood.
“No, I didn’t. If I’d broken it, you’d know all about it.
” I straighten to my full height, and I know the intimidation factor is working because he shrinks back.
“But keep being a disrespectful little shit, and I’ll break your hands next.
Every delicate bone in both hands. Do you know how long it takes for hands to heal?
Days. Maybe a full week if I do a really thorough job.
You won’t be gaming. You won’t be raiding.
You won’t be doing a damn thing except sitting around and regretting your life choices. ”
His face has gone pale. The tears are still running down his cheeks, but his nose is already healing. The redness is fading. But the fear in his eyes is very real.
“Now,” I say, my voice still low and dangerous. “You’re going to do everything the nurse asks of you without question. You’re going to let her do her job. And you’re not going to say one more disrespectful word. Do you understand me?”
He nods quickly, his eyes wide.
“Good.” I step back, giving her space.
She’s staring at me with an expression I can’t quite read. Shock, maybe. Or concern. But then her lips curve into a small, shy smile.
“Um…thanks…um…Grim.”
I nod once.
“Can you take a seat on the gurney?” she tells the little shit.
I catch her name badge, and my brain short-circuits for a second.
It’s her. It’s Wren Lewis. The human who supposedly has a thing for me.
She has brown hair pulled back in a simple ponytail. Brown eyes that are warm and kind. A face that’s pretty in a way that sneaks up on you. There is a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Her cheeks are a little flushed. She isn’t wearing much makeup, but she doesn’t need it.
Wren smiles at Shenron, and I see her dimples. Fuck, she has dimples.
“Right,” she says, pulling on a fresh pair of gloves. “I’m Wren. I’ll be administering your vaccination today. It’ll be quick and painless, I promise.”
Shenron glances at me and then nods at her.
“Let me check your file, and we can get this over with in a sec.”
She moves to the computer and pulls up his information. While she’s focused on the screen, I find myself looking at her. Really looking at her, since I have the perfect side profile.
She’s shorter than I expected. Maybe five-three, five-four at most. And curvy as all fuck. The white coat can’t hide the way she fills it out. Lush tits that make my mouth water. Wide hips that flare out from a smaller waist. Those are tits made for bouncing, hips made for gripping while…
Nope!
I force my eyes away and focus on Shenron, who’s bouncing his leg but keeping his mouth firmly shut.
Wren turns back to him, syringe in hand. “Okay, if you could just roll up your sleeve for me.”
Shenron doesn’t say a word. He just extends his arm, sleeve already rolled up, and sits there like a statue while Wren cleans the injection site with the alcohol swab.
She slides the needle into his arm, and Shenron doesn’t even flinch.
“All done,” she says, pressing a cotton ball to the injection site. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”
Shenron nods, still holding the cotton ball to his arm. He looks up at me, and I narrow my eyes at him.
“Um…thank you…Miss…um…thanks,” Shenron tells her, eyes on me.
“No problem.” She smiles, and those dimples pop out again.
I force my eyes away and focus on the wall. On the medical posters. On anything but her. She disposes of the needle and types something on the computer.
“You’re all set,” Wren tells Shenron, handing him a small card. “This is your vaccination record. Keep it somewhere safe.”
“Thanks,” he mutters.
I clear my throat. “Let’s go.”
Shenron practically leaps off the gurney and heads for the door. I start to follow him, but Wren’s voice stops me.
“Thank you,” she says again.
I turn back, and she’s looking at me with those warm eyes of hers. They’re fanned by thick lashes.
“Really. That was…” She trails off, and a flush creeps up her neck. “That was very kind of you.”
Kind. Right. I just punched a guy in the face, and she’s calling me kind.
“Just doing my job.”
We stand there for a moment, and I realize I should say something. Something normal. Something that doesn’t make me sound like a complete jackass.
“I should go,” I finally manage.
“Of course.”
I nod and turn away.
Shenron is waiting in the hallway, and we walk toward the exit. He doesn’t say a word, doesn’t even look at me. Just keeps his eyes on the floor and moves when I tell him to move.
Sally smiles at me when we pass her desk. “And?” she asks. “How did it go? Were you nice?”
“Yes.”
She giggles. “Did you smile?”
“No!” I growl.
She laughs. “That’s good. Stop growling and no more one-word answers.”
“Yes, Sally.” I look over at her, and she grins.
“Perfect. Have a nice day. We’ll see you a little later with the next one.”
I grunt.
“No grunting,” she shouts after me, laughing again.
I roll my eyes and shake my head as I push the door open.
One thing is for sure: after seeing Wren, I’ve decided she definitely won’t be my target. No way and no how.