37. 37
37
M alice carried Bonnie up the stairs, knowing Steele and Talon would make sure the fuckwad wouldn’t go anywhere. When he reached the kitchen, he set Bonnie on her feet.
“Are you okay?” He reached up and gently cupped one red, swollen cheek. “Are you sure he didn’t do more than this?” He hesitated with his thumb hovering a fraction of an inch over the split at the corner of her lip.
“I’m fine. I just want to go home.” She leaned into him, resting her face in his hand, as if she was too tired to hold her head up on her own.
He wanted to pick her up, take her home and tuck her into bed, but there were things they’d have to do first. Not the least was to talk to the police when they showed up. He hoped they would come with an ambulance. He wanted someone to check out Bonnie and make sure she was as okay as she claimed.
It wasn’t that he doubted her, but more that he was worried she wasn’t aware of how hurt she was. He hadn’t seen exactly what the fucker had done to make her easier to abduct, and from the way she’d talked, he couldn’t be sure. He suspected she’d been hit with a stun gun. Still, he wanted her checked out in case it was something worse. He glanced around, but didn’t see a chair he would trust with both their weight, so he guided her outside and around to the front of the house where he sat on the steps leading up to the porch and pulled her down onto his lap.
Malice wrapped his arms around Bonnie and held her against him. She laid her head on his shoulder and slowly relaxed against him. He was just glad she was there and in one piece.
“I knew you would come.” Bonnie’s soft words broke the silence. “I knew I just had to hold on until you figured out where I was.”
Rage made Malice’s arms go stiff, but he forced himself to relax and keep his hold on her gentle and comforting. “It took me too long to realize you were late. I’m sorry, sweetness.” He told her about how he’d found her, not sure if she needed to hear it, if he needed to get it out or what but the longer he talked, the more she relaxed against him. He didn’t know if it was that she approved of what he did or the sound of his voice as he talked, but he didn’t care. If she needed to hear him talk, he’d find something to talk about.
“Everything okay up here?” Talon asked from behind him, startling Malice. He’d had all his attention focused on Bonnie, how had he been foolish enough to let someone sneak up on him?
“We’re good. Any idea how long until the cops get here?”
“Should be here soon. How’s she doing?” Talon moved to one side so Malice could see him as he crouched down to sit on his heels.
“She’s holding on. He did something to her hand, I think her face is the worst of it, but if her hand is worse than I think, I may be wrong.” He didn’t voice his concern about the stun gun or maybe that the fuckwad had drugged her with something. He didn’t want to put the idea in her head. Better to let the EMTs check her out. “Where is he?”
“Still in the basement,” Talon said without moving. “Steele is taking care of him.”
Malice wanted to ask what exactly Talon meant by taking care of him, but didn’t want Bonnie to overhear. He’d ask later. Though he knew it wouldn’t be what he’d prefer.
If dealing with the stupid fucker was left up to him, Malice would make sure he disappeared, permanently. But since Talon had made a point of telling him the police were on the way, he knew that wouldn’t be the solution. And he even understood why. This whole thing had been documented by the police. And if the fucker just disappeared, Malice, or worse, Bonnie would be the prime suspect.
He knew they had to do this the right way. They’d started with the police, they had to let it play out legally. Even if that meant she would have to sit in a courtroom and testify against the worthless fucker. Malice hated that she would have to do that, and he’d much rather do things his way, but it was too late now. He could only hope that Steele was doing something to make the man regret hurting Bonnie. To make him think twice about doing it again, to anyone, should he ever be free enough to have the chance again.
Malice turned to meet Talon’s gaze over Bonnie’s head. he lifted one brow in question, was Steele making the asshole pay?
Talon met his gaze and gave him a single nod before his gaze shifted, drawing Malice’s attention to what he was looking at. About a half dozen dust plumes signaled the arrival of several vehicles, probably the police and whoever they brought with them. He wondered for a moment if they’d make him leave Bonnie, then mentally shrugged. He had her safe now, he had no intention of leaving her any time soon, and only if he couldn’t find a way around it.
“The police are almost here, sweetness. It’s almost over.” He kept his voice soft and gentle as he hugged her against him and reassured her. “We’ll talk to the police and tell them what happened. It will help that he was caught on camera taking you. I’ll stay with you. We’ll get you checked out, make sure you’re okay, then I’ll take you home. How does a long hot bath sound?” He didn’t know how he might react if he had to leave her right now, and that was before he thought about what it might do to her. Unless she wanted time to herself, he wouldn’t be leaving her, no matter what anyone said.
Several black SUV’s sporting both Gillette Police Department as well as Campbell County Sherriff decals on the doors, pulled into the yard, parking haphazardly in the open space. Beside him, Talon stood, his hands held out at his sides, fingers spread to show they were empty. Malice didn’t move. He just sat on the step, Bonnie seated sideways on his lap and held her.