Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
“Don’t snarl at me, asshole.” Race had had just about enough. “I didn’t ‘get him shot’. He came to assist and ended up taking a bullet. I need some goddamn help.”
Now.
Connal’s oldest brother, Warrick, growled again. “Where are you? We’ll come.”
“We need a big SUV. Maybe a trailer.”
“I’ll get what we need. Just drop me a pin. Fuck.”
“Done. He’s not in danger, but I need pain meds for him and a safe space to shift, okay?”
“Okay. So I’ll grab a little fifth wheel to bring him home.”
Race wanted to believe War meant he’d rent one, but he had a feeling the big bear meant he would buy one. Hey, I’ll just casually drop more than you pay in storage rent for a year to come get my brother…
Wild.
“We’ll be waiting. He’s stable. He’s not bleeding anymore. He’s sleeping but he needs to shift, and I can’t have him do that in a hotel room where any moment somebody could burst in.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“I’m sure you will.” Race glanced at the sleeping form of Connal in the bed, checking to make sure he was breathing well, and that his color was good. “We’ll be waiting.”
War hung up on him, and Race really couldn’t blame him.
He was seriously off his game. He’d bobbled the whole thing with his brother coming to him for help, and thank goodness Ryder had been there for that.
Now he was screwing up this whole bunny rescue with Connal, who he’d been playing house with, or doing a mating dance with, or whatever, and now he’d gotten this bear shot.
This bear, who was his mate, but he wasn’t going to admit it even though he’d said it out loud. Thank God Con hadn’t been aware enough to understand what he was saying.
As if he understood what Race was thinking, Connal moaned and rolled to his good side, kicking his feet to get the covers off of them.
“I swear to God if you’ve gotten a fever, I’m going to kick your ass.” Race strode over to feel Connal’s forehead. Sure enough, Con was burning up.
“Goddamn it!” He knocked on the bunny’s door a moment later.
“Race?”
“Yeah, kiddo, it’s me. I need to see you a minute.”
The poor kid opened the adjoining door, nose twitching madly. “Is everything okay?”
“No. No, it’s not. My partner has been shot, and I’ve called in his brothers to come get us. I want to leave this adjoining door open and stay away from the windows while we wait, okay?”
“Okay. Do you want me to Door Dash you some Tylenol?”
He did not scream.
He did not.
He closed his eyes and breathed, but he didn’t scream.
“No. I can’t risk that. They’ll be looking for you.”
“Oh. Maybe there’s a first aid kit at the desk.”
“I have an emergency kit. I’ll give him something for his fever, okay? But I want access to you where I don’t have to bear out and kill a door.”
“No problem. I was just napping and watching the television. I missed that, you know? Watching TV and sitting.” Robbie’s nose twitched a little. “Do you want company?”
He didn’t really but that was not something he was going to say to Robbie because the kid had been through some shit, and it wasn’t nice to push him away. Robbie was asking if he could stay and keep Race company, not if Race really wanted company.
“Sure. Find something on the tube. Something quiet.”
“Okay, you got it.”
They ended up with a soccer game, but Robbie kept the sound low. Race would bet bunnies were good at soccer.
“What do you do, Robbie?”
“I’m a school teacher. Kindergarten.”
“Oh, nice. You like that?” Race didn’t mind the idea of kids. His lifestyle just didn’t lend itself.
“I do. I like it a lot. I’m not into clubbing or dangerous activity, I swear.”
“Hey,” he growled. “You don’t have to apologize to me. You didn’t do anything to get abducted.”
Robbie went pink. “I feel like I did. I keep trying to figure out what…”
“You’re a pretty guy who seems decent. That’s it. These guys are fuckers.”
“They are.” Robbie’s chin wobbled.
Con moaned. “M’coming. Don’t be scared.”
“Shh…Mate. You’re fine.” He stroked the hair off Con’s forehead.
“He’s good?” Con’s eyes cracked open just enough to squint. “You’re safe?”
“We are. So are you. We’re waiting for War to get here.”
“‘Kay.” Con grimaced. “Give me hell…”
“He’s going to drive us to the house. That’s all.” Race didn’t need any trouble.
“Okay.” Con shivered. “Cold.”
“You need to shift, but we have to wait for the trailer.” He could hold Con while they drove. He didn’t want to have to be even a foot away from the hairy son of a bitch.’
“Okay… Is there—” Con swallowed hard. “Water? Tylenol?”
“Yeah, let me get that.” He pointed at Robbie and mouthed, “Watch him.”
He had to go to the bathroom to get the stuff. Speaking of being a foot away, dammit.
“I’m on it. He’s not going to eat me, is he?”
“Nope. He is almost a vegetarian.” Almost.
In theory.
When there wasn’t salmon.
“Okay. I mean, there are a lot of jokes about bears and rabbits.” Robbie moved closer to Con, nose working.
“Tons. But we’re no more a cliche than you are, right?” Tylenol. Water.
“Right. I got him.” Robbie lifted his chin, clearly trying to appear brave.
“Thanks.” No biting the bunny, mate?
Promise. Thirsty. Please.
I’m on it.
He got water and a Tylenol in hand, then wet a washcloth too. He would make it into a compress and bring down the fever.
He got the water and the meds in Con, then put the compress on the back of Con’s neck, making him shiver and jerk.
“Hush, you,” he said when Con groaned. “It will help.”
“Need you here.” Con patted the bed with a clumsy hand.
“Staying right here. I swear. I have you.” Silly bear. Silly wonderful bear.
“C-cold.” Connal begged him to climb into bed with his whole body.
Race glanced at the bunny, who turned to the TV with utter rapt attention.
Good rabbit.
He cuddled in, wrapping around Connal and holding him close. You’re okay, Bear. I have you. Sweet grizzly.
Thank you. Didn’t mean to get shot.
No? I don’t believe you, he teased. I know you did it on purpose.
I did. I jumped right in front of that bullet to get you to like me.
It must have worked. Butthead mate. He chuffed softly, stroking the heavy ruff of Con’s hair.
Mmmm. Feels good. Mate. I like that too. Connal got heavier, his body beginning to relax.
Amazing grizzly. I have you.
Okay. I trust you. Keep the bunny safe.
I will. And you too.
He would make sure everyone got home in one piece. Dammit.
And then he might just go get drunk until Connal recovered, and he could either beat the guy up or love him into a puddle.
Mmm…I want that. You and me — we’re going to be so happy. Con chuckled in his sleep. I thought you didn’t believe in mates, though.
Shut up and sleep.
Mmmkay. Connal started snoring lightly, totally relaxed now.
Now he just needed War to get his ass here so they could get home.