“Yes, stand your ground definitely fits this case, especially since he’s violated the conditions of his bail.”
“That it does,” Law mutters. We can hear several sirens in the background. “It should be the Ellis County coroner’s office and CSI,” Law says.
“We’ll meet with them. Stay inside for now until the doctor has evaluated her,” Spencer says, standing up and walking outside with Law following behind him.
I reach out for Mary, but she pulls away. “Look, I didn’t fuck anyone yesterday. I shouldn’t have gotten so shitfaced, but the thought of not being able to have you frustrated me.”
“So, you didn’t fuck her, but you must have…” She’s thinking about other intimate things in that pretty little head of hers, but I can’t let her think any of it because it’s the furthest thing from the truth.
“I didn’t do anything but drink. The perfume you smelled was an accidental spray on me from Morgan. She was showing Crystal a new body spray, or some shit she bought when I barreled past them to leave.” She gives me a suspicious but hopeful gaze. My sweet felony wants to believe me, but I guess I didn’t make the best decisions last night. “I owe you an apology for not bringing you with last night.”
“No. You don’t owe me anything. I don’t have to be around your friends.”
“I didn’t want you there until you were mine. If you were mine, then I could drag you everywhere telling everyone that you belong to me. There are way too many single Riders and prospects, some much closer in age to you. There’s no way I wouldn’t beat someone’s ass if they flirted with you.”
Her face blushes, and then she moves to stand but loses her balance. “I’m here to catch you. I’ll always be,” I say, holding her in my arms. Sitting Mary on my lap, I run my hands over her face. I put the back of my hand to her forehead, checking her temperature. She’s not too hot.
“I see you’re playing doctor,” Doc teases from the door.
“Well, since someone’s ass took forever, I decided to play doctor. She nearly fainted,” I grumble. I’m in a better mood now that I got that misunderstanding out of the way, but there’s a serious fucking issue here in front of us. A dead body on my lawn. A body that had been touching my woman’s body.
“Mary, this is Doc or as he’s professionally known as Dr. Joseph Simmons.”
“Hello, Mary. I’m sorry about what happened, but I need to check a few things?”
“Okay.” He pulls out the penlight gadget and opens her eyelids to check her pupils.
“How are you feeling? Do you have a headache, nausea, dizziness?”
“A bit of all of that.” He uses a scanning thermometer on her forehead. It beeps with a red mark appearing on the screen.
“You have a slight fever. It’s probably because of the rag he put over your face. I gave a cursory examination of his person and found a squirt bottle full of chloroform in his pocket. The side effects should pass after the next day, but I’d recommend: food, rest and plenty of fluids. And Beast, if you have some pain meds, that would be helpful. I’d say Tylenol because Ibuprofen causes stomach irritation, and she’s already feeling nauseous.” He pats her leg and then stands up.
“Thank you, Doc,” Mary and I say at the same time.
“It’s what I do. Now, if you don’t have meds let me know and I’ll bring some back.”
“I’ve got a bottle of Tylenol in the bathroom,” I say.
“Yeah, and did you take some for yourself? You drank like I’ve never seen before.”
“Well, about that. My truck is still at the clubhouse.”
“Actually, I drove it here. Law’s going to give me a ride back, so here are your keys.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“That’s what we’re here for.”
Mary lays her head on my chest, and I snuggle her close. She’s so much smaller than me that I can easily carry her to our bedroom. No more sleeping alone. “Um. Wrong room.”
“No, it’s not. We’re not going to fuck yet, but if you think I want to spend another night alone, you’re wrong. I want to hold you as soon as I get some food and fluids inside you.”
“That sounded so dirty.”
“Well, those fluids will be filling you up soon—very soon. Rest. I’ll be back in a few minutes with something to drink and some meds.”
Chapter 9
Mary
I fell asleep right after he gave me the meds and water, but I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep, and I’m afraid to find out.
My body aches. It takes me a minute to remember that Serrano dropped me after he knocked me out. I look toward the window and see it’s dark out and I’m in Beast’s bed. Shit. All my drama and self-torture was for nothing. I can’t believe I let myself almost be kidnapped and murdered. I feel like such a twat. I’m so grateful Beast, my Beast, came to my rescue.