Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds 1)

Snow’s head shake was short, the hand he waved at the nurse sharply dismissive. “Mr. Vallois is tired. Tell him to come back later.”

“But I’m here now.” The man who strolled into the room didn’t look like any policeman Lucas had ever seen and if he hadn’t felt so bad, he would have grinned when Snow lifted one dark brow. On no planet anywhere would this tough guy bend over for Snow and the doctor knew it. Didn’t stop him from scoping out that long, rangy body. Wide shoulders filled out the beat-up leather jacket and the white T-shirt underneath did nothing to hide the toned muscles of someone in excellent physical shape. The cop loomed over Lucas as he stopped by the bed. “I’m Detective Banner. I have a few questions for you.”

“Who called you?” Lucas asked, voice still raspy. Felt like someone had rubbed sandpaper in his throat.

“Nobody. I’m here on another case and heard the nurses talking. I’ve been to Shiver and know who you are. It’s a nice place.” Dark blond hair, just long enough to curl, matched the scruff on the man’s jaw. “Kind of chilly.”

Lucas didn’t say anything.

“You know who did this to you?” Banner asked.

“Bored punks out for cash.” Lucas shifted on the bed, winced when it felt like an elephant plunked down onto his chest. “Kids. They had hoods, came at me fast, so I really didn’t see anything. It was a simple mugging, detective, so there isn’t a reason for you to pursue the details.”

“Sometimes we see more than we think. Mind if I come back when you’re less groggy to see if your memory gets jogged?”

Something about this guy rubbed Lucas the wrong way. He couldn’t pinpoint why either. “My memory is fine.”

With one hand on his hip, Banner scratched his jaw, his sharp gaze starting to make Lucas uncomfortable. “Who brought you in? Why didn’t you call 911?”

“I was concussed, Detective. Not thinking clearly.” Lucas narrowed his eyes. “What’s with the interrogation?”

One brown brow went up. “You don’t want these guys caught? If you’d called the police to the scene, we could have gathered info, maybe tracked them down.” The leather swished as he crossed his arms. “I’m just wondering why a man such as yourself gets rolled and has a friend bring him into the ER on the down low?”

Snow snorted and the cop’s gaze shot to him.

“Something funny?”

Lucas’s friend leaned against the wall and gave the cop a direct stare as his lips stretched into a rare grin. “Down low? Who talks like that? And why ask who brought him in? You said friend like you already know.”

Banner’s nostrils flared, his blue eyes turning to chips of ice. “Are you the attending physician? Why didn’t you call this in?”

Barked questions would in no way thaw Frost as his body language began to change. His friend’s stare sharpened, his relaxed, casual pose flowing into tense muscles as he straightened from the wall. Seemed Snow had the same growing instincts where this cop was concerned. Good. Lucas was worried his judgment was impaired by the meds. And the pain was starting to perk its head up higher, demanding his attention.

If the cop thought he did loom well, he had nothing on Snow, who walked to the end of the bed. “I didn’t call it in—yet—because I am his friend and wanted to talk to him first. I’m surprised the nurses didn’t tell you he just woke up. What’s this really about because the last thing my friend needs is some prick barking in his face?”

“That’s more your speed, eh? Prick in the face?”

“Depends on the prick,” Snow drawled, his chin going up as he observed the cop with hooded eyes.

Lucas certainly didn’t mind watching the somewhat hot alpha showdown going on over his bed, but was working to keep his eyes open at this point. “You’ve got about a minute before I decide sleeping trumps questions, so you better tell me what’s going on here, Detective.”

Banner pulled his gaze from the doctor and stared down at Lucas for several seconds before he sighed. “You aren’t the only rich guy who’s been at the wrong end of a fist lately and whoever is doing this, is attacking in groups. It would help if you could tell me anything you remember. Anything at all.”

“It’s still a blur. Leave your number and I’ll call when more comes to me.”

Pulling a white business card out of his wallet, Banner dropped it on the rolling table near the foot of the bed. “I’ll come back tomorrow.” The cop gave Snow once last pointed look before striding for the door. He turned back to Lucas. “Sorry you got beat up, but I hope you can remember more.” He paused. “Soon.”

Lucas groaned, closing his eyes in relief the second Snow closed the door behind the detective. He was too tired and too sore to deal with this shit. “Guess I should have told him I have no intention of being here another day, huh?”