Broken Bonds (Lizzie Grace 3)

Frank rolled Shaun onto his side and then opened his mouth and cleared his throat.

“You’ve had first aid training?” I asked.

“Some, when I was in the military. Long time ago now, but you never really forget the basics.”

I smiled. “The spirits said the omens were good for your employment. I’m glad we listened.”

He glanced at me, his eyebrows raised. “You checked with the spirit world before employing me?”

“Not just you, but everyone. It never pays to ignore their thoughts, even if they can be annoying at times.”

He chuckled softly. “I’m glad they approved, then. If you’re okay, you might want to call the rangers. I’ll keep an eye on our prisoner.”

I pushed to my feet and went to grab my phone. The tears had at least stopped by the time the call went through, and though my heart was still bounding at an altogether too fast a rate, it was at least slower than it had been.

“Liz,” Aiden said, “I was just about to ring you. Everything okay?”

“Nope. You know that third brother? Well, he’s here, on the floor, unconscious.”

“Are you okay?”

I smiled at the sharp concern in his voice. “Yes, but only thanks to Frank. He knocked the bastard out with a bottle of wine, and then disarmed him.”

Aiden swore. “I’ll grab Jaz and be right over.”

“Thanks.” I hung up, and then leaned over the counter. “Frank, I’m about to pour myself a drink—you want one?”

“Thanks, but no. I’ve got to drive home.”

I grabbed the bottle of Glenfiddich whiskey from its hiding spot under the counter, poured myself a full glass, and then gulped down most of it. The alcohol burned all the way down and took with it a good portion of the fear that had held my heart in its fist. Something approaching calm descended.

The rangers arrived a few minutes later. Aiden’s gaze swept the entire café and then returned to me. He motioned Jaz and Byron toward Frank then walked over to me. He didn’t say anything; he just took me in his arms and held me close for several minutes. And damn if the tears didn’t start again.

As the siren of an approaching ambulance grew near, I pulled away. “Soaking your shirt with tears is becoming something of a habit.”

He smiled and gently thumbed some moisture from my cheek. “I’m just happy you’re still here to soak my shirt.”

“He wasn’t here to kill me—at least, not straight away. He wanted to use me as a hostage, both to get his brother released and to escape the reservation.”

“Neither of which would have happened,” he replied. “I would have asked either Ashworth or Eli to spell the man.”

“I told him he wouldn’t succeed, but he was apparently convinced by everything he’d heard about you that you wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

“And he was right, but not just because we’re going out.”

Going out, not in a relationship. I wondered if that was a deliberate choice of words or just the way all wolves categorized their time with a human.

I pulled completely out of his grip then picked up the whiskey glass and downed the rest of the alcohol. A very pleasant buzz began to run through my system.

I poured some more whiskey, well aware he was watching me. “I’d offer you a glass, but you’re still on duty.”

“Actually, I clocked off about five minutes before you rang.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Then you’d like one?”

“No—I still have to drive home, and as head ranger, I do have to set an example.”

I nodded and glanced around as the bell above the front door chimed and two medics walked in. Aiden pointed them toward the rear of the building and then said, “I was going to ask if you wanted to go out to dinner, but I’m thinking you need some cosseting.”