Page 71 of Property of Rattler

“Thank fuck.” He hugs her with his free hand.

“She’ll bring her back soon,” Pippa tells him. “I didn’t get the chance to express any milk.”

Assured of his daughter’s safety, Saint turns to me and asks, “Malachi?”

I force myself to look around the faces I can now see without their protective headgear. “He’s not here.”

One of the attackers spits. “Of course, he’s not fuckin’ here. He told us this would be a quick in and out job.”

More motorcycles arrive. Saint, not taking his gun off the men who he doesn’t trust, even though they’ve been disarmed, steps aside as the newcomers enter.

Bullseye strides in first, his face set and glaring. After him comes Tempest, and another man, then a fourth and fifth, and they’re supporting a sixth between then who’s covered in blood.

His wounds don’t stop me recognising him.

“Flynn!” I shout. Suddenly the fog that’s clouded my mind disappears as I rush over to him. “Flynn! Thank God!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

RATTLER

I’m beaten and battered. Stone had kept hitting me with his damn baseball bat until I didn’t know which way was up. I’ve got a concussion for certain, my eyes are damn near swollen shut, one arm hangs at my side and my legs are utterly useless. How I hung onto Bullseye on the way back, I don’t even know. Yet one voice manages to break through the delirium that threatens to take me under.Ames.She’s here.

I don’t have time to brace as she launches herself toward me. If it wasn’t for Short and Woody’s support, I’d have fallen onto the floor. Seeing the carnage around me, with my one good arm I gently push her away from me and examine her to check she’s unhurt. She seems to be, but sometimes looks are deceiving.

“You okay?” My voice is gruff with emotion.

“Me?” she answers with an uneasy laugh. “I’m fine, but what about you?” She looks me up and down from head to toe. “Fuck, Rattler, how are you even standing up?”

My answering snort sounds weak even to me.

Short chuckles from my rear. “He wouldn’t be if we weren’t propping him up. Now how about I get him up to his room, and you can take care of him while I get Bronwyn here?”

I start to protest I don’t need a nurse, but that would be fucking stupid. I don’t think there’s an inch of me that doesn’t hurt, but I can’t tell whether there’s any serious damage. But there’s something I want settled first. “Where’s Stone?”

Ames grimaces. “Not here.”

Bullseye had left me to go chat with Saint. He now returns, his face grim, and had obviously overheard my question. “All we’ve captured are his foot soldiers. And so far none of them are talking. We’re heading out to the barn…”

“I’m coming,” I interrupt him.

“Fuck no, to that, brother. Not until you’ve been cleared by Bronwyn.” Bullseye’s voice is firm.

“I want Stone…”

“Know you do. But Short, Woody? Let him go for a moment.” As Short and Woody remove their hands, my legs buckle. Luckily Short catches me before I hit the ground. Bullseye’s eyes narrow. “Point made, I think.”

Yeah. Point made with fucking bells on. I’m totally useless. I cast an eye toward Ames, but she seems concerned, not worried, that I’m incapable of even supporting myself.

It’s at that moment Freak appears. He takes one look at me, his eyes widening, and then sighs. “Not sure how we’re going to get you over to the bunkhouse. Ames stayed in my room yesterday, you might as well continue to use it for another night.”

After Ames throws a grateful glance toward the enforcer, she says, “Come upstairs.” Her voice sounds pleading. All the blood on me must really be worrying her.

But I still don’t like that I’m being left out of the loop. “You let me know what they say? And if you find where Stone’s hiding, I want to be there when you head out, okay?”

Prez raises his chin. Short turns me in the direction of the stairs, and I view them with horror. How the fuck am I…

Shit, fuck, no.This is embarrassing. Short’s hauled me up into his arms and is carrying me bridal style. I’m pleased when he lets me down at the top, balancing against the wall and breathing heavily.