Page 48 of Royal Salvation

A whistle pierced the air and Scout and Monty ran toward the sound, their noses buried in their owner’s hair as she spoke quietly to them. The two dogs ran off and Val stood, reaching for Lucía.

“We need to check on Elodie and Hurricane. They were in the living room when the blast went off.” A sick feeling of dread made it almost impossible to breathe.

“No, we need to get you out of here, now.”

Lucía faced the woman she knew was trying to protect her and held her ground. “I won’t run and leave them when they need our help.”

“Damnit, Lucía, Playboy and Chess could be out there right now. We need to get you away from here.”

A resolute feeling that she was facing her future in some way and that the decision she made now would affect the rest of her life. “Please, Val. I can’t leave them.”

“Fine but you do what I say and if I say run, you don’t fucking hesitate.”

Lucía nodded, ignoring the ache in her head and the ringing in her ears. As Val stepped in front of her they made their way back to the main room to see Hurricane and Elodie both unconscious on the floor. Scout and Monty sat by each of them, licking their faces as if trying to wake them up.

The room wasn’t as bad as she’d expected, a curtain rail hung off the wall, a side table was broken, and the glass from the front door was smashed. Dust was everywhere and smoke now receded out of the front door, but it was enough devastation to make her shudder. A groan from Elodie made her drop to her knees, the shock of the explosion turning to adrenalin.

Taking Elodie’s hand, which was bleeding from a cut where the glass had been imbedded, she stroked the woman’s face lightly. Valentina was tending to Hurricane as she spoke rapid-fire into her phone. Scout was now positioned at the front door and Monty was behind her as if acting as a shield surrounding them all.

“Elodie, it’s me. Can you hear me?”

Another groan sounded as Justice’s mum tried to move. “What happened?”

Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn’t need to fall apart right now, she needed to be strong. “There was an explosion.”

Elodie blinked as she tried to sit up. “Where are Caleb and the kids?”

“They went out, remember? To the shops for steaks.”

Lucía saw the confusion on Elodie’s face, and it concerned her. Could she have a head injury?

“Lucía, Mum?”

She turned at the sound of his voice, the fear and urgency in it speaking of his feelings for them both. “Justice!”

He ran toward them as Bishop stopped to help Valentina with Hurricane, who seemed to be coming around now.

Falling to the floor, he took her in his arms and held her tight, almost too tight as he seemed to breathe her in for a second, reassuring himself she was okay. Pulling back, he began to run his hands over her body, not in a sexual way but looking for injuries, his eyes darting all over her, his jaw tense with worry. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Valentina threw me out of the way. Your mum and Hurricane were the ones hurt.”

He glanced at his mother then, before releasing her and gently reaching for his mother. “Mum, can you move your legs?”

“Yes, of course I can. It’s just a little bump. You should go and see to your friend.”

“I think she hit her head on the coffee table.”

Elodie shook her head and then winced. “I’m fine, really.”

“I want you checked out at the hospital. Both of you.”

Lucía knew when to argue and now wasn’t the time. Sirens rent the air of the quiet neighbourhood as Bishop walked towards them. Justice stood but kept a hand on her the entire time as if he couldn’t bear to be too far away and she was glad for it. Right now, his presence was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

“How is he?”

“Pissed off, but I think that’s more because he feels responsible. He’ll live. He’s had worse in the ring with Lotus.”

“Haven’t we all.” Justice glanced at her. “What happened?”