by Black Deja
Dan watched as his father embraced Shelly, inhaling her scent, searching. Satisfied, Jeremiah nodded, telegraphed his approval of Dan’s deirfiúr.
Shelly leaned her upper body back from his arms. “Did you just sniff me?” She laughed and called to Dan, “Very sensory-oriented family you have, Dan.”
Jeremiah’s eyes caught Dan’s and twinkled. He let Shelly go, and father and son both looked toward Conner, who only had eyes for the butterfly who had just flitted into the room and captured everyone’s heart.
Before they could talk further, the door opened again. This time Dan’s heartbeat raced, his breathing heavier as his blood rushed with anticipation. No one had mentioned Keith contacting the hospital looking for him. He hadn’t received a call or even a text on his cell. He had already stayed overnight. Keith had to know where he was. Maybe the next person who came through would be Keith, and Dan wasn’t looking forward to the chaos that would result from his entrance.
CHAPTER 6
WHEN DR. Kavanagh walked in, the tension was palpable. He carried a small tablet, a stylus ready. His large hands dwarfed the instrument, but he handled it well enough, moving it to the side while he glanced around the room, visibly sensing the friction that almost crackled in the atmosphere. His gaze roamed over his patient’s visitors until they settled on Dan himself.
Dan could look at no one else but the beautiful man in front of him. There was something otherworldly about him, and that something now drew Dan. He met an acknowledgement of this feeling in Dr. Kavanagh’s eyes, a whorl of colors blending and twisting—maybe a trick of the light?
Then, of course, that typical smirk followed. “Well, Mr. Tolliver, how are we? I see you are not alone, which certainly can’t mean you’ve been resting.” Dr. Kavanagh turned around to face a watchful Jeremiah and guarded Conner, as well as Shelly, who was scrutinizing Dan’s reaction to the other man. Thoughtfully, her eyes narrowed, and then a slow smile lit her face. “Thank you all for your visit, people, but if you will kindly exit, I will be able to examine Mr. Tolliver and have him ready to go home tomorrow at the latest.”
Jeremiah’s head tilted to one side, then to the other, his wolf regarding the doctor carefully, examining him. Dan didn’t know what it was his father noticed, but if it was enough for him to attempt to “see” it, it was worth paying attention. “Do you, now? You, and who else will be escorting me and mine from my brother’s room, Dr.…?” Conner rose from his place at Dan’s side, thrusting his brawn into Dr. Kavanagh’s space.
Dr. Kavanagh would not be intimidated, though, and he was definitely able to challenge Conner in both height and width. He did not retreat. Rather, a grin slid across his lips.
“Kavanagh, sir. My name is Dr. Kavanagh, and I will not need an escort to help you leave. If you at all care for your brother’s health and my signature saying he can be released from this hospital, though…,” Dr. Kavanagh said with a smile. Dan heard the fabric of his coat rustle as he spread himself out, taking up more of the space in the room, nearly eclipsing Conner.
He turned to look back at Dan, the light gleaming in his black hair. “Tolliver, you are aware that due to the way you entered my fine establishment, you are not able to leave without my John Hancock. It would be a shame for those students of yours to miss your wise tutelage were you not discharged, hmm, for a few weeks at the most, while we discover what medical issues you may have encountered. That would most assuredly garner the attention of say, your principal, one would think. I find myself right now wondering if it would be wise even as your brother and I speak.” The grin frosted over, the temperature of the room chilling slightly.
With one side of his lips lifted, Dr. Kavanagh’s eyes darkened with promise. He wasn’t kidding. Deadly serious, he would keep Dan there. Dread pulsated through Dan’s veins. No, he needed to leave before Keith showed up. He wanted to go home, and then he realized he had nowhere to go. He looked toward his brother. This had to stop.
“Conner, enough, please,” Dan said. “Dr. Kavanagh, I need to go back to work. I need to plan, and I don’t have a sub. I was hoping….”
Dr. Kavanagh’s eyes found his again, silencing him, and he turned back to Conner.
“Are you making a threat here, doctor?” Conner’s voice rose as he finished his question. Displeasure coated his tone, and it wouldn’t take long for things to go south. Oh, it wasn’t like things weren’t already on a downward spiral, and this ride needed to stop.
Kristoff moved from his place at the wall, ready and waiting, the lights flickering with his movement.
“Conner, stand down,” Jeremiah commanded from beside Dan, his voice the law and brooking no rebellion. He would be obeyed. “Kristoff.”
Conner stepped back, and Kristoff smoothly returned to his post, quiet and still.
“Dr. Kavanagh, is it? Interesting name. How is that spelled, exactly?” Jeremiah asked. He settled back into his seat, his hands clasped over his abdomen, his unusual intensity palpable. The quiet took up its own share of real estate in the hospital room.
Dan wondered where this was going. He listened, knowing something had to be coming next. Jeremiah never asked a question without a purpose. There was a quality about Dr. Kavanagh that had caught his attention, and all in the room were apparently very interested in what it could be.
Dr. Kavanagh was thoughtful for a moment. “With a K, sir,” he responded easily. There was nothing in his response betraying anything suspicious, any subterfuge.
Dan was completely stumped. He glanced at Shelly, who simply shrugged. There was no point in seeking Conner’s attention. As the Enforcer, he would never divide his focus from his Alpha and any possible threat.
“Not a C, then? In fact, I would gather you are not far from your ancestors, Dr. Kavanagh.” White glimmered as Jeremiah grinned openly. “You are, however, close to my son, closer than most have been allowed.” There was something significant happening here, a message Dan didn’t quite understand, but everyone, including Shelly, kept their silence while the conversation continued.
“I would gather, Mr. Tolliver, you keep your family close, as I do mine. I am simply here to help, as an aid. Nothing more.” Dr. Kavanagh looked over to Dan meaningfully and then back to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah and Dr. Kavanagh surveyed each other a moment longer until they appeared to come to an agreement. Acutely satisfied, Jeremiah nodded and rose. Kristoff stepped forward, awaiting his order. Conner looked between Jeremiah and Dr. Kavanagh, then turned to his brother. Both father and brother kissed Dan’s brow and prepared to leave the room.
Conner’s focus returned to Dr. Kavanagh. “I will not go against my father, doctor,” Conner said with a growl, “but I will not be far away should there be a need for my presence.”
Dr. Kavanagh dipped his chin, message received.
Walking toward the door, Conner nodded to Shelly. “Shelly. Danny, should I call….” Conner turned to search Dan’s face, anticipating his response.
“I will answer, Conner, I promise,” Dan swore.
“Your word, pup?”
“Yes. My word, J. D.” Junkyard Dog. As a youth, Dan had to have some type of comeback when all he heard was pup this, hairless that. So he was pup, and Conner was the Junkyard Dog. He kept his eyes steady so Conner could read if there was any hesitation or false intentions.
At hearing Dan’s nickname for him, Conner looked amused, but it was apparently enough. He examined his brother’s face, found nothing lacking, and then moved to leave. “I will be looking. Bear that in mind, Danny Boy,” he said as he left the room, the red of his hair the last Dan glimpsed.
Jeremiah watched Conner go and then looked first at Dan and then to Shelly. “Shelly. I take my leave. Thank you for your call. Things would have been far worse without your care.” He kissed her temple, surprising Dan and Shelly too. “You are a worthy deirfiúr for my son.” His look was fond as he stepped forward to clasp her shoulder, his grip light.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Tollive
r, but I am not Dan’s girlfriend. Never have been, sir.” Shelly quirked her lips at Jeremiah and then Dan. “He and I are friends. He’s more like a brother to me, one who needs to talk more, though. Let others help him, yeah?”
“I agree. And, I know you are not his girlfriend. It is an old term, almost outdated, but I am an old-fashioned man, so forgive me.” Jeremiah’s beam was wide, his eyes kind. “To us, deirfiúr means sister of the heart, protector. You stand at his side and watch, as Kristoff, perhaps. Kristoff is my second. You are my son’s deirfiúr, his second, and as such, you are family.” Jeremiah nodded, comfortable with his explanation. “Now, it is time for me to go. I have much to prepare for Danny’s stay. You are welcome at any time.” Jeremiah reached out to embrace Shelly. “Daughter.” Jeremiah turned to his son. “Rest well, young one. We will return tomorrow to make you ready.”
Well, now at least Dan knew where he was staying. He should never have doubted, really, when his father was involved.
“Kristoff,” Jeremiah called to his second, who moved forward. “Know this, Dr. Kavanagh, should my son….”
“All is well, Mac Tire. Your son will be safe. You have my word. Now, if you would kindly be on your way so he can rest.”
Jeremiah nodded, looked back at Dan with a smile, and left, Kristoff at his back. The notes of “Danny Boy” met him at the door, the tune Conner’s promise that he would always be there. Ever-watching.
“Now, then. Well, what’s next?” Shelly said. She held her coffee in her hand and began to make herself comfortable in a seat, contemplating Dan and Dr. Kavanagh over the rim of her cup.
“What’s next is I have called your uncle, Shelly. He can’t wait to talk to you about certain words spoken to Alice. Something about being his favorite spoiled nymph.”
Shelly’s eyes widened, her smile rueful. “Snitch,” Shelly hissed. She didn’t seem happy with Dan’s quiet snicker either. He couldn’t help it. She sounded like one of his students, the same students he hoped to see Monday.
“That may be, little spitfire, but nevertheless, you can keep that in mind as you head along home. Tolliver will be fine until you see him in the morning. The hospital cares for all of its patients, Shelly, none greater than any other. Should anything change, his family will be notified.” Dr. Kavanagh then turned to address Dan.
But Shelly, not about to be so easily dismissed, said with a hint of regret, “Dan….”
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. If, I mean. Could you?” Dan tried to reassure her as he sought a way to ask the question on his mind with Dr. Kavanagh present.
“Don’t worry. He won’t know. I have this.” Shelly knew his mind, could follow the trails when given very little. Keith had a way of finding out things. Dan wasn’t sure if he didn’t actually have spies working for him—which would be ridiculous, considering any man would be happy to get into Keith’s bed. He didn’t know why Keith felt it had to be him. “I’ll give you a call later. Answer, okay.” Ignoring the hospital’s warning on cell phone use and the quirk of Dr. Kavanagh’s eyebrow, Shelly placed Dan’s phone on his lap. Smiling, she bent down to kiss his cheek. “See you later, babe. I’m only a phone call away. Promise,” Shelly cooed as she backed out. “Dr. Kavanagh, if….”
“The sooner you are gone, Shelly,” Dr. Kavanagh said without even bothering to look up.
“Fine. Okay, already.” With a sigh Shelly fluttered her fingers in good-bye. Tendrils of her hair flew behind her as she, too, left the room.
“Alone at last, Tolliver. So, how are we?” Dr. Kavanagh placed his tablet on the shelf next to the rolling stool and took a seat. “Honesty would be great. We’re about to get personal, so we might as well start out with the truth.” Dr. Kavanagh pulled a pair of gloves out of the drawer beside him.
Dan’s gaze traveled up to Dr. Kavanagh. He was handsome, no doubt about it. It wasn’t a sin to appreciate beauty. Why not? So, he did. Perhaps he was using the doctor’s more refined areas on his frame, which displayed themselves so appealingly, to distract him from responding to Dr. Kavanagh’s question, but he didn’t want to talk about Keith to anyone else. He had shared with Shelly, his father. He was all shared out.
Aware of Dan’s perusal, Dr. Kavanagh cleared his throat. “You know, you have a choice here. You can tell me what’s going on, why you have been a regular at the hospital, and why I am about to examine you for the possibility of anal fissures… or, I can notify the police, get them involved, and make it very uncomfortable. Your family is no longer here, but I am. Your exit, an exit without ramifications, requires my signature. Otherwise, I am allowed to take this as far as I need to. Your decision.” Dr. Kavanagh leaned back, folded his biceps across his wide chest, spread his legs, and settled in. He glanced at the clock, indicating he would wait, and then back to Dan.
Dan was tired. His father had already promised to come for him tomorrow. Conner was hunting for Keith’s whereabouts. Shelly was waiting. He was ready to get out of there and find a way to move on. He wasn’t sure how exactly, but he knew keeping his mouth shut wasn’t going to help, especially since the man across from him was threatening to involve the police. He taught in a well-known school. He could see his face on the news, an occurrence every teacher feared. It wouldn’t be long before he would feel encouraged to resign even if none of this was his fault.
“My boyfriend…. He’s been, uhm, hitting me. Last night wasn’t the first time.” Dan looked up at Dr. Kavanagh, who leaned forward to listen. “He wasn’t like this when we met… or he didn’t seem like it. But, this last time… we had sex.” Dan’s voice was thick with unshed tears as he struggled through his words. “He had sex… with me. He… I. I didn’t. I tried. He….”
“Say the words, Tolliver.” Dr. Kavanagh’s voice was a soft demand.
Dan looked toward the window and back again. “My boyfriend, Keith, raped me. I needed help, so I called Shelly. She called my family.” Dan had had enough and just let the words out, not angry, not hesitating, just letting them go, but Dr. Kavanagh stood when he heard them, walked toward Dan, and leaned down, close to his ear.
His warm breath very nearly licked the shell of Dan’s ear when he said, “Your family, Shelly. They need to hear you say it, that you need them. A good start, hmm? First steps.” His words drew Dan’s focus back to him. Dr. Kavanagh stepped back to the counter and pulled on the gloves. “I checked earlier, Mr. Tolliver, and while you had some bleeding, you do not have a severe anal fissure. It is small. You will need treatment. After I examine you, I will tell you what you will need to do. Laxatives, fluids, for the most part….”
CHAPTER 7
DAN FOUND himself at his father’s home. He had taken a hiatus from the school and remained hidden on the compound. He didn’t know what his father had told his principal, but he had the option to be out for a few months to a year—time to recoup, time to adjust, and then to move to a new apartment, one Keith wouldn’t know anything about. Shelly was able to visit and did, but he was glad to be somewhere he could be alone, or as alone as his family would allow him to be.
Currently Conner paced back and forth, wearing the plush rug that lay in front of his door thin. Keith was missing, and his absence was not at the hands of his brother or any of his pack. Conner was pissed, and he wanted his blood.
“Fucker! Gone. I cannot find him. Our men cannot find him. Danny, can you tell me nothing? How can this human have disappeared? Think!” Conner’s growls rolled through the room. Dan knew his frustration found its core at not being able to destroy the enemy, the man who had hurt his brother. He wanted Dan to provide a clue to where Keith could be. Dan had nothing, though, which only made it even tenser in the room he had claimed as sanctuary.
“I don’t know, Conner. I haven’t been anywhere. Father has not allowed me to go anywhere, not that I’m arguing. I’ve got a lot of paperwork done, and… it’s been nice just resting for a change.”
Conner turned to face Dan, who was lying on a window seat, book in hand. The bruise
s were gone. He looked better, spoke louder, walked more confidently, but he could tell Conner was worried about how long his confidence would remain if he didn’t find Keith. More importantly, how strong would he be if and when he left the compound?
“Resting or hiding, little brother? You have not been anywhere. You have not stepped off the grounds once. Have you decided against reentering the world, Danny?” Conner sat on the bed, leaned forward, and clasped his hands. He watched as Dan pulled and tugged agitatedly, twisting his curls with his fingers.
“I like it here. Ugh.” Dan dropped his legs down to the floor and turned toward Conner. “I haven’t been anywhere because I don’t want to go anywhere, Conner. This is the first time in years I have been able to breathe, where I didn’t have to worry about being misunderstood, making a mistake… having my choices taken from me.” Dan stood and paced where Conner had stopped. He paused and turned to look at his brother, whose hair now draped over his shoulders, a beautiful red curtain, long and glorious and an indication of not only Dan’s life being on hold, but that his father’s Enforcer’s was as well. “I am scared to go out there again. Okay? I don’t want to.”
“Shelly said….”
That was another thing. Ever since Dan had moved back in, Shelly and Conner had become closer. They talked more, went out together. And while it made Dan happy the two had finally found each other, he was dealing with the green-eyed monster, for he seemed to be losing them as well. He could look at it as gaining Shelly as a sister, but he was an ass sometimes. He admitted it. He didn’t always do well at sharing. Still, the two of them were fated. He could tell. Conner certainly could, and whether Shelly knew it or not, they would someday be mates, true mates. Did Dan want a true mate? One like his father promised existed for him even if he were human. Someone who was destined to truly love him. Yes, but after being with Keith, beneath Keith’s thumb, he didn’t know if he was ready for one.
