by Zena Wynn
Derrick Senior bucked on top of Von. She whimpered, in pain and fear, expecting at any moment to feel the steel rod of his flesh ripping through her. Instead, he shoved off her, yelling angrily. Von heard the sound again, rapid fire this time. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Then there was a loud, floor-shaking thud as something heavy hit the ground. She heard moaning, a “Take that, you bastard!” and then a masculine scream of pain.
“Von, damn it, I told you not to open the fucking door. When will you listen to me?” A shadow fell over her and she flinched away from the hands reaching for her. “It’s all right. It’s me.” Gentle hands straightened her clothes. “2581 Bartram Ave, Apartment 4-B...Rescue...my cousin’s beat pretty bad, and you probably better send the cops since I emptied my clip into the asshole I caught trying to rape her.”
“Hurts,” she whimpered.
“Derrick Wilkins Senior...No, he’s not dead yet, but if you don’t get here soon, maybe.” To Von she said, “I know, honey. Hold on, Von. Help’s com— Yeah, she’s conscious, barely...I’ll stay on the line.”
“Not safe,” she whispered, hearing but not really comprehending what was being said.
“Trust me, he’s not going anywhere. If he moves, the next bullet’s hitting his head or his dick. You got that, asshole?”
“Call...Sean...warn...”
“Hush, now. I’ll take care of everything.”
Trusting her cousin to do just that, Von gave up her fight to stay conscious.
Chapter Thirteen
The uneasy feeling in Sean's gut became full-blown panic when he turned into Von's apartment complex and saw the police crime scene tape cordoning off the entry to her quad's parking area and additional tape blocking the upstairs walkway. Dust and gravel flew up in a cloud as he came to a screeching halt. He had the door open and his feet were pounding the pavement before the truck finished rocking.
As he approached the police car parked at an angle with its lights flashing, hindering access, two uniformed officers stepped forward. "Sir, this area's off limits."
"My fiancé lives in 4B."
The cop on the left pressed his shoulder mike. "Sir, I have the vic's fiancé here."
"Roger that..."
The rest of what was said was gobble, Sean's mind having taken a binder on hearing Von referred to as the "vic." Terror, unlike anything he'd ever known, struck him right in the heart, weakening his knees and racing his heartbeat. Sweat broke out over his body. A slight breeze arose, and he scented the faintly metallic odor of blood. A lot of it.
"Sir, you can..."
Sean pushed past the officers, jumped up and slid over the hood of the cruiser, landed and went sprinting toward the stairs. Curious bystanders loitering, the Crime Scene Unit’s Van, EMT and Fire vehicle with their engines idling, all a blur. A few feet short of his goal, an officer tried to stop him. Sean darted around him and in seconds, was over the crime scene tape. Another misfortunate officer made the mistake of seizing Sean by the arm. Instinct and training kicked in and without a thought, and Sean flipped the guy into air and was moving before his body landed.
The angry shouts of men simply an annoying buzz in his ear, he kept his eyes and mind focused on reaching Von.
“Stop!”
“Somebody get him!”
A body tackle from behind brought him down.
Sean rolled and came to his feet with a feral growl, ready to take out anyone or anything trying to keep him from his mate. He crouched, arms hanging loose and ready. Several officers moved to surround him. He turned so that he could keep everyone within sight.
"Stand down!" The order was barked out.
"But he assaulted an officer..."
Through the haze covering his vision, Sean noted the weapons drawn, pointed at him. He growled again and felt the first painful flickers of the shift hit his body. His beast wanted out.
"I said, STAND DOWN. That's an order! Bentley and Cruise, hit the streets. You’re not needed here. Anderson and McKinsey, back to your position. I'll handle this.”
There were murmurs and grumblings as his order was obeyed. Weapons were lowered but not holstered.
In the waning sunlight, the flashing red, white, and blue lights created a strobe effect that hurt his eyes. Out of his peripheral vision, Sean caught movement. He seamlessly altered his position to meet this new threat, a low, ominous growl vibrating almost continuously from his chest.
“Steady, son. You don’t want to let him out. Not here, not now,” he stated in a low, quiet voice. The man moved, taking slow, measured steps, his hands outstretched in a non-threatening manner. Sean mirrored his movements, and gradually they pivoted until the wind was in his face.
The scent of Lycan, of the brotherhood rode its subtle wave. It was enough to confuse his beast, make him hesitate. The cop was quick to make note of it. “That’s right, son. I’m family. Trust me.”
“Mate?” It came out guttural.
“She’s hurt but she’s safe. We got the man who hurt her. He won’t get to her again.”
Sean slowly uncoiled from his crouch. The change retreated enough for him to think.
The cop kept talking. “She was beaten pretty badly. The EMT’s are with her now. I know you want to be with her but I need you to wait until my team does its job. Let them gather the evidence they need.”
“Who?” did this, his mind finished, but he was still locked into one-word responses. His beast prowled just beneath the surface like an unreachable itch.
The cop’s radio crackled. “Sarge, we got another guy at the gate claiming to be the vic’s fiancé. A Derrick Wilkins Junior. Let him in?”
At the name Sean fell into a crouch again, and his gums tingled as his fangs lengthened. His fingertips ached as his nails hardened and grew.
“Negative. Deny access.” He released the button and sighed. “Son, we gotta work on your control. How long since you were changed?”
Sean shook his head hard, fighting to subdue his beast. He had better control than this. “A few months.”
“You’re not local.” It was a question disguised as a statement. Sean focused on the cop’s voice.
“No, sir.”
“What’s your name, son?”
Sean had to force himself to concentrate, to push past the distraction and think. “Master Sergeant Sean Jacobson.”
“Army. Stationed here at Fort Stewart?”
“No.” Sean’s gazed strayed toward the apartment and he tensed, the desire to be with his mate once again overwhelming him.
“Look at me, son.”
The command in the older gentleman’s voice could not be denied. Sean brought his attention back to the cop.
“Your mate, what’s her name?”
“Von Washington.”
“Good. Good. You and Von, you been mated long?”
“No, sir.”
“That explains the other fiancé,” he mumbled to himself.
Again his gaze strayed to the windows of the apartment where he could see lots of movement.
The cop laid a hand on Sean’s arm. “On me, son. On me.”
Sean looked at the hand, then the cop’s face.
“You were here, earlier?”
Right then, EMTs pushing a gurney came rushing by shouting orders. They loaded a male into the back of the Rescue unit and took off, lights flashing, siren wailing.
The cop shook his head. “The bastard might make it, but it’s doubtful. The cousin pumped him full of bullets. Be a miracle if he doesn’t bleed out on the table.”
Sean really didn’t give a damn. He wanted to rip the man who’d dared to hurt his mate apart with his bare hands. He took a step forward.
The cop smoothly moved into his path. “Uh-uh, son. Focus on me. Forget about him.”
When Sean settled, he said, “Back to my question. You were here earlier?”
“Spent the night. Left. Needed clothes, gear.”
“So you went back to the base.” Sean gave a sho
rt nod. “About what time?”
“Hour and a half, maybe two hours. Picked up movies. Food.” Both of which were sitting in the truck. “Shouldn’t have left, should have made her come with me.”
“So, she was alone when you left?”
“Yes.”
“Was she expecting anyone?”
“No. Maybe. She said she was calling her cousin.”
Another group of EMT’s came down the stairs with another strapped down body—Von. She was already hooked up to an IV and one of the medics was working on her. “Multiple facial and body contusions; bruised, possibly broken ribs; probable internal bleeding. Her BP’s all over the place...”
Sean didn’t hear the rest of the litany. When the gurney hit the pavement, he was beside it, keeping pace.
“Sir, we need you to back away.”
“How is she? She’s going to be all right?”
When the doors to Rescue opened, Sean made to climb inside with the others. The cop appeared by his side, blocking him. “You don’t want to do that, son. No telling how long you’ll be stuck at the hospital with no transportation. Go get your vehicle and follow.”
Sean didn’t waste any time arguing. He heard the cop explaining to the EMTs as he ran off, “The fiancé.”
****
The sour scent of pain, anger, despair, and disillusionment along with the chemical smells of disinfectant, medicine and other nameless odors hit him in the back of his throat the minute the glass doors swooshed open. The waiting room was packed, as was the case with most county hospitals, with the men, women, crying babies and quarrelling children. Sean ignored all of it, his attention focused on the sign, INFORMATION DESK, straight ahead.
“Von Washington. Rescue just brought her in.”
The harried looking woman behind the desk barely looked up from the paperwork she was sorting. “Have a seat. The doctor will come out and see you when he has news.”
“She’s my fiancé. I want to go into the back with her.”
She did glance up then, eyes narrowed in aggravation. “Have...a...seat.”
Sean took a deep, open-mouth breath to gain control. “Can you have someone let her know I’m here?”
The woman rolled her eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Master Sergeant Sean Jacobson.” He should have had on his uniform. Maybe then he’d get some respect.
She scribbled something on a stickey notepad. “Got it. Now, please, have a seat.”
Sean forced himself away from the window and went and leaned against a wall facing the double doors from which the doctor would exit. His position also allowed him to see the Emergency Room entrance. Despite his relaxed pose, the scowl on his face and angry vibe had a nearby elderly couple relocating to a different area. Others kept giving him wary looks.
Thirty minutes later, Von’s grandmother and some other relatives he recognized from photos Von had sent over the years arrived. The lady at the desk gave them the same routine. “Have a seat and someone will be with you shortly.”
They sat without argument. Sean considered going over and introducing himself but stayed where he was. He didn’t know them, was unsure if they knew about his relationship with Von, and frankly, he wasn’t in the mood to make polite conversation.
He still didn’t know what the hell happened, or who the crazy bastard was that had attacked his woman. The only thing that mattered was Von. He needed to see for himself that she was okay. That he hadn’t lost her when he’d just gotten her.
More time passed. Sean straightened abruptly when Derrick came rushing into the ER. When he turned from the desk, Sean was there, in his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Derrick reared back, his expression going from shock to annoyance. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I received a phone call that my father had been transported to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.”
Images flashed before Sean’s eyes and in a blink, he had Derrick jacked up against the nearest wall. “You son of a bitch! Tell me your daddy had nothing to do with Von being here!”
“Sir! You can’t do that in here. Security!”
Derrick struggled uselessly, then seemed to freeze as Sean’s words sank in. Sean shook him again. “Tell me!”
“Von?” Derrick asked hoarsely, the color leeching from his face.
“Is that why you came to her apartment, to help your father finish what you’d started? You sorry son of a bitch. Despite all that talk, you turned out to be just like your old man after all,” he said in disgust.
Derrick shook his head rapidly, his mouth open on a silent no.
The sound of running feet reached his ears. He released Derrick before the urge to pound him into the floor overwhelmed him. He couldn’t afford to get kicked out of the hospital. Not yet. Not until he knew how she was doing.
By the time Security rounded the corner, there were several feet of distance between the two men. “What’s the problem?”
“No problem, Officer,” Sean told him, still glaring at Derrick.
“Then move along.”
Sean backed slowly away, before pivoting on his feet and walking to his former spot on the wall. As he retreated, he could hear Derrick asking the woman at the desk for Von’s status. He paused long enough to hear her say they hadn’t been given one.
It was hours before they received word. A doctor still in surgical gear came out asking for the family of Von Washington. Sean moved forward with the rest, but lingered near the rear.
“Are you the family?”
“Yes,” the grandmother answered.
“She’s in recovery. We couldn’t get her blood pressure stabilized. There was internal bleeding and we had to open her up to find the source. Her condition’s critical, but stable. She’s going to be in a lot of pain and heavily medicated for a while.”
“Can I see her?” the grandmother asked.
“When she’s out of recovery, we’ll send someone to let you know. Could be awhile. You might want to wait and come back in the morning. Until we’re sure there are no further complications, we’re restricting access to family, and only one or two at a time. I won’t lie to you. Von took one hell of a beating, but she’s young, healthy and strong. I expect her to make a full recovery. Von’s a friend. Everyone here loves her. I’d like to get my hands on the man that did this to her. I hope they got the bastard,” he said with venom.
“They did. Thank you, doctor.”
“You’re welcome.” His gazed raked over all of them, taking note of Sean standing close but not too near, before turning and going back through the doors.
Von’s grandmother turned to the other lady and said, “Thank God she’s all right. Now if they’ll just let Ketta go.”
“I sent the boys down to get her out, Momma. She hasn’t been charged. They’re just questioning her. The police aren’t stupid. They’ve seen Von. Seen what that guy did to her. They’ll let her go.”
“I hope so.” The grandmother clearly wasn’t as optimistic.
Sean turned and bumped into Derrick, who immediately held his hands up in a gesture of peace. “I wanted to see how she was. I swear I had no idea. I know you don’t believe me, but I love Von. The last thing I’d want is to see her hurt.”
He stepped around Derrick without saying a word and left the hospital. It bit that they were only allowing family members to see her, and without Marketta there to vouch for him, Derrick had a better chance of getting to Von than he did since her family knew him. He’d come back in the morning, and while he was at it, check on the cousin as well. He owed her a debt of gratitude that could never be repaid.
In the meantime, he had some phone calls to make. No one fucked with his woman and got away with it. No one.
Chapter Fourteen
Von came to slowly.
“That’s right, Sunshine. Open those beautiful eyes for me.”
The eyes in question felt like they had weights on them. Von managed to pry them open only to instantly low
er her eyelids to shield them from the harsh, bright light.
“How do you feel?”
“Cold.” Her answer was punctuated with a shiver. A warm weight settled on her body and toasty socks were placed on her feet.”
“You feel any pain?”
Now that it was brought to her attention, Von realized her body ached all over, but the worst was her abdomen and face. “Yes.”
“The anesthesia’s wearing off. We’ll give you something to take care of it. The good stuff,” the voice said with a feminine chuckle. “Now take some deep breaths for me.”
Von tried. “It hurts.”
“I know, but it’s important. Now again. That’s good. Again. Uh-huh. Once more. Excellent.”
“Gloria?”
“Yes, hon?”
“What happened?”
“You were brought in with a bleeder. Dr. Kandt had to go hunting. Thank God he found it before it could do too much damage. You’re going to be out of commission for a while.”
While Von’s fuzzy mind absorbed her words, Gloria leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We all are. Rest now while we prepare your room.”
Warmed with a numbing sensation sweeping through her body, Von lost the struggle to stay awake and retreated back into the darkness.
Some time later Von drifted. There were voices, the sensation of movement. In some portion of her mind, Von was aware of being transported to her room. Machines beeped, there was a slight tug in the I.V. line as the bag was hung, the bed was positioned, lights lowered. Last she heard her grandmother and aunt whispering over her before they, too, disappeared.
Sean. Where is Sean? She needed him. Wanted him to come to her so she could feel safe. When her nurse returned she’d tell her...
When Von surfaced again, the hospital had the still quietness that came only in the darkest, deep of night. She weakly pressed the call button. Thirsty, so thirsty.
“Yes,” a disembodied voice said.
