I seized the bloody towels, rolled them into a ball, then grabbed up my shirt. Trying to pull it on, I almost had it over my head when a sharp pulse of pain went through my shoulder and I let out a groan as I fell heavily to my knees. “Ah, shit.” The shirt fell to the floor in front me.
“Cree? Did you fall?” Sky barged in and let out a soft scream. “Oh my God!”
“Hey, Sky, how was your day?” I asked, trying to smile as I lifted my hand away from my shoulder. It was bright with blood. “Um, yeah, I was hiking and fell. Didn’t realize how bad it was.”
She was pale and horrified as I got to my feet. “Hiking? Why didn’t you go to a hospital? Never mind, I’m taking you there right now.”
“Aw, no way, it’s fine,” I said, trying not to wince in pain. “All good.”
“Do you not have health insurance or something?” Sky asked.
I let out a weak laugh. Convenient excuse. “Uh, no,” I fibbed.
“Come out into the kitchen,” she ordered. “There’s better light. I have a first aid kit, too.”
Slapping a towel over my shoulder, I limped after her and then sat down in front of her sink on the floor. “Write anything good today?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Will you stop with the macho act? I can see you’re in pain.” Sky came back and kneeled behind me. “Did you fall on jagged rocks? What were you doing?”
“Trying to get a better view at Discovery Park,” I said. Sky was doing her best, but she was not as deft in managing a wound as Ben, Pea, or Fern. In fact, she seemed reluctant to touch it.
“Oh, Cree,” she muttered. “Maybe my brother should have left me a note saying to keep an eye on you.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said vaguely. Then my entire body locked up and I stared at the floor in horror. Oh, shit. “You – how did you…?”
“You don’t hide your things very well,” Sky said.
Swallowing, I waited for a barrage of questions, but she said nothing, only continued to dab at my shoulder. The silence spun out horribly, then suddenly Sky sucked in a breath.
“I think I see why you’re in pain, ew, oh man, there’s a rock or something stuck in your shoulder,” Sky’s hand was gentle as she squeezed my other shoulder. “Hospital now?”
“Sky,” I looked back at her. “I know this is a lot to ask, but could you maybe pull it out?” I tried to smile. “If it’s not too much trouble?”
Sky was gazing at me like I was a cannibal goblin. “Are you insane?”
“No, I heal fast, I promise. And no health insurance, remember?”
“Aren’t you a wildland firefighter? There’s no way you don’t get state insurance or something, Cree! Plus, I know you and Rayner make bank doing that stuff!” Her eyes flashed.
I put my hand over hers on my shoulder. “Please, Sky. I can’t go to the hospital.”
She searched my face, then her lips went thin and she nodded. “Okay. But if you lose mobility or get an infection or something in this shoulder, do not blame me.”
“I would never,” I squeezed her hand. “Thank you.”
“I’ll get tweezers,” she said, getting up and running through the apartment.
Slumping, I closed my eyes. I hated hospitals, but there was also a more practical reason to it – some nosy doctor might see something in my blood and start asking questions. Aunt Sil, Pea, and Fern had warned us to be careful. When we became coyote shifters, some part of our humanity did change. It was part of our responsibility as shifters to protect our world and our secret.
And I’m really doing a bang-up job here.
Sky came back and settled behind me. One of her hands pressed into the center of the back and I could feel her hovering the tweezers over my shoulder.
“You can do this,” I said quietly. “I have absolute confidence in you.”
A tremble ran through her hand and Sky let out a quiet breath. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Sometimes a little pain is necessary. Plus, don’t worry, I’m tough. Very macho.”
She chuckled weakly and then lowered the tweezers. I grit my teeth as my vision swam and she pulled out what felt like a serrated shark tooth, slicing through tender flesh.
When it was out, I let out a gasp of relief, cold sweat pouring down me. “Benny, I’ve never missed you so much in my life,” I muttered, willing myself not to hurl.
“This looks like a tooth, not a rock,” Sky said dryly. “What were you doing again?”
Turning, I snatched it from her and held it up. Little bastards! A long, sharp gray tooth with rough edges shone in the light. It glittered with malevolence and I threw it hard into the trash. “Ha, you’re right, it did,” I said, going to get up when Sky’s hand shot out and stopped me.
“Where do you think you’re going? You need bandages!” she said.
“Oh,” I looked at her. “You’re gonna… Are you sure?”
“Cree, I swear to God if you don’t stop moving, I will slap you.” Sky narrowed her eyes. “Turn back around.”
I obeyed her, sucking my breath as she spritzed cleaner on the wound and then cleaned it up more. Then she pulled out fluffy gauze and fit it snugly around the cut. It already felt a thousand times better and I could feel my tiredness lifting.
“Sky Hess, amazing author, dynamo dancer and secret nurse!” I said cheerily as she stood up and I followed. “Thank you.” I wanted to hug her but she’d folded her arms, shaking her head at me. “Um, so, yeah. Thanks.” Pause. “Guess I’ll go clean up the mess in the bathroom.”
Frowning at me, Sky began to shake her head violently. “No. Go sit down and rest.”
“Seriously?” I asked, unable to hide a smile. “You don’t mind?”
“I’ll mind if you clean,” she said, sweeping off to the bathroom.
Collapsing gratefully on the couch, I flicked on the TV and then let my eyes fall shut. There was an odd nervous feeling fluttering in my stomach, mingling with a sense of triumph. I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so I ignored it.
“Are you sleeping?” Sky’s voice was above my head and I sat up, yawning. “Should I put this back?”
“Hell no!” I exclaimed, seeing the bowl of frozen raspberry yogurt in her hand. “Thank you!”
She sat down next to me, slightly apart so she could turn to look at me as she dug in. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” I admitted. “But so much better, thank you.”
Both of us fell silent, then Sky let out a small chuckle. “Are you watching the weather channel?”
Glancing up, I laughed. “Yeah. Put it on for noise, wasn’t really watching it.”
Reaching forward, she picked up the remote and flicked the TV off. “So. Did anything that happened today – going to Discovery Park, getting hurt, and so forth – any of that related to whatever Rayner is trying to keep my safe from?”
My spoon was halfway to my mouth and I went completely still. Sky’s gaze was fastened on me as I slowly looked at her.
Deny it! My brain shouted in Rayner’s voice, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even speak.
Giving me a knowing look, Sky pulled out the crumpled note and read out, “Please, Cree, keep an eye on her and keep her safe. I’ll be back soon. Thor. P.S. REMEMBER: DO NOT FLIRT WITH MY SISTER, JACKASS. I WILL END YOU.” She raised her eyebrows at me. “I won’t tell him you flirted with me if you tell me what the hell is going on.”
I should have thrown that away. But it was too little, too late. It hadn’t occurred to me to toss it as I never thought Sky would stoop to snooping through my stuff. “I’m surprised at you, Sky,” I said quietly. “Pretty shitty thing to do.”
She flushed. “Don’t get high and mighty on me. You’d do the same thing in my shoes. Deep down, I knew something was up with him. I helped you out, now you owe me. Tell me.”
I shook my head. “I can’t. And it’s not fair of you to ask me that. I’m not going to sell Rayner out. If I’d known your help came with conditions, I would have p
olitely declined.” My voice was becoming colder than the minute. Come on Sky, you’re better than this.
Her eyes widened and her mouth curved down. “I’m sorry. It’s just, Cree, is it something shady or illegal? Is he in trouble?”
“Shady? Rayner Hess?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, your brother is still a perfect Eagle Scout, don’t worry. He’s a hero, Sky, I promise you. I can tell you that much. I trust your brother with my life.”
“Then why did he–? He all but vanished on my family, Cree! My parents pretend it doesn’t bother them, spouting off their hippie bullshit, but I know it does. My dad isn’t Ray’s real dad, but he may as well be. Rayner even took his last name! But Ray has missed almost every major event of the past five years! Our dad’s fiftieth birthday!”
I put aside my bowl, stomach churning. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Sky looked down. “No, I’m sorry. You got hurt and I’m being a bitch.”
“You’re not,” I tried to say, but she was moving into the kitchen. Suddenly she snatched up her bag and went to the door. “Sky, hey…” I trailed off. What could I say?
“I need some air. Text me if you need anything,” she said, vanishing out the door.
A flash of anger went through me. Yielding to impulse, I picked up my phone and dialed Rayner.
“Hey, now is not a good time, Cree,” he answered.
“Too bad. We need to talk,” I growled. “It’s about Sky.”
Chapter 8
I’d made my way down to the waterfront. Now I was standing at the dock railing, watching the lights blink out along the horizon and listening to the water slap against the rocks below. All while wishing I could take back everything I’d said to Cree.
I’d found the note Rayner had left him this afternoon. I’d snuck back to the apartment when I saw Cree leave and then searched his room. The note had made me see red. I’d gone for a walk to cool down and figure out how I’d approach him about it.
What I hadn’t expected was to find Cree shirtless and bloody on my bathroom floor, with a half-sheepish, half-grimace of a smile and a puppy-dog look in his blue eyes.
In that moment, the note had vanished from my mind. I’d been filled with a sick kind of fear that made my head spin. Even now, my stomach churned and I wondered if he should go to the hospital. Ugh, Cree Campbell. He was so exasperating. So earnest and honest.
Also, so not happy with me right now.
He’d looked disappointed. That had stung.
“What am I going to do?” I groaned out loud. At that moment my phone began to ring and I glanced down at it. “No way,” I said, sucking in a breath, and I hastened to answer it. “Ray?”
“So, you’ve turned my best friend against me, I see.” His voice was warm in my ear and I clutched at the phone. “What’d you do to him, lil’ sis?”
“I-I, nothing. Why are you calling me?” I asked, trembling. Oh, Cree.
“It’s long overdue.” He sounded tired, but his voice was filled with everything I’d missed about him. That note of big brother annoyance and adoration. “So, if you have to yell at someone, take it out on me. I deserve your anger, not Cree.”
Walking over to a bench, I sank down on it. “I’m not mad, Ray. I’m hurt. You abandoned us.”
“I didn’t want to,” he said, and the ache in his voice hit me hard.
“Then what happened? Tell me, please. We used to tell each other everything.”
“I know.” Rayner sounded wistful. “But this isn’t my secret alone, Sky.”
I went to say something, then stopped, mulling that over. “It’s Cree’s, too, isn’t it? All of your friends back in Montana, huh? Am I right?”
A reluctant laugh escaped him. “Damn, I forgot how quick you are. Yes,” he said, then he hesitated. “It’s big, Starry Sky. Too big to tell you over the phone.”
I made a face.
“I know you’re making that face,” he said. “The one you always make when you don’t believe me. It’s true. So how about I make a deal with you, kid? When I come back, I’ll tell you everything and you come visit me in Montana – but only for a little while, okay?”
“Wow, are…are you serious?” I asked.
“Yes,” Rayner said simply.
My heart was glowing inside of my chest as my resentment fell away. “That’s fair,” I murmured and I looked up. The moon was directly above me. I laughed a little and joy ballooned through me. Christmas didn’t even matter anymore. I had what I wanted – Rayner back in my life. “You’re not going to bail on me ever again, Ray? Promise?”
He hesitated and a strange chill danced across my shoulders. “I promise as long as I live I won’t push you away. I missed you, kid. Even if you’re the biggest pain I know.”
“I’m a pain? You’re a pain!”
“Do you forgive me?” Rayner asked, with a hitch in his voice.
“Yes, Reindeer,” I said, exuding a long breath. “So long as you never do it again.”
“Reindeer, now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a while,” Rayner laughed. “Alright sis, now will you please do me two favors in return?”
“Two?” I exclaimed. “That’s rich. Alright, let’s hear it.”
“One, I want you to listen to Cree and stay safe the next few weeks. Well-lit streets. Don’t stay out late. Be vigilant. Avoid any of that weird stuff that’s related to Otis Huxley.” He paused. “Please don’t ask why. Okay, shoot, it’s actually three.”
I was all but biting my tongue in trying not to demand he explain himself. “Okay, fine, what’s the last thing?”
“Lay off Cree. He’s in an awkward enough position as it is. So be nice.” He made a noise. “But not too nice. He better not be flirting with you.”
“He’s not,” I said quickly. “Cree’s been a perfect gentleman. But I don’t know why you’d care. He’s your friend, Ray, and he’s a good guy.”
“He is. One of the best,” Rayner agreed. “But I’m not worried about you so much as I am worried about him, Sky Asteria Hess. You can be a heartbreaker.”
“You bastard!” I laughed. “Low blow with the middle name.”
“Hey, you called me ‘Reindeer.’”
“Alright, alright,” I said. “Wait, did you say something about a few weeks? Ray!”
“I’m sorry, kid. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Please hang tight and go easy on my guy there. Now, I gotta go. Sorry.”
“Okay,” I murmured. “Bye, Reindeer.”
“Bye Asteria.”
Wiping at my face when I hung up, it was like all the weight of the past five years had lifted off my shoulders. My head was clear, too, like all the storm clouds had been neatly wiped away. All it took was a phone call.
In that moment, I saw with clear eyes that I’d never been mad at Rayner but using that anger to shield myself from my fear. I was afraid of losing him. But that wasn’t something I should have been afraid of either. He was family. We were bound.
Mom was right, I thought.
Picking up my phone, I dialed her and she answered in a teary, happy voice. “Oh, Sky, do you know who called me a little while ago? And invited us all out to Montana?”
I put a hand over my eyes. “Yeah, Mom. I do. I got the same call.”
Once we were done talking, I got up and moved to the same spot I’d been in earlier. The wind off the water dried my wet cheeks. Everything looked different now, full of color and beauty again. My family wasn’t broken. We’d never been broken.
Heart overflowing with gratitude, I felt a deep peace and breathed in the night. I thought of Cree, then, probably waiting for me, and smiled. He was one of the best.
Then a scream shattered the stillness.
Whirling, I saw a woman sitting on the ground like she’d fallen back and landed there, gasping and with her heart on her chest. Heart attack? I wondered as I hurried over.
“Honey, what, are you okay?” asked an anxious man, crouching by her side.
“Th
-there was a face. In the water.” She gazed at him. “I swear, I’m not lying. I saw it.”
Other people who’d been hurrying over now rushed to the railing and peered into the water, pulling out their phones and turning on the flashlights.
“I don’t see anything, do you?” a young girl asked her friend anxiously.
“Someone better alert Seattle Monster Mash,” a guy with a buzzed head said.
And even though I knew I shouldn’t, I pulled out my phone again and walked up to the woman who was still sitting on the ground.
Crouching down, I said, “Hi, Sky Hess. I’m from The Whole Scoop, and I was wondering if I could ask you some questions…”
When I got back to my apartment, Cree was skulking around in his pajamas and clearly trying to pretend he wasn’t waiting for me.
Putting down my purse slowly, I closed the door and walked over. He was bouncing on the balls of his feet, struggling for the right words.
But there weren’t any.
I wrapped my arms around his torso and pressed my forehead into the center of his chest. “Thank you,” I murmured.
“Oh, hey, what’s this for?” Cree joked as he hugged me back. “Kidding. You’re welcome.”
I held on for a moment longer than I should have, then stepped back. But Cree gripped my elbows, grinning at me, and I had to ask. “How did you…?”
“Oh, you know. Made him feel bad. Threatened him.”
“I see,” I said, trying not to notice how warm Cree’s hands felt.
“Glad it worked,” he let out a sigh. “For a hot minute there, I thought he was going to kick me out of the gang. But then he relented. Admitted I was right. It was nice for a change.”
“Kick you out of what gang?” I asked with a laugh as I drew away.
Cree’s face fell. “What did he tell you, exactly?” I gave a quick recount, leaving out the part about flirting with him. “Oh, so basically nothing?” Cree groaned. “Only that he’d tell you the secret.”
HOTSHOT BROTHERS: Coyote Shifters Page 56
