Page 97 of Butterfly Assassin
“Fuck.”
Aaron gripped his hand. “You need to go to hospital too.”
“No, I’m fine I—”
“You’re not fine.” Aaron’s grip tightened. “You need stitches.” His eyes found all the places Blake had hurt him. “Lots of them.”
Frank burst out of the back door, followed by Sam and Harry. “Arch? Aaron? Christ.” He took in the scene, gaze zeroing in on Michael’s wounds, then immediately shouted for the paramedics. Kneeling beside Michael, he said. “Couldn’t wait for backup, eh?”
Michael shrugged with his good shoulder and nodded over at where Blake lay, suspiciously quiet. “He came out to meet us.” Frank spared Blake a quick glance, his lip curling in distaste. “What took you so long anyway? You were only down the bloody road.”
Frank rolled his eyes. “Would you believe that more of Smith’s bodyguards arrived at the same time we did? Apparently Blake had summoned them. Let’s just say they were reluctant to come quietly.” He looked back at Blake, smile rueful. “Besides, Sam assured me Isaac and Aaron had things under control, and it appears he was right.”
Isaac stood, no longer in his half-shift. He pointed down at a heavily restrained Blake. “We need to transfer him over to the council. I imagine they’ll want him at Krillick Hall.”
The paramedics appeared, blocking Michael’s view of Blake and ushering Aaron out of the way. Michael missed his presence immediately. Closing his eyes as they started to work on his injuries, he listened to the conversation going on around him, answering the paramedic’s questions in between.
“Both Alpha Wallace and Alpha Jones are still with Wilson,” Frank said. “They were waiting for paramedics from the nearest shifter hospital to come and take him. Alpha Jones seemed to know what he was doing, though.”
Isaac hummed in agreement. “He should. I believe he was a doctor at a shifter hospital before the council was formed.”
“Good. We’re going to need to talk to Wilson. Later.”
Michael huffed out a laugh. Good old Frank, tactful as ever. “White was never bitten.”
“We know.” Frank stood, dusting dirt from his jeans. “But his throat was torn out.” He gestured to Blake. “Probably by him.”
Michael went to nod but thought better of it. “He admitted as much.”
The paramedics finished bandaging him up and loaded Michael onto the stretcher.
“I’m fine,” he tried to insist, but they were having none of it.
“The wounds on your neck and side need stitching, and possibly your arm too. You’ve also lost a lot of blood.”
“Stop being such an arse and do as you’re told,” Frank grumbled at him as they started to wheel him away.
“Wait.” He grabbed Frank’s arm as he passed. “The murders… Blake said it was him. With the…” He waved a hand in the air, words failing him. “Things.”
“The fake metal claws? Yeah, we found them. They’ll be sent back to the lab for analysis. They’re also searching both White’s and Blake’s houses now. Hopefully Wilson can tell us more when he regains consciousness.”
They wheeled him the rest of the way to the ambulance, Aaron following just behind them. Before they loaded him inside, he stepped forward.
“Can I have a minute, please?”
“Two tops, mate.”
“Thanks.”
The paramedics moved away, and Aaron stepped close, taking Michael’s hand. “Is the case over now? With White dead and Wilson found?”
“I don’t know. We still need to prove Blake committed the murders, but I think once we get forensics back and can talk to Wilson, that’ll get sorted.” He had no doubt Blake would deny everything as soon as he woke up in Krillick Hall.
Aaron nodded and bit his bottom lip, and Michael knew what he was thinking. Well, he hoped he did because he was thinking the same thing. “So, then, we could see each other without it affecting anything.” He met Michael’s gaze, eyes alight with hope. “If we wanted to, that is.”
“Yes,” Michael said softly. “We could. If we wanted to.” He squeezed Aaron’s fingers, smiling. “And I do want to.”
Aaron’s answering smile was blinding. “Me too.”
