Page 41 of Z For Butterfly Man
“What you think I want in return from a fourteen-year-old girl? The only thing I want is to open your eyes. What Shane’s doing, it’s not—”
The door slams open. Shane is here. My savior. My fairy tale prince.
He fills the doorway, his chest heaving like he’s been running. His eyes sweep over me first, then land on Mason with a look that could cut glass. “The fuck ya doin’ in here?”
Mason straightens, his hands raised defensively. “I found her on the street, Blue. She was burning up. I brought her here so Doc could—”
“Youfoundher. You, of all people, just happened to find her.”
“I was heading home. She was down on the sidewalk. What was I supposed to do, leave her there?”
Shane crosses the room in three strides and drops to his knees beside the bed. His hands cup my face, tilting it up so he can look at me. “Baby girl, you okay? Shit, you burning. What happened?”
“I’m fine.” I swallow, pins and needles in my mouth and tongue. “I just needed antibiotics. I was walking to the hospital and—”
“Walking?” Rage flares in his gaze. “Where the fuck were they?”
“Dad wasn’t home, and Mother was…sleeping.”
“Fuck.” He presses his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry. Should’ve been there. Should’ve—”
“It’s not your fault.”
Behind Shane, Mason shifts uncomfortably. “Look, I can take her home if here ain’t good.”
Shane doesn’t even look at him. “You ain’t taking her anywhere.”
“But it’s night time. There’s always a party here. It ain’t the scene a little girl like—”
“I said no.” Shane’s voice drops to a growl. He turns his head just enough to glare at Mason. “Doc!” he yells toward the hallway. “Get in here!”
A mister with a graying beard and weathered face appears in the doorway. He’s big, wearing a cut just like Shane’s. He walks over and smiles at me. He asks how I feel now as he checks my forehead, my pulse and my pupils. Then he puts a thermometer in my mouth.
“Can she go home?” Shane demands.
Doc reads my temperature and shakes his head. “Not yet. Fever is still too high. She needs to stay put for a few more hours, keep taking fluids and meds. If the fever doesn’t break by tomorrow, we’ll have to take her to a hospital for blood work.”
Shane nods curtly, then turns back to Mason. “You heard him. She’s staying.”
“I can wait with her,” Mason offers.
“The fuck you will.” Shane blocks me from Mason’s view, his fists clenched at his sides. “Get the fuck out of my room, Mason. And stay the fuck away from her.”
Mason curses under his breath. “What the fuck you doing, Blue? She’s just a child.”
“I’m protecting what’s mine, asshole. Now get out before I make you.”
Doc ushers Mason out before he speaks again. Whispers and hums erupt from the hallway, curious and wary. Shane just claimed me in front of the entire club.
Mason’s gaze flicks to me, something like pity in his eyes, before he leaves, before Shane slams the door behind him and locks it.
The room falls silent except for my ragged breathing. Shane drags a hand through his hair. His expression softens at me. “C’mere, baby girl. Lay back down.” He helps me settle against the pillows, his touch gentle despite the tension radiating off him. “I’m gonna take care of ya, alright? You don’t gotta worry about anything.”
I force a smile. “Thanks. Why is Mason calling you Blue?”
“You didn’t hear? I’m getting my colors tomorrow. Blue is my road name. That’s why I wasn’t in town today. One last job to earn my patch.”
“Yay. Congratulations.” I cough wildly.
