Page 41 of Cold Ignition

Keanu’s mouth twitched. “Yeah. Tragic.”

Rangi shot them both a look that promised consequences later. “You two can compare notes when he’s not bleeding.”

“Looking forward to it,” Keanu muttered, already moving toward the bus.

They got him inside.

And for a moment—just a moment—Keanu forgot how to breathe.

Because he saw it the way they did.

Not the late nights. Not the frustration. Not the countless hours he’d spent turning metal and wiring into something that could move and still feel like a place to stay.

He saw their reactions.

Rangi stepped inside first, his pace slowing as his gaze swept the space—taking in the wide-open living area, the clean lines, the subtle luxury hidden beneath practical design.

“Shit,” he murmured.

Alexios, even half-supported between them, looked once—quick, assessing—then again, slower this time. “This is beautiful,” he said. “Functional, with hidden elements of luxury, but also efficient.”

Something in Keanu’s chest loosened.

“Yeah,” he replied quietly. “That was the idea.”

They moved through to the back bedroom, the space opening into something softer—warmer lighting, a large bed built for comfort without sacrificing structure, everything secured but nothing feeling confined.

They settled Alexios carefully.

Keanu shifted immediately into motion, instinct taking over—clearing space, grabbing supplies, setting everything out before Drew even stepped through the door.

Drew didn’t waste time. “Let’s have a look.”

The assessment was fast, precise. Bandages came off. Pressure applied. Quiet observations murmured under his breath.

“Hold still.”

“I am still.”

“You’re about to not be.”

The needle slid in clean.

Alexios’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t make a sound.

“Antibiotics,” Drew said. “And something for the pain.”

“I don’t need—”

“You do,” Rangi cut in.

Drew nodded once. “He does.”

The second injection followed.

This time, Alexios exhaled slowly, tension easing out of him in increments as the medication began to take hold.

“Good,” Drew said, stepping back. “He’ll sleep.”