Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(62)

Destin looked up when a soft knock sounded on the door. A moment later, Chelsea stuck her head in and brightly smiled at both of them. She clucked when she saw the dampness on Sula’s cheeks.

“Now, now, everything will be alright,” Chelsea said with a compassionate expression. “Destin, why don’t you go next door and get cleaned up. I had Thomas get you fresh clothes and a toothbrush from the supply store. I guessed at the size, so don’t blame him if it’s the wrong one. I’d like to check Sula’s shoulder and I’ll help her get cleaned up. I bought her some clothes, too.”

Destin glanced at the white plastic bag that Chelsea held up and nodded. He bent and brushed a tender kiss across Sula’s lips before rolling out of bed. Bending down, he picked up his shoes, grabbed his jacket off the chair next to the window, and stepped around the bed.

“Let me know if she needs anything,” he ordered in a soft but firm voice when he passed Chelsea.

“Honey, you’ll be the first to know. Sula is in good hands, don’t you worry about her,” Chelsea promised, shooing him out of the room.

Sula couldn’t keep the amused smile hidden. Chelsea was a force to be reckoned with when she was on a mission. Sula had discovered that when she was sick. Struggling to sit up, she couldn’t quite hold back the hiss of pain that escaped her.

“Here now, let me help you,” Chelsea admonished, dropping the bag onto the end of the bed and wrapping an arm around Sula’s back to help her sit up. “I’ll give you something for the pain and then we’ll get you into the bathroom to get cleaned up for Destin.”

Chelsea fluffed the pillows behind her and Sula carefully leaned back against them while Chelsea pulled a small kit from her pocket. Less than a minute later, Sula breathed a sigh of relief when the sharp pain that had been radiating from her shoulder faded. She smiled her gratitude to the other woman.

“Thank you, Chelsea. Once again, you have come to my rescue,” Sula murmured.

“Well, a head cold is a lot less painful, even if you do feel like you are dying at times,” Chelsea laughed. “The pain medication I gave you will take the edge off, but it won’t stop it from hurting if you try to move your arm too much. Pain is a good thing. It lets you know when you are doing too much.”

Sula laughed and relaxed back while Chelsea scanned her vitals. Her hand fluttered over her stomach and she bit her lip. She looked up at Chelsea when the other woman gently lifted her hand and held it.

“Do you… You have a daughter, don’t you, Chelsea?” Sula asked in a hesitant voice.

“Thomas and I have three of them, all married. The middle and youngest have kids,” Chelsea replied. “You’ll be fine, Sula. I don’t know much about alien babies, but I suspect it isn’t much different from human ones. Come on and let me help you get in the shower and you can ask me all the questions you want.”

Sula’s eyes filled again and she groaned in annoyance. “Will I cry the entire time? I do not remember if others of my kind cried,” she sniffed, sliding her legs out from under the covers and sitting up.

“Sweetheart, if you feel like crying, you cry all you want. If you feel like ice cream at two in the morning, you tell Destin he better make sure he has it, otherwise there will be hell to pay,” Chelsea chuckled, sliding an arm around Sula’s waist and steadying her when she stood up. “My Thomas learned real quick which stores were open all night and which aisle my current craving was on. Trust me, when the baby decides to come, they’ll be thankful they did.”

“What is ice cream?” Sula asked in curiosity.

Chelsea’s laughter filled the small bathroom. Sula was soon learning all the hilarious and frightening things about pregnancy and wondering if half the tales were true. She also made a mental list of all the foods that Chelsea was telling her about – like fried pickles, tacos, and chocolate covered potato chips.





20





Destin stepped out of the shower next door and dried his hair and body off before quickly dressing. He was just finishing slipping his shoes on when there was a knock on the door. He called out for the person to enter, expecting it to be Tim or Mason. Instead, he was surprised when Cutter stepped inside and closed the door.

Destin’s features hardened into a controlled mask of calm. He finished tying his shoes and stood up, then grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair, and slid it on. Cutter watched him in silence until he straightened.

“She’s not staying here,” Destin started to say.

“I know,” Cutter replied in a curt tone. “I talked to Beth this morning.”

Destin drew in a deep breath and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. He hadn’t thought about the fact that Beth might mention what she and Sula were searching for. He should have debriefed her last night.

“What did she say?” Destin asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

Cutter shot him a frustrated glare. “That she only talks to the boss and since I’m not him, she couldn’t tell me anything other than my security measures sucked big time and that I’d better not mess with Sula,” he replied in a dry tone.

Destin’s lips twitched and he dropped his arms to his side in relief. Beth was smart and creative, but most of all she had a way with dealing with others. He could just imagine her telling Cutter that he wasn’t the boss of her with an infectious smile that would have Cutter agreeing. In many ways, Beth had helped fill the gap in his life left by Kali’s absence.