Khan (Bowen Boys, #2)(8)
He had a feeling that Sally was right. Miss Monica didn’t strike him as the type to sit back and let people scream at her. Or talk to her like she was a small child. But it was going to be a moot point when he had her leave. And she was going to leave.
After he left Marc’s house, he went to find him. The construction site was near his house, so he simply walked this time. By the time he got there and saw his brothers, he had nearly convinced himself that she wasn’t his mate and that he had made a mistake. Yeah, and monkeys could fly.
“I just left your house,” he told Marc after they shook hands. “I think maybe I might have scared Sally. I just wanted you to know.” He couldn’t do it. He had planned to tell him that he was sending his guest to their parents’ house, but didn’t because he could see Caitlynne across the way. He turned to leave when Marc stopped him.
“She called me.”
Khan wanted to pretend that he had no idea who he meant, but Marc knew better.
“Sally said she had called you when my phone was turned off a little while ago. She told me what happened between you and Monica.”
“Nothing happened between us. She was in distress and I helped her to the bed.” Reed came toward them and Khan realized that he’d been a little loud. “I picked her up out of the shower and put her into the bed. Nothing else.”
“And you wouldn’t let her wear my shirt.”
Khan didn’t say anything to Marc’s statement. It was true, but he wasn’t going to get himself into anything with him right now. He started to walk away when Walker said his name.
“Is it her?”
Khan didn’t turn, but shook his head.
“Are you sure? Because you smell like her, and if what you say is true, then you won’t mind if Caitlynne and I take her back to Washington with us.”
Khan didn’t remember moving or that he’d taken Walker to the ground. He was just over him with his hands around his throat. When he realized what he was doing, he let him go and stood up. Backing away from him, he looked at the rest of his brothers.
“I won’t claim her. You know how I feel about this and I won’t have anything to do with her. None of you can make me either.” He flushed when he realized how stupid he sounded. “I’m going home, and I don’t want any of you to come near me. Take her with you, I don’t give a shit. You can have her.”
~~~
Monica woke late. When she looked at the clock, it was just after midnight. Moving slowly so she didn’t cry out if she hurt herself, she took herself to the bathroom again and found a new toothbrush and paste on the counter. After brushing her teeth twice, she moved back to the bed. An elderly man sitting in the rocker startled her.
“I’m George Bowen. I’m Marc’s dad. How are you feeling?” She told him fine. “Good, that’s good. I can have Corrine, that’s my wife, bring you up something to eat. She’s been up here about ten times every hour since we came over. Got you some more of that stew you ate earlier.”
“I don’t have to be waited on. If you can tell me where my clothes are, I’d like to get dressed, please.”
He nodded toward the little table near the windows. She went there and found her pants had been washed, but the shirt wasn’t hers. She looked at him, and he laughed.
“I believe it’s one of Khan’s. After earlier, we didn’t want anyone to get hurt so we dug up one of his that was at the house. We can be a bit possessive when something like this happens.”
She nodded, not having a clue what he was talking about or who.
Going back to the bathroom, she found folded in the shirt, a pair of panties, and some socks. She had no idea where they had come from, but they were cleaner than the ones she had on and she hurriedly pulled them on. The shirt like the one she had just taken off was huge, but she didn’t have anything else. Finding a brush, she dragged it through her hair and knotted it at the back of her head. She had to find someone to cut it soon or she was going to.
When she came out again, she was exhausted, and happy to see the man had left. She went through the opened door and stood in the hall for several seconds, trying to figure out where to go. She went toward the sounds of people talking and ended up in a brightly lit kitchen.
Walker was there, as was his wife, Caitlynne. Marc and George were standing next to an elderly woman who was giving them both a hard time about something. Two more men she didn’t recognize were there as well as a man from earlier today. She nodded to them all and looked at Marc.
“I’m feeling much better now and was wondering if you’d take me to my apartment? The landlord said he had some of my things, and once I get them, I can head on out.” He glanced at the man. “I can make payments to you for what you’ve done for me. And to you, Walker.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Marc shoved his elbow in the man. “Monica, these are my brothers. This is Reed and Sebastian, and this is my mother Corrine. You’ve met Caitlynne and Walker, and now my dad. This man, the man from today, is my brother, Khan. He’s very sorry for what he did to you today.”
“I might have overreacted. I really would like to go now, please.” She looked at them all when they seemed to as one look at Khan. “Is there a problem?”
“You might say that.” Caitlynne stood up and came toward her as she spoke. “They’re all idiots. Come on. Corrine has some soup for you. These guys were just leaving. Unless you have something to say, Khan, you can leave as well.”