Marc (Bowen Boys, #4)(50)

Anthony glared at her, then looked at his daughter. She watched as Roy made his way to the side door. He wasn’t going anywhere and she knew it. As soon as she heard the low growl, she watched him stagger back into the room. When he looked at her, she winked.

“You told this woman about our business? Personal business that you caused to happen?” He stood up and began walking toward her. “I should have known better than to say a f*cking word to you, Anita. You’ve been nothing but a problem since your brother died.”

“She caused all this.” Anita pointed at her. “This is all her fault because her mother was a whore and a slut.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. Your brother was a stupid fool who thought robbing a bank would be a blast. I paid those witnesses to say that he had helped them out. When he was killed, he was raping a woman in the back room with a gun to her head. He wasn’t the saint that you’ve made him out to be.”

“No. No, that’s not right. He saved those people and she shot him.” Anthony was shaking his head. “You lie. You’ll say whatever you need to say to get what you want. Stop this now.”

The gun was out and in Anthony’s hand before Jonny could say anything. The first shot went off, then two more before she realized that she was being taken to the floor by a large cat. Khan commanded her to lay still.

He weighed her down, and she saw Marc flash by her. More shots were fired, and she closed her eyes when she heard a cat scream. Trying to get out from under Khan, he snarled. She shifted under him and tossed him off her.

Marc was hurt, but she couldn’t tell how badly. Reed was standing over him, and Roy was pointing a gun at both of them. She moved up in front of Roy and reached for Khan.

Get them out of here, please. I can’t let anyone get hurt because of me. Another shot was fired, but she didn’t look to see who had been shot. She watched Roy. When he raised his weapon to fire at one of the men behind her, she leapt at his throat.

The world seemed to fade and come back to her. She saw Marc standing over her, cussing the air blue around him, and then Walker. Walker was smiling, and she wasn’t sure why that made her feel better, but it did. He said something low, and she nodded, not sure why.

Opening her eyes, she saw Marc again, and he was holding her hand. She tried to talk to him, but her mouth refused to work. He told her he loved her and that if she died he was going to kick her ass, but she faded again. Things were fuzzing all the way around her.

She looked up the next time to see that she was in a bed. Marc was sitting next to her in a big chair and he was asleep. She turned her head when she heard someone clear their throat and saw her mom sitting on the bed.

“He’s been there for two hours. Won’t leave you because he said he’s going to beat your ass when you wake. He said that if you shift you’ll heal faster. Is that true?” She nodded at her mom. “You scared us all.”

“Is he hurt?” Her mom shook her head. “I thought he was bleeding. I was so terrified when I saw that blood on his chest.”

“It was on my shoulder, and I shifted.” She looked at Marc. “What the hell were you thinking? You could have been killed. I thought Khan told you to stay still.”

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me. I was trying to save your sorry ass. What were you doing getting shot in the first place?” She sat up in the bed when her mom stood. “You think I couldn’t handle myself? I had it under control, you pompous ass. Do you think that you’re the only panther in the world that can be brave? I will let you know when I need—”

He tossed her back on the bed and kissed her. His hands seemed to be everywhere at the same time, and she moaned when he cupped her breast. The door clicking closed had her reach up, wrap her arms around him, and pull him closer. When he lifted his head, she looked up at him.

“You scared me.” She nodded, knowing how he felt. “When that idiot shot you, I lost it. Will you never do anything like that again?”

“I’ll try.” He pinched her nipple. “Ouch. That wasn’t necessary, was it? I’ll promise you if you do the same for me. Seeing you there was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.”

She winced when he ran his other hand up her ribs. He rolled to his back and she could see that he was aroused. His cock was filling out his jeans very nicely, and she wanted him. She reached for him only to have him grab her wrist to stop her.

“Don’t. There are a number of people down in our living room wanting to talk to us. They want to know how you came to be in the house where three people were killed.”

That had her sit up quickly. She wanted to ask him how, but he shook his head again. “It’s best if you don’t know anything until we get downstairs. We told them you were there to get your belongings from Roy and that the other two showed up after. Caitlynne is telling them that when she rolled in with her men that you were bleeding in a corner and that the other three were dead.”

“So they’re dead.” He nodded and helped her up. “And you guys weren’t there? I was there alone when it went down.”

“Yes. No one is alive to dispute your word. Caitlynne is telling them that your parents told her about Roy and his meeting with Kidd. The daughter showing up had been a surprise. Jack took care of the rest. Did you know she has no fingerprints?”