Logan (Chosen Champions #1) - Macy Blake Page 0,63

he went down. He got a kick to the ribs as a reward for his trouble, and it stole what was left of his breath.

Bailey realized then that he wouldn’t be getting up again. Blackness washed over him, the pain in his head becoming overwhelming. He tasted blood and felt more dripping down the side of his face.

“Bails?” Will’s voice came from the back of the theater near the dumpsters. “Bails?”

“Dammit.”

His attacker tried to cover his mouth, but Bailey found the strength to twist out of reach. “Will!”

Bailey managed to scream once more.

The attacker hit him again, this time a booted foot catching him in the stomach, and Bailey couldn’t breathe.

“Bailey!”

He heard footsteps running both toward him and away. He tried to crawl, but he couldn’t manage to move. He’d never felt so much pain in his life, and he couldn’t seem to focus on anything but the feel of the concrete beneath him.

“Bails. Oh my God, Bails.”

Will.

His friend sank down beside him. “Oh God. Help! We need help out here!”

Will fumbled for his phone, and Bailey reached for his hand. He needed to know Will wouldn’t leave him alone.

“I won’t leave you, Bails. I swear I won’t.”

Bailey closed his eyes, but then hands were on him again.

“Bailey, keep your eyes open. Eyes on me. Please, Bails. You can do it. Stay with me.”

“Bailey!” Ashley’s scream tore through the night, and it pulled his eyes open again. She dropped to her knees beside him and touched his face. “Oh God, Bails.”

“I’m…” He tried to think of the word. He couldn’t remember it. “Ash.”

“You’re okay. I’m here. Will is here. We’ve got you.”

He must have closed his eyes again because he heard the roar of sirens and opened them again. The sound pierced through his brain. Everything hurt so bad.

“Will.”

“I’m here. We’re right here, Bails. We’ve got you. You’re going to be okay, I swear.”

Bailey whimpered and tried to move.

“No, no. Be still. It’s okay. The ambulance is almost here.”

Bailey couldn’t focus on anything but Will’s voice, even though he knew his other friends must be close by.

“Ash.” He just needed to see them, but he couldn’t seem to move. He needed to see them. “Logan.”

“Will, go get the paramedics. I’ll get Logan, Bails. He’s not here, but I’ll get him to you. I promise.”

Will released his hold on Bailey and ran to the front. Ashley lay down beside him on the concrete and ran her fingers over Bailey’s hair. His hair felt wet, which was weird because he hadn’t just washed it or anything.

Ashley smiled at him, but it didn’t seem like a regular smile. She looked like she was crying.

Bailey didn’t like it. “You shouldn’t cry. Your makeup is pretty, even the red lipstick.”

His voice sounded weird. Slurred. He still tasted blood.

She sniffed and cuddled closer to him. “You’re going to be okay.”

“I’m c-cold,” Bailey said. He started to shiver, then realized he was bare from the waist down and panicked. He tried to move again, but Ashley put her hand on his cheek.

“Shh, you’re okay. Don’t worry, okay. We’ll get you a blanket.”

“He… he didn’t. Will stopped him in time.” Bailey didn’t know why it was so important for her to know that, but it was. He needed her to know.

“Out of the way.” A strange man spoke, entirely too close.

Bailey’s heart stopped, and he grabbed Ashley’s hand. “Don’t leave me.”

“I won’t. I won’t leave you.” Ashley moved to the side but didn’t go out of his sight. “I’m right here. Keep watching me.”

“I need to sleep now,” Bailey said. “My stomach hurts.”

“Bails! Bailey, wake up.”

21

Logan

Logan put the SUV keys on one of the hooks in the garage and stretched. The oracle had sent them on a mission to stop a wolf shifter who’d randomly decided to rob a bank in the middle of the night. Because of course he had.

Their mission had been successful, even if it was one of the weirder ones they’d been on to date. The wolf had somehow thought he’d be able to bite through the vault door. Needless to say, he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but a phone call to his alpha put a stop to his nonsense.

Even though dealing with packs was Logan’s least favorite thing to do, he’d come to accept it as part of his job. It had somehow gotten even easier the past few weeks. Spending time with Bailey and his friends, having them and his team all in their space, constantly surrounded by people