The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) - J. R. Ward Page 0,165

her door and the pale blue minivan pulled away.

For a moment, Rhage imagined what that trip home was like—and he found himself in a big fat hurry to do the same. Take Bitty home, that was.

And also argue about The Godfather, if that was the way things went. Or what Play-doh tasted like. Or whether it was going to snow early or late in the season.

“We good?” he asked as Bitty hesitated. “Bitty?”

“I’m sorry,” the girl said softly. “What?”

“Come on, let’s get to the car.”

It felt really good to walk his females back to the GTO, and even better to drive them along the streets, obeying the traffic laws. Staying in his lane. Not taking the bait when a pair of douche bags in a Charger pulled up next to him at a stoplight and pumped their engine like the thing was an extension of their cock and balls.

He just motored along.

When his cell phone rang, he let it go to voice mail. Soon enough they’d be at Safe Place and he could—

The thing went off again.

Taking it out, he frowned. “I’ve got to get this.” Accepting the call, he put the cell up to his ear. “Manny?”

The surgeon was in full urgent-mode. “I need you back here right now. Layla’s hemorrhaging. The young are coming—we need veins for her to take. Can you dematerialize?”

“Shit,” he hissed as he hit his blinker and pulled over. “Yeah. I can come in.”

Mary and Bitty both looked at him in alarm as he hung up and wrenched around. “Listen, I’m so sorry. There’s an—” He stopped as he glanced at the girl. “I have to go back home.”

“What’s happening?” Mary asked.

“Layla.” He didn’t want to go into it. Not with what Bitty had just gone through. “They need some help. Can you drive her back? I have to ghost out right now.”

“Absolutely. And I’ll come directly home—”

“Can I go with you guys?” Bitty asked.

There was a moment of ummmm. And then Mary turned around to the rear seat. “I’d better take you back to Safe Place. But someday maybe you can?”

“Are you going to be okay?”

It took Rhage a moment to realize that the girl was talking to him. And as he met eyes that were wide and anxious, a strange jolt went through him.

“Yes. I’ll be fine. I just need to help a friend.”

“Oh. That’s okay, then. When do I see you again?”

“Anytime you like. I’ll always be right around the next turn for you.” He stretched an arm back and brushed her face with his hand. “And we’re going to have to watch The Godfather. Parts one and two. Not three.”

“What’s all that?” she asked as he opened his door and got out.

“Only the best movies ever made. Be good.”

Mary was already out and coming around the front of the car, and they met at the grille between the headlights, embracing each other for a second.

“I love you,” he said as he gave her a quick kiss.

“Me, too. Tell them I’m coming home?”

As he met Mary’s eyes, he put himself in Qhuinn’s position—times one billion. Then he shook himself back into focus.

“I will.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her again. “Drive safely?”

“Always.”

With a nod, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath—and then he was out of there, traveling in a rush of molecules over the human neighborhoods … and then across the farmland … and going farther, to the foothills that turned into the mountains.

He re-formed at the front entrance of the mansion, shoving his way into the vestibule, putting his face into the security camera.

As he waited for someone to open up, his heart was pounding for all kinds of reasons. But mostly because of the way Bitty had stared at him.

Funny how you could be transformed by someone.

The door broke open and Fritz was on the other side, looking worried. “Sire, how good to see you. All are going down to the training center. We are in the midst of preparing victuals in the event any can eat.”

Rhage had a strange impulse to hug the doggen—and he might have followed up on it except Fritz would have passed out from the breach of protocol.

“Thank you. You’re so on it. That means everything.”

Rhage strode fast and hard over the mosaic depiction of an apple tree in bloom—and he was almost to the hidden door under the grand staircase when he stopped and looked back.

“Fritz?”

The butler skidded to a halt in the archway of the dining