her to get the second shackle off. With her unaffected hand, she latched on to the remaining cuff and fought through the pain to unlock it as well. Once it was off Augustine’s wrist, she sat still for a moment, letting her head drop as the pain caused a swell of nausea that almost knocked her unconscious. All ten fingertips were now equally blistered. She breathed through her mouth, bending one leg to touch her knee to Augustine’s thigh. She couldn’t stand not to touch him. Couldn’t bear the idea that he might think she’d left him.
The merc moved his head to the side. His fingers stretched like he was feeling for that damned iron bar. “Cy, Dulcinea, someone help me!” Ignoring her injured hands, she dug the blade from the back of her waistband. The blood weeping from her burned fingers made the dagger’s grip slippery. She tightened her grip. Pain screamed through her. She rose to her knees, nudging Augie behind her, and aimed the weapon at the merc. The blade seemed insignificant in light of the situation.
Dulcinea came charging in, Cy behind her. “What do you need—never mind.” Dulcinea jumped on the merc, rammed her fist into his head and knocked him out. She started stripping the weapons off his prone form. Cy kicked the iron bar away and used zip ties from the man’s own utility belt to secure his wrists.
Augie moaned and tried to move.
“Stay down, Augie.” Harlow jerked the weapon toward the mercenary. “Get him out of here.” She tucked the blade away, then eased Augustine onto his back. His leathers were sticky with blood.
Dulcinea wrapped a hand in Sutter’s belt and lifted him. “We’ll add him to the rest.”
“Get Dr. Carlson here now. I’m not sure we can move Augie just yet.” Harlow glared at the downed merc. “And keep a close eye on that one. I’m pretty sure that’s Sutter, the one in charge. The one who shot Grantham.”
“You got it,” Dulcinea said. She pulled out her LMD with her free hand and used her thumb to tap at the screen. “Sent Carlson a text.” She tucked the phone away. “We’re almost done searching the suite. Five guards in total. Rat’s dragging in the one from the hall.” She glanced at Augie, her jaw popping to one side in clear anger. “We’re going to spend a little time interrogating them, if you don’t mind.”
“No, I don’t mind at all.” Harlow shook her head. “Do whatever you want.” She wasn’t sure what there was to be gained from questioning the soldiers but she certainly didn’t care if it happened.
Dulcinea’s gaze shifted to Augustine. “You think he’s going to be okay?”
“Absolutely. Although it’s going to be a long recovery.”
Dulcinea slung Sutter up and over her shoulder like he weighed fifty pounds, not two hundred, muttering something in faeish that sounded like curses. “I should get back…”
“Go ahead, I’m fine.” Harlow tipped her head toward Augie. “I’m going to stay here with him.” Even if they needed her, she wasn’t leaving Augie’s side.
“Yeah, cool. Good.” Pride shone in Dulcinea’s eyes. “You stay with him as long as you like. As long as he needs. If something changes, we’ll let you know.”
“Yeah.” Cy nodded. “We’ve got things under control. And we’ll send the doc in as soon as he gets here.”
Harlow glanced past them toward the door. “What about hotel security?”
Cy looked at Dulcinea before shrugging. “I haven’t heard anything.”
Harlow nodded, thinking. “Augustine’s in no position to be moved just yet. I mean, we can if we have to but—”
“It wouldn’t be the best thing for him,” Dulcinea finished.
“No, it wouldn’t.” Harlow tempered the ache in her heart at Augustine’s condition by focusing on the bigger picture. She needed to buy him some time. “Cy, can you mimic one of the mercenaries and stand guard at the penthouse door just in case someone comes up?”
He smiled. “That’s a great idea. Will do.” He jogged out of the room.
Dulcinea bounced once, adjusting the weight of the man on her shoulder. “I’ll let the others know what’s up. You take all the time you need. Well…” She hesitated. “Not all the time. We should get out of here as soon as reasonably possible.”
“Agreed.” Harlow rested the back of one hand on Augie’s shoulder. Her fingertips had stopped bleeding and the pain had lessened to the point that she no longer felt like passing out or throwing up. Amazing how quickly the fae body healed. An idea started to