“I’m okay,” I told this man I didn’t know.
Different hands came to the top of my hip. My gaze swung down and I saw strong, long-fingered hands I knew real y wel . I looked up from the hands and Mace was in my space.
“Mace, let me go. I’m fine,” I said as he bent slightly to the side, tilting my hip gently toward his gaze and he looked at the wound. I looked too. There was a lot more blood than I expected. It was everywhere.
When I looked back up, everyone had gathered around.
“I’m total y fine,” I repeated.
Mace straightened and his eyes came to mine.
“Hunky dory?” he asked, his voice low and sounding a bit cheesed off.
“Hunky dory.” I nodded.
Then without warning, I was lifted up, found myself cradled in Mace’s arms and he started striding back into the big room.
“What the –?” I began to yel .
“Privacy,” Mace clipped at Daisy, interrupting me.
“Through here. I’l get a first aid kit,” Daisy replied, racing along beside us.
“First aid! Girlie, she needs a doctor.” Tod was racing alongside us too.
“She doesn’t need a doctor, she needs a hospital.” Stevie was on Tod’s heels.
“I don’t f**king believe this shit. Someone shot Stel a,” Al y snapped, trailing along as wel .
Juno woofed, trotting with the pack, obviously agreeing with Al y.
“We need to boil water. We need clean towels,” Ava announced, fol owing too.
“She ain’t birthin’ no baby! She’s got a gunshot wound!” Indy shouted.
“I know that!” Ava shouted back. “But we need a sterile environment.”
Lord save me from wel -intentioned Rock Chicks.
Daisy took us to another, smal er room which had also been decorated with a heavy medieval hand and Mace stopped and turned.
I saw Luke cut off our fol owers and declare, “Private,” right before he shut the door in their faces leaving Daisy, Mace, Luke and me in the room.
“This is no big deal,” I announced.
Mace set me on my feet but his hands went back, firm, to my h*ps just below my waist, making it clear I was not to move away.
“Should we cut off the jeans?” Mace asked.
“No! These are my lucky Levi’s!” I yel ed, trying to jerk my h*ps from his hands (this didn’t work).
Okay, so, maybe the jeans weren’t so lucky since I’d been shot in them stil , I didn’t want them cut up.
“Would be optimal but we’l peel ‘em off, see how it goes.” Luke ignored my outburst.
“I’l get the first aid. I know a doctor who’l come here,” Daisy said.
“Get it and cal him,” Mace ordered.