a sweat. As he ran, his mind was sharp as the night air, churning over lists of things to follow up on and theories about where Bella might have been taken.
As he ran up to the back of the farmhouse, he caught a flash of movement inside. He flattened against the wall next to the broken French door and eased the Beretta's safety off. From inside the kitchen there was the sound of crunching glass, like popcorn on a stove. Someone was walking around. Someone big.
Butch waited until whoever it was got closer; then he jumped into the doorway, aiming the gun at chest level.
“It's just me, cop,” Z muttered.
Butch swung the muzzle to the ceiling. “Christ, I could have shot you.”
But Z didn't seem to care that he'd almost been plugged. He just leaned down and fished around some dish shards with his fingertip.
Butch took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. He wasn't going to ask Zsadist to leave. There was no point in getting into an argument with him, and besides, the brother was acting totally weird, kind of like he was in a stupor. The dead calm in him was eerie as hell.
Z picked something off the floor.
“What is it?” Butch asked.
“Nothing.”
“Try not to disturb the scene, okay?”
As Butch looked around, he cursed to himself. He wanted his old partner from the force, Jose. He wanted his whole Homicide team. He wanted his CSI folks back in the lab.
He allowed himself a couple seconds of black frustration and then got to work. Starting at the busted French doors, he was prepared to go through every inch of the house, even if it took him until dawn.
Mary brought out another round of Alka-Seltzer from the bathroom. Rhage was lying on their bed, breathing slowly, more than a little green around the gills.
After he drank the stuff, he looked up at her. His face tensed and his eyes grew leery, worried.
“Mary… I wish you hadn't seen all that.”
“Shh. Just rest for a little while, okay? There's time to talk later.”
She got undressed and slid in next to him. The moment she was between the sheets, he curled himself around her, his big body a living blanket.
Lying next to him, all safe and secure, made her think of Bella.
Mary's chest constricted and her eyes squeezed shut. If she believed in God at all, she would have prayed right now. Instead she just hoped as hard as she could.
Sleep came eventually. Until hours later, when Rhage let out a mighty yell.
“Mary! Mary, run! ”
He began flailing around with his arms. With a lunge, she dove between them, putting herself against his chest, holding him down, talking to him. When his hands still scrambled, she captured them and put his palms to her face.
“I'm okay. I'm right here.”
“Oh, thank God… Mary.” He stroked her cheeks. “I can't see very well.”
In the candlelight, she looked down into his unfocused eyes.
“How long does the recovery take?” she asked.
“Day or two.” He frowned and then stretched his legs. “Actually, I'm not as stiff as I usually am. Stomach's a mess, but the aches aren't bad at all. After I change—”
He stopped, jaw going rigid. Then he loosened his hold on her as if he didn't want her to feel trapped.
“Don't worry,” she murmured. “I'm not afraid of you even though I know what's in you.”
“Hell, Mary… I didn't want you to ever see it.” He shook his head. “It's just so awful. The whole thing is awful.”
“I'm not so sure about that. I went right up to it, actually. The beast. I was as close as you and I are now.”
Rhage's eyes shut “Shit, Mary, you shouldn't have done that.”
“Yeah, well, either I did or the creature would have eaten V and Zsadist. Literally. But don't worry, your beast and I get along just fine.”
“Don't do that again.”
“The hell I won't. You can't control it The brothers can't handle it. But that thing listens to me. Like it or not, the two of you need me.”
“But isn't it… ugly?”
“No. Not to me.” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “It's fearsome and terrifying and powerful and awe-inspiring. And if anyone ever tried to get at me, that thing would wipe out a neighborhood. How could a girl not be charmed? Besides, after seeing those lessers in action, I'm grateful for it. I feel safe. Between you and the dragon, I don't have to worry.”