“Yeah, I see that,” he said, wrapping his hand around mine. “And I’m kinda realizing it’s one of the things I like the most about you.”
A knock at my door interrupted any response and I called, “Come in,” just as the door slid open.
“Ekyll,” a little voice cried quietly, sniffing like she’d been crying for a while.
Bellamy walked in carrying a tiny little girl who suddenly pitched forward, toward Jekyll. He was up and catching her before she fell.
“Ekyll,” she sobbed, wrapping one arm around his neck.
“What happened?” Jekyll asked.
“You were gone too long,” Bellamy accused. “She wouldn’t sit still for the tech, so her x-rays are going to have to wait until you can sit with her.”
“Who’s this?” I asked, and Jekyll carried the little girl to my side.
“This is Mina,” he said, sitting beside me.
“Hi, Mina.” I smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Indigo.”
“You have owies?” she rasped.
“I do, baby. You do too, huh?”
She nodded into Jekyll’s shoulder.
“Well, once they can get pictures of your owies, honey, they can make you feel better,” I said.
“I let the nurses know Mina would be up here. They said they’d come and get her when a tech was ready to x-ray her again,” Bellamy said.
Mina shook her head. “Ekyll.”
“You’re going to have to go with her, Hyde,” I said.
“Thanks for the update, Captain Obvious,” he grumbled, and I smiled, which made Mina smile. This was a good first step.
Bellamy stepped over to me and handed me a stack of paperwork. “We get them all?”
She nodded. “Now we just gotta figure out where to put them. I’ve got Jessa and Bryan bringing the vans with car seats. Apparently, the Howlers are fixing everything that was busted, so the rest of the staff can hang with the kids back at the house.”
“We’ll make room,” I said, distractedly skimming through everything. “Did the girls eat?”
“No,” Bellamy said. “That was my next task.”
“Are you hungry, Mina?” I asked.
She looked up at Jekyll and whispered, “Hungy, Ekyll.”
Jekyll looked at me and cocked his head like he had no idea how to make food appear.
“Mina, how about you stay here with me and Bellamy, and Jekyll will go get you some food at the cafeteria, okay?”
She buried her face in Jekyll’s neck and shook her head. “No.”
“I need to get back to the rest of the girls,” Bellamy said.
“Okay, honey, thank you,” I said, and Bellamy left the room.
“If you want food, Mina, you’re gonna have to let me go get it,” Jekyll said.
“No, Ekyll.”
“Mina,” he growled.
“Okay, Hyde, let’s take it down a notch.” I patted the space beside me on the bed. “Mina, baby, will you come and sit with me for a little bit and Jekyll will go get you food. We can even FaceTime if you want so you can see him.”
“Really?” he challenged.
“Yes, really.” I grabbed my phone off the side table and waved it. “I need your number.”
My father had dialed the phone for me earlier and I forgot to ask him how he knew Jekyll’s number.
“I have yours. I’ll call you,” he said with a sigh, sliding his phone out of his pocket.
“How did you get my phone number? I called you earlier from the hospital phone.”
“How’d you get mine?” he challenged.
“Dad gave it to me. Did he give you mine?” I asked.
“Plead the Fifth,” he said, setting Mina on the bed. “You stay with Indy, and I’ll get you somethin’ to eat. What do you want? A burger?”
She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
“How about some chicken nuggets?” I suggested. “And maybe some fries?”
Mina glanced at me, then nodded before focusing back on Jekyll.
“And maybe a milkshake?” I added.
Mina let out a little gasp. “Chocklit?”
“Yeah, baby,” he said. “I’ll get you chocolate. But you have to stay here with Indigo.”
Mina bit her lip but nodded and Jekyll called my phone. I answered, pulling up the video and handing it to Mina. “See? You can see him the whole way.”
Jekyll stuck his tongue out at the camera and Mina giggled. The sweetest little girl giggle you’ve ever heard.
“I’ll be back,” he said, and walked out the door.
“Ekyll?” Mina whispered.
“Right here,” Jekyll said, sounding annoyed, however, I had a feeling his irritation was directed at me and not Mina.
Mina smiled, pulling the screen closer to her face.
“Not too close, honey. You’ll hurt your eyes,” I warned.
Mina didn’t take her eyes off the screen as she moved the phone just a tiny bit further away and whispered, “’K.”
Jekyll kept his phone close while he ordered food, only putting it down to pay. Mina had a minor panic attack when she couldn’t see him, but she let me soothe her as we waited for Jekyll’s face to come back on the screen.
“On my way back,” he said, and Mina smiled even though tears still slipped down her face. “Gotta put my phone away so I can carry the food. Yeah?”
“He’ll be right back, honey, promise,” I said.
“Okay, Ekyll,” Mina whispered, and Jekyll hung up.
Mina lasted about a minute before she started to cry again. “Ekyll?”
“He’ll be right here, baby. Come snuggle for a minute while we wait.”
She glanced at me, then back at the phone.
“He’ll be here before you know it,” I crooned, and she scooted her little booty back so I could wrap my arm around her. She leaned against me and shoved her thumb into her mouth, still sniffing as she tried to control her crying.
She had remarkable self-control for a little girl. In some ways, I admired it, in other ways, I hated it. Hated that she felt she needed it. She should be a normal little girl, showing every feeling she had safely.
My door slid open, and Mina sat up with a gasp. “Ekyll?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, setting bags of food on the counter across from the window.
“Stay here, baby,” I said. “Let Jekyll bring you the food.”
Before he could open the bags, a nurse walked in informing us that Mina needed to get x-rays.
“She needs to eat first,” Jekyll bossed.
“The tech has an opening now, and if not now, she will have to wait until morning,” the nurse shot back.
“Would it be possible for her to eat just a little something?” I asked, trying for more of a honey tone. Jekyll’s vinegar one was obviously not working. “We’re not sure when she last ate, so we want to make sure she doesn’t starve.”
“I think it would be better that she didn’t,” the nurse countered. “If she needs surgery, she’ll need to fast.”
“Oh, good point,” I said. “I didn’t think of that.”
The nurse smiled at Mina. “Are you ready to go?”
She shook her head, leaning closer to me.
“Jekyll’s going to go with you, baby,” I promised. “Okay?”
“Ekyll?” Mina squeaked.
“You ready?” he asked.
She bobbed her head up and down, so he lifted her off the bed and settled her in the wheelchair.
“You get to go for a ride,” I said, excitedly.
I could tell she wasn’t sure that was a good thing, but she nodded.
“You have to encourage her, Hyde,” I whispered. “Positive reinforcement that it’s all going to be okay.”
He narrowed his eyes as he leaned down to kiss me quickly. “I don’t do—”
“Kids. So you’ve said, but you need to quit playing that tape,” I ordered. “That kid has chosen you, so you’re gonna have to figure it out.�
��
His lips landed on mine briefly and then he followed the nurse and Mina out of the room. I smiled as I admired the view of his long legs and tight ass in his dark jeans walking away. I licked my lips and settled deeper into the mattress.
Lord, he was pretty.
Bellamy walked into my room a few minutes after Mina and Jekyll had left, handing me a small stack of paperwork to sign. “Once you sign these, we can take the girls home. Mina was the only one with more than a few bruises and scrapes.”
“I’m not sure she’s going to let anyone other than Jekyll take her anywhere,” I mused as I signed quickly, handing everything back to her.
“Yeah, I think you’re right.” She smiled. “She has him wrapped around her finger and it irritates the shit out of him.”
I sighed. “I know.”
Bellamy chuckled. “It’s good for him.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You hate him already?”
She grinned. “No, I adore him. If you fuck this one up, I will maim you, but don’t tell him that.”
I relaxed and smiled. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Right, my sister from another mister, I am going to get these kids back to the house. I will leave Mina in your capable hands but call me if you need me to pick her up.”
“I think we’ll just keep her here tonight, but could you bring a booster and some clothes for her tomorrow, please?”
“Yeah, of course.” She leaned down to kiss my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
She left me and I closed my eyes, my pain level spiking again. I didn’t want to dose myself just yet, but if Jekyll and Mina didn’t come back soon, I may have no choice.
I took some deep, calming breaths and tried to will my pain away, but after an hour and no sign of anyone, I pressed my pain pump button and closed my eyes, letting the meds do their job.
* * *
“Indy’s asleep, Mina, so we need to be quiet,” Jekyll whispered.
“I’m awake,” I argued. “Just resting my eyes.” I forced my eyes open and sat up a little. “How did the x-rays go?”
Mina raised her arm, now complete with a purple cast from her wrist to her shoulder. “I have a cast.”
“I see that. Is purple your favorite color?” I asked, patting the bed.
She bobbed her head up and down and Jekyll lifted her onto the mattress beside me.
“Surgery?” I asked Jekyll.
“Just the cast. Her ankle was sprained, but nothing was broken, so they wrapped that. She can go home anytime.”
“Did the doctor say anything else?” I asked.
“Nothing I’m gonna repeat in front of her,” he said, ominously.
“Okay,” I said, and met his eyes. He looked like he was ready to rage the building down.
Well, shit. This can’t be good.
“Can she eat?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah,” Jekyll said. “I’ll go get her something.”
“Are you okay to stay with me, honey?” I asked her. “Jekyll’s going to get you something to eat.”
“’K.” She yawned, stretching out beside me.
He nodded, leaning down to kiss me gently, then he left to hunt and gather. He came back in not long after with a tall, handsome man following.
“Baby, this is Luca,” Jekyll said. “He’s investigating the situation with the girls.” I raised an eyebrow as Jekyll leaned down and whispered, “He’s friendly with the club.”
“Nice to meet you,” Luca said.
“You too,” I replied, jostling Mina gently. “Baby, Jekyll brought food.”
She’d been in and out of sleep, but managed to sit up and scoot to the edge of the bed where Jekyll lifted her down and set her in a chair before rolling the tray in front of her. “I got you chicken nuggets and fries, sound good?”
She nodded as she rubbed her eyes.
“This is my friend, Luca,” Jekyll continued. “He’s a police officer and he’s going to ask you some questions, okay? Indigo and I will be right here.”
Luca pulled up another seat and took a notebook out of his pocket. “Hi, Mina. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Mina watched him warily but didn’t speak.
“Do you know who took you away from your mom and dad?”
“I don’t have a mom or dad,” she said, plainly. “Just a gamma.”
“What happened to your gamma?” Luca asked.
Mina stared at her lap.
“Mina Mouse,” Jekyll said from his place on the edge of the bed. “You can trust Luca. I promise.”
“Uncle Alan killed Gamma. He went to jail.”
I blinked back tears, reaching for Jekyll who took my hand and linked his fingers with mine.
“And did you go and stay with anyone else?”
She shook her head.
“Did you go to the house where the other girls were found?”
She nodded.
“Do you remember how long ago that was?” Luca continued.
“July.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. She’d been in that hell hole for at least a month.
“Good girl,” Luca crooned. “That’s very helpful. Do you know your last name?”
“Howis.”
“Howis?” Luca asked.
She shook her head.
“Hollis?” Indigo provided and Mina nodded.
“That’s great, sweetheart,” Luca said with a smile. “Do you know your birthday?”
“I tuwned six on seven, seven.”
“Did you go to the house before or after your birthday?” Luca asked gently.
“Before,” Mina whispered.
“Good job, honey,” Luca said. “I think this is good for now. We’re going to get the people who hurt you. I promise, okay?” Mina nodded, and Luca rose to his feet. “Nice to meet you, Indigo.”
“You too,” I said, and Jekyll walked him out of my room.
Indigo
Two days later, I was released from hospital jail. More like paroled, actually.
I still had to show up every day for physical therapy, and if I missed any time at all, the doctor threatened to admit me again. In the meantime, I had been signed out into Jekyll’s care, who had insisted he be the one to look after me despite my objections. My dad offered but there was a reason I moved out when I was eighteen. Don’t get me wrong, I love him, but I could not live with him, so Jekyll said it was either him or my dad. I chose the lesser of two evils. At least, I hope I did.
To make things a little more complicated, Mina wouldn’t let Jekyll leave her sight, so she was coming to stay at my place as well. Just until she felt more comfortable about staying at Walker House.
Jekyll was going to have to go through all the required background checks and classes before he could be alone with Mina, so Bellamy was onboard to stay with me at night until we could organize something better.
Basically, I’d taken on way too much once again, and I didn’t know how I was going to do it all while in a partial body cast, but I was determined to protect Mina with everything I had.
“I’m taking you home,” Jekyll said, lifting me gently into my car.
“You’re taking me to Walker House,” I countered… again. We’d been arguing about this for close to an hour now and I was over it.
“Indigo—”
“I need to see it, Hyde,” I said. “I promise, I won’t overdo anything while I’m there. I also want Mina to see it so she can see her friends are safe and get to know her new home.”
“You’re not gonna win this one, Jekyll,” Bellamy interjected as she buckled Mina into a booster seat. “Just let it go.”
“Bellamy can drive me,” I said, and Jekyll growled… literally growled. “Okay, then you need to quit giving me crap about it.”
He frowned as he secured my seatbelt and closed my door before jogging around to the driver’s seat and folding his big body inside.
I couldn’t stop a gasp when he turne
d the ignition and it purred. “What happened to the fanbelt?”
“Fixed it,” he said.
“You fixed it?”
“Actually, Rocky did, or one of his guys.” He shrugged, pulling out of the parking space and heading to the street. “New tires, and tranny as well.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“Baby, your car was fallin’ apart. Wasn’t happy you were drivin’ around in a death trap, so I had my guys fix it.”
“Were you going to tell me about it?”
“Tellin’ you now.”
“Ekyll?” Mina called from the backseat.
“Yeah?”
“Can we get ice cream?”
He glanced at me, and I shook my head.
“No,” he said.
Mina sniffed, and Jekyll scowled.
“You can have some ice cream after dinner,” I countered. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
More sniffing. “I don’t know.”
“Okay, baby, we’ll try a couple flavors tonight, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered, and Jekyll rolled his eyes.
“Thanks for making me the bad cop,” he whispered.
“You’re not the bad cop, Hyde. She just needs a little positive reinforcement. Just saying no might scare her away from asking again. She needs to know she’s safe. With boundaries, of course, but safe enough to ask for the moon.”
He reached over and linked his fingers with mine. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I smiled, relishing his touch, but it was over far too soon. Jekyll pulled my car around the back to my parking space and turned off the engine. “I’m gonna get your chair. Do not move.”
I wrinkled my nose but nodded.
Great. That was all I needed…to be wheeled into my place of business because I couldn’t walk on my own yet.
Jekyll opened my door, lifting me gently into the wheelchair before helping Mina out of her car seat.
“Stay close, Mina,” Jekyll ordered.
“Will you hold my hand, honey?” I asked. “Help me be strong?”
She bobbed her head and slid her little hand into mine.
Jekyll wheeled me into the building, and just as we turned the corner, “Surprise!” was shouted by no less than twenty voices.
I couldn’t stop a slight jump before grinning widely. Bellamy, my dad, all the counselors and kids were gathered under a big “WELCOME HOME” sign, complete with noise makers and confetti which was now all over me.
Primal Fury (Primal Howlers MC Book 5) Page 11