Josh

by Dana Archer

  “Well, these aren’t going to heal themselves, you know. They’re too deep. Besides it’s not the first time I’ve had to do some first aid on myself. No insurance and all.” She stood and took several shuffling steps.

  He blocked her path with his body and glared at her.

  She returned his stare. “Get out of my way.”

  He opened his mouth but snapped it closed without lecturing her. Someone was in the bar. Head tilted to the side, he listened for whatever clued him in. There. The click of motorcycle boots.

  Kade.

  “Hey, we’re back here.”

  The door banged against the wall. Zoe’s expression went from annoyed to curious. Josh peered over his shoulder when Kade didn’t enter. The shifter stood in the doorway with his intent gaze on Zoe.

  “It’s about time you got here.” Josh stepped to the side and swept his hand in Zoe’s direction. “You need to fix this. It won’t stop bleeding.”

  The tension in the room kicked up a notch. Hairs rose on Josh’s arms. He glanced between his sister and pride leader for some clue as to why. Zoe’s curious expression turned to open amusement. She grinned, the familiar sparkle shining in her eyes, the one that kept her sane even if it was faked half the time. Kade, though, looked as if he were about to turn tail and run. When he took a couple of steps back, Josh wondered if he actually planned on it.

  Zoe snickered, and Kade grabbed the doorjamb. His chest heaved.

  Josh narrowed his eyes at the odd display. “Do you have a problem?”

  A shudder visibly shook Kade’s body. He motioned toward Zoe. “Why is she standing?”

  Blood ran steadily down her legs. Mira had gotten her good.

  “Because he”—Zoe stabbed a finger at Josh’s chest—“won’t give me my bag. I’m getting it myself.”

  Kade grumbled and grabbed her duffel. A deep frown formed on his face. He glanced between Zoe and the heavy sack. With a shake of his head, he dropped the tote on the couch and pointed to the spot next to it. “Sit.”

  “I thought that’s what I was supposed to say to you.” Zoe covered her mouth as if embarrassed by her comment, except the smile tugging her lips didn’t match the action.

  Kade scowled.

  “Oops, sorry. Josh said you’re a kitty, not a doggy.” She shrugged. “Oh well, cats can be trained too. I had a roommate whose cat would sit on the toilet, do its business, then flush.”

  Josh smacked his forehead. “Jesus, Zoe. We had this conversation. I gave you rules.” After he’d called Kade, Josh had given her a quick rundown on shifter etiquette. Apparently, she hadn’t listened to a thing he’d said. Or hadn’t cared.

  She tapped one black-tipped finger to her lip. “Now, let’s see. I remember this conversation. I do.”

  Kade snapped his teeth together, the click loud enough to make Zoe flinch. “Do not anger me, human.”

  Zoe flashed him an irritated look. “Don’t get your panties all twisted in a knot, kitty. I’m having trouble thinking. You know, with the blood loss and all.”

  As if to prove her point, she swayed. Josh reached for her but Kade was closer. He caught her elbows and eased her back onto the couch.

  Josh pushed him out of the way and pressed the bloody rag to her thighs. She cringed, and Josh’s anger flared. At the moment, he hated himself for not reacting sooner. He should’ve grabbed Mira when she’d growled, rather than worrying about buttoning his shirt, but the urge to protect her had been undeniable. If word got out she came to see him, she’d be lectured yet again. His attempt to protect Mira had failed, however. This was so much worse.

  Kade ripped the rag from Josh’s hand. “My shirt! You used my shirt—my sweaty shirt—on her cuts!”

  The shifter’s outburst added to the frustration boiling his blood. Josh shoved Kade back and got up in his face. “It was the only thing close by.”

  “But it reeks of me.”

  “So? I understand you’re crazy obsessed with how things smell, but Zoe doesn’t care. And I was more worried about stopping the bleeding than germs.”

  Eyes closed, Kade took several deep breaths. “But you put something with my scent on her open wounds.”

  Josh frowned at the frantic edge to his voice. He’d seen Kade angry a few times, never agitated. Of course, Mira had never attacked anyone either. “It’s not the same as rubbing your scent on someone. That’s a conscious choice you make. It involves scent glands or something.”

  Kade’s scowl deepened. “You’re right.” He pointed toward Zoe with a flick of his hand. “But I don’t want to smell myself on that woman in any way, shape, or form.”

  “That woman is my sister.”

  “That woman is also trouble. She…”

  A sharp, sucked-in breath jerked both of their gazes back to Zoe. Josh shook his head at his sister’s stubbornness. Kade, though, lurched forward. He grabbed her wrist before she stuck the bloody sewing needle back into her thigh.

  Josh glanced at her handiwork and sighed. His obstinate sister had three sloppy stitches already made. The black thread in her white flesh reminded him of the horror film he’d watched over the weekend. Unlike the movie where he’d scoffed at the pathetic special effects, seeing Zoe’s handmade sutures made him nauseous. It didn’t exactly surprise him. When Zoe said she’d sew herself up, she’d meant it.

  Inches from her face, Kade growled. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Zoe leaned closer so their noses touched. “I’m taking care of these cuts because I was informed I wasn’t allowed to go to the hospital.”

  Kade jerked back as if she’d slapped him.

  Josh scanned the room for something to use to wipe the excess blood off her legs. He grabbed a pair of Zach’s sweats lying in the corner. “Here. Use this.”

  Kade ripped the pants out of her hand and tossed them across the room. “No, you aren’t using those.”

  Zoe crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine. I’ll just bleed all over Josh’s couch. You can carry the whole thing out when I’m dead.”

  “You’re not going to bleed to death. The cuts aren’t life-threatening.” Josh dug around in his desk until he found one of his spare shirts and carefully slid it under her legs. He leveled a hard glare on Kade, daring him to argue. Hoping, maybe. He was in the mood for a good fistfight.

  Kade looked from the shirt to him but didn’t speak. Maybe his silence was because the T-shirt was clean? Josh didn’t know and didn’t care enough to ask.

  Josh dabbed at the blood on her thigh. “Zoe does need blood or something. These cuts aren’t going to heal without help.”

  Kade paced to the far wall and back. “I can’t give her mine.”

  “Why not? Blood’s not a permanent claim. It’s not a big deal.”

  “She can’t have mine. I’ll call Rafe.”

  Fists clenched, Josh advanced on him. “What good are you, then? You order me to call you if things ever go south. I follow your rules and now you tell me you can’t spare a little blood for my baby sister?” All of his frustration rose at once, leaving his muscles coiled. “Here I thought I was the only one you held to a second set of rules. Guess I was wrong. None of us lowly humans matter to your pride.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t I?” Josh let all his derision show. Going by the frown on Kade’s face, he did a good job getting his point across. “If it was your sister hurt, you’d take on the world to help her. Mine? You could care less.”

  “This has nothing to do with you.”

  “Fine, prove it.” Josh bent, yanked the knife out of his boot, and handed it to Kade. “Here you go. Cut a vein and take care of my sister.”

  Kade shook his head.

  The denial pushed Josh over the edge. He shoved Kade and enjoyed the way the other man stumbled backward. Josh spread his arms wide and waited. Kade didn’t disappoint. With a roar, he launched himself, fists raised.

  A right hook jerked Josh’s chin to the side. Hi
s vision wavered, but he’d fought Kade too many times in the gym not to know his moves. When the shifters couldn’t unleash their claws, they fought like every other man, albeit with more force behind their punches.

  Kade adjusted his stance, and Josh arched to avoid the kick to his ribs. Instead of righting himself, he dropped a hand to the ground and swung his foot out. Kade toppled. Another roar rang out and Kade came at him with fangs bared. Josh waited until he was close before he punched Kade’s stomach. Kade doubled over, but the victory was short-lived. Kade grabbed Josh’s shoulders and tossed him across the room.

  Josh hit the bookshelf with a thump that rattled his teeth. Books fell, the scent of the moldy paper fanning from the fluttering pages choking him. He scrambled up, kicking his collection of classics to the side.

  “Would the two of you knock it off? You’re destroying my concentration.”

  Zoe’s pain-laced voice cut through his rage. Josh peered over his shoulder in time to watch Kade grab her wrist.

  “Are you crazy? You can’t sew your cuts closed. Humans get infections, and that needle isn’t sterile.”

  She yanked away her hand. “I’d rather get an infection than bleed to death.”

  “You are not going to bleed to death.” Kade unleashed one talon, and Zoe cringed. “Settle down, woman. I’m not going to hurt you.”

  Josh gave her shoulder a little squeeze. “You’re safe, sis.”

  “Sorry. I’ve just had my fair share of claws for the night.”

  “I know.” So had Josh.

  Silence descended while Kade picked the black thread from Zoe’s cuts.

  “Have you heard from Mira?” Josh asked Kade.

  “No.”

  “She didn’t call?”

  Kade paused and glanced at him. “What was Mira doing here by herself anyway?”

  Josh tensed, but Zoe clapped her hands, giving him the needed distraction. She always knew when to step in and help him out. It was a skill that had come in handy when they were kids.

  “Ooh, I remember rule one!” She flashed a big smile that didn’t match the crinkles of pain pinching the skin by her eyes. “Don’t argue with the predators.”

  Kade chuckled, his gaze intent on her. “That’s a wise rule, but I would never harm a human no matter how angry I am.”

  Zoe snorted. “Maybe somebody should explain that to Josh’s girlfriend.”

  “Shut up, Zoe.”

  Kade gently tugged the last thread out before glancing over his shoulder. “Mira is not now, nor will she ever be Josh’s anything. She’ll be off the market in a matter of hours.”

  The sympathetic look Zoe gave him would’ve irritated him coming from anybody else. From his baby sister, it was shared pain.

  “Conway curse struck again, huh?”

  He gave a single nod, then faced Kade. “Are you going to get over your mood and take care of her? I need to get out of here for a while.”

  Kade studied Zoe for a long moment. Acceptance finally showed on his face. He brushed a couple of wayward strands of hair from her cheek. “Yes. I’ll take care of her.”

  “Good.” Josh strode to the door, picking up the knife he dropped, but paused with his hand on the knob. “And Kade? Zoe’s off-limits. Touch her, and I’ll find a way to hurt you.”

  With that, he walked out. He’d like to take a page out of Zoe’s book and run, preferably with Mira. They could learn to live out of a duffle bag, moving from place to place. Too bad that option was out. He’d lost the ability to take off the day Tony died. Responsibilities sat on his shoulders. No way was he shirking them. Or cutting Mira off from her family. She needed them. He needed her. So, yeah, he was stuck.

  On the outside looking in.

  Chapter 9

  Josh scrubbed the hand towel over his face. His muscles burned, chest heaved, and pulse raced. The hour-long run on the treadmill had burned off some energy, but not enough to force him into an exhausted sleep. Ever since the fight with Zeb, he’d been restless, unable to sleep more than a few minutes at a time. It was bound to catch up to him. Hopefully, he’d crash by late afternoon so he had an excuse not to go to the pride meeting tonight.

  Watching Mira be officially introduced to her suitors would likely send him into a rage. Just the thought of her with another man stirred a cauldron of anger he never knew he held. It made him want to punish his rivals. Except…they weren’t rivals. They were friends who had the right to take what he never could.

  For a few hours, he thought he’d be able to keep Mira by working around the Shifter Council’s orders. The prophecy hanging over her head killed the little flicker of hope. As much as he wanted her, it couldn’t happen. Being with her only hurt her. Tonight had proven it. He’d bitten her. Worse than that, he knew she’d get punished for hurting Zoe and being with him. Mira had enough to deal with.

  “If you care about Mira, you’ll stay away from her.” Kade’s words echoed in his head.

  Could he? He honestly didn’t know. It was taking everything in him not to hunt her down and steal her away before she could be introduced to her suitors at some formal gathering. How much worse would it be tomorrow?

  Hell, that was what it’d be.

  He threw the towel across the room and watched it sail right into the laundry chute. He chuckled at the small victory, the only thing that had gone right these past few days. Story of his life. Every time he thought he’d found a little happiness, something happened to muck it up.

  The bright sunlight streaming into the gym reminded him he’d better get moving before the other members showed up. He went through his routine of stretches, groaning as his muscles strained. For the first time in his life, he wondered if this was what getting old felt like. If so, it sucked. He ached. Even his fingers hurt, from his joints to his fingernails. He rubbed his thumb over his fingertips and frowned at the appearance of the thick calluses.

  A door slamming drew his attention away from the odd discovery. Great. He was in no mood to be social. He draped the damp rag over his shoulder and headed toward the door. It opened before he got to it, revealing the one person he’d hoped to avoid by coming here early. Hopefully, Zeb had talked to her.

  Abby’s widened eyes held shock. Her mouth dropped open. “You look amazing.”

  He groaned inwardly. He’d packed on muscle in the last few weeks sparring with the shifters. It’d been impossible not to. If he wanted to keep up with them, he needed to work harder. He certainly hadn’t done it to impress anyone, especially the woman in front of him.

  He cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

  A big grin spread over her face. She motioned toward the empty gym behind him. “There’s nobody else here yet. I need a spotter. Want to stay and help me?”

  “Can’t. I was just leaving.” He stepped forward and waited for her to get out of his way. She didn’t. She only smiled wider. “Didn’t Zeb talk to you?”

  She chuckled. “About leaving you alone?”

  The amused expression she wore gave him his answer. “That and about you getting together with someone else.”

  Instead of answering him, she grabbed his wrist. “Come on. Give me an hour.”

  He yanked back his hand. “Look, Abby, I’ve got stuff to do. Places to go. I don’t have time to play your games.”

  His harsh tone had its desired effect. Her salacious expression turned to annoyance. “But you have time for her, don’t you?”

  “Her, who?”

  Abby scrunched her nose. “That whore you kissed in the bar.”

  Mira. The reminder of the wicked kiss they’d shared heated his body. He ignored the impulse to go hunt her down and finish what they’d started. Dealing with the angry one-night stand glaring at him as if he’d committed adultery came first.

  “She’s not a whore.” He bent and captured Abby’s gaze. “And who I take to my bed is none of your business.”

  Abby bit her lip. The tic by her eye matched the nervous gesture. “Of course, not now.”

&
nbsp; “Not ever.”

  He lifted her out of the way and strode for the door.

  “We’ll see, Josh. We’ll see.”

  At her whispered declaration, he paused mid-step but forced himself to walk away. She wasn’t worth it. He had enough to deal with. A jilted lover didn’t make the list of his concerns. She’d get over her obsession. Eventually. And him? He wasn’t sure how he’d deal with the loss of Mira, his favorite obsession, but he knew how he’d survive tonight—with a bottle of whiskey. Good thing he owned a bar.

  Josh stood in the middle of his employee parking lot. His skin crawled, and a sense of unease settled over him. He froze and listened for a clue as to why. The only sound reaching his ears came from his own beating heart. No passing cars, no familiar noises from insects or even the drone of the HVAC system.

  He clenched his hands and surveyed the property. The edges of the building appeared fuzzy. He squinted in an effort to see it better. The longer he stared at the walls, the less solid they became. He looked across the lot to where he’d parked his vehicle. Instead of a solid SUV, he saw a shadowy blob.

  He shook his head. It didn’t help. The landscape deteriorated until inky black mist surrounded him. Not good. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to remember what he was doing here, where he’d come from, anything. All he saw was Mira’s kaleidoscope eyes, not surprising really. He always dreamt of them.

  Of course. He was dreaming. Any moment, she’d come to him, maybe kiss him again.

  The tension eased. He relaxed and waited for her to join him.

  Instead of pleasure, sharp pain radiated from his gut to spread across his torso.

  “Sorry, Josh. Changed my mind. Don’t feel like talkin’.” Zeb’s voice sounded far away.

  Josh frowned. He glanced at the blood seeping between his fingers. His gut didn’t hurt anymore. He pulled his sticky shirt from his stomach. No wound. Yet blood oozed from a line sweeping over his abs. He wiped it away. More seeped out.

  Dreams always messed with the facts. The choir’s hymns were missing too. He frowned at the odd thought. Before he could take it any further, the soothing chorus echoed around him, giving him the missing detail. The scent of apple pie drifted to him, along with a sense of urgency. Somebody wanted to talk to him. He didn’t know how he knew it. Just did.