8. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

L andry was going nuts, being in bed all the damn time. At least the room was nice. It was way nicer than his shitty studio apartment. The bed was comfortable and smelled good.

But he’d watched more television than he had in his entire life, and he’d been alone more than he could handle, which was a lot, considering he was a bit of a loner.

Okay, more than a bit. He liked his solitude. But he’d had too much of a good thing.

Moving sounded like a good idea until he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He’d made his way to the bathroom when he needed it, but it had been slow going. Every step hurt. He’d never tried to leave the room before.

He was sure Enzo would have something to say about it, not that he intended for him to find out.

Landry held his breath as he stood. The pain would have been worse if it weren’t for the meds.

He had to hold on to the bedpost as he made his way to the door. He needed crutches. That would go a long way to making him mobile. He’d have to ask Daruss to bring him a pair.

He would ask Enzo, but he was avoiding Landry. Landry didn’t mind so much since he’d cried in front of him. The embarrassment was off the charts, so not seeing Enzo actually worked for him. To a point.

Another reason Landry needed to be mobile was because he had to figure out who the hell shot him. He knew Daruss was already looking into it, but he needed a phone. Since he hadn’t had his cell phone at the club the night he was shot, he didn’t have it with him now either. It was in his apartment.

He didn’t like being connected to people, not even his Dragon Skulls family. Since he saw them at the club, he didn’t always see the need to be strapped to his phone. If they needed him, they could just come into his studio. Problem solved.

Except he needed to contact Daruss and find out what the investigation turned up. Landry wanted to heal and then take care of whoever had shot him.

He didn’t make it to the door before it opened and Enzo stood in the opening.

He scowled. His reptilian eyes were accusatory. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I need to call Daruss.” And he was going crazy, staying in the room by himself. But talking to Daruss was more important.

Enzo pointed to the bed. “I’ll let you use my cell phone, but sit first.”

Landry sighed and suppressed the urge to explain to Enzo how he wasn’t the boss of him, but as his doctor, he sort of was.

Landry sat on the bed. The mattress pressed against his wound, making him hiss.

Enzo rushed to him, growling as he kneeled in front of Landry. “You’re doing too much, mate.”

“How the fuck would you know? I see you twice a day when you bring food and change my bandages.”

“Watch your mouth, boy.”

Landry huffed. He wasn’t sure how much he liked Raylee’s father. “I’m not your boy.”

Not that he hadn’t thought about Enzo and how they were mates. And maybe he’d thought about Enzo’s thigh against his cheek. How he’d sat there as still as a statue except for him touching Landry’s hair. How Landry had felt safe for the first time in his adult life.

Enzo growled again. “You’re in my house.”

“It doesn’t mean you can control what I say.” Landry would leave if it came to that. He didn’t have to stay. Not that he wasn’t grateful, but gratitude didn’t mean he had to let someone he didn’t trust tell him how to speak.

Enzo met his gaze. “Why don’t you heal like a normal shifter?”

Landry didn’t like the sudden change in conversation. It left him unsettled. But he answered truthfully, anyway. “I was beaten too many times as a teenager. Before I shifted for the first time.”

Enzo flashed his fangs as if the little nugget about Landry’s past upset him. “Will you tell me the story behind it?”

Landry shook his head and smirked. “I don’t talk about it with strangers.”

“We’re mates.” As if that was all it took.

“I don’t trust you.” Landry didn’t trust anyone.

Enzo shook his head. “You trust me to see to your wounds.”

“And? Are you saying I shouldn’t?” But even as he asked it, he knew he could. The way Enzo deflated as if Landry had stuck a pin in him made Landry feel bad. He sighed. “Look, it has nothing to do with you. And it’s not personal or anything. I have a hard time trusting anyone.”

“You trust Daruss and Izzy.”

Landry nodded. “They saved me. Gave me a life.”

And maybe Landry was a fucking mess still, but he was less of one than he’d been when Daruss and Izzy had first rescued him. He was trying to be better. And it was a struggle, but he was okay.

Enzo held his gaze as if he were looking for something. Whatever it was, he seemed to not find it. Either that or it made him more confused. He said nothing, which made Landry nervous for reasons he couldn’t explain.

“I see a therapist. I missed an appointment when I got shot.”

“Something happened when you were a kid. Daruss and Izzy rescued you.” So Enzo wanted to piece Landry’s past together. Maybe he deserved to know the truth as a mate. Maybe he could trust Enzo.

“A man named Montgomery Ellis kidnapped me when I was fourteen.”

Enzo raised his hand as if to touch Landry, but he clearly thought better of it. “What did he do to you?”

“Forced me into sex slavery.” Thinking about it made Landry’s stomach hurt.

“What happened to him?”

Landry shrugged. “During my rescue, I injured him. But he lived. He went to prison but only for four years. He was just released a couple of months ago.”

“It’s a shame you didn’t kill him.” Enzo said it in such a nonchalant way, it made Landry smile.

“Yeah. It is.” Landry relaxed a bit. Enzo’s protectiveness was surprising but it made Landry more comfortable with him.

Enzo seemed to put a few things together. He studied Landry for a second before checking Landry’s wound on his thigh. Even as he did, Landry could tell his wheels were spinning. “You didn’t want me to touch you.”

“It’ll trigger me.” Every touch made him feel as though he was right back where he’d been. He’d been nothing more than a body for people to fuck.

Enzo nodded. He put the bandage back in place and then reached behind him, pulling out his phone.

Landry took it and immediately dialed Daruss’s number.

He expected Enzo to leave the room, but Enzo stayed, sitting next to him on the bed.

Daruss answered on the first ring. “Enzo. Is Landry okay?”

“It’s me. I’m fine. Or getting there anyway.” Landry didn’t want to talk about his health problems. “Did you find out anything about the shooter?”

“Yeah, but we should wait until after the snow stops. It’s coming down good out there. We should have this conversation in person.”

That meant it was bad. Landry shut his eyes. “It’s been four years.”

“Landry, listen to me. You know we won’t let him get to you again.”

Landry nodded and then realized Daruss couldn’t see him. “He hired someone, right?”

“Yeah. We took care of him.”

Enzo shook his head and stood. “You’re nothing but a damn criminal.”

Landry pulled the phone away from him and glared at Enzo’s back. “Watch your mouth, old man.”

Enzo turned. He took a step, but then shook his head and left the room.

When Landry went back to his phone call, Daruss said, “I take it your mating isn’t going well.”

“He pegged me wrong, but what the fuck ever. Not like I want a mate, anyway.” But it would be nice to have someone who made him feel safe. Someone strong, who could help him feel not so alone anymore.