Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38

ELENNA

"We need to get him to a hospital," I said frantically. I whipped the scarf off my neck and pressed it against the wound.

"I’m all right," Aidan groaned.

"Bullshit," Finley snapped. "Elenna is right. Orion and I will take care of things, you get out of here."

Aidan looked like he wanted to argue, but I helped him to his feet and we made our way back out the door. He was clearly in a shit load of pain but trying not to show it.

I flinched at the sound of footsteps running towards us, until Wren and Sinclair barrelled around a corner.

"There you are," Wren panted. "We went where Geneva was supposed to go, but they must have already left. We guessed they might come here."

"Is everyone okay?" Sinclair asked. She looked around behind us as Coast and Tiger led out the last remaining couple of Geneva’s minions. Finley and Orion were close behind.

"The others are going to start the cleanup in there," Finley said. "It’s going to take some work to get all the blood off the ice. Personally, I’m all for melting it." He shrugged and moved around to the other side of Aidan, pulling his arm over his shoulders to help support his weight.

"What are we going to do with them?" I nodded towards the two men being held at gunpoint.

All eyes turned to Aidan.

"Hand them over to Ice Miller," he said finally. "They can answer a few questions for us."

One of the men looked resigned, but the other’s eyes widened in fear. He leapt at Tiger, making a grab for his gun. He got a grip on his hand and struggled to wrench it from his fingers.

"Fuck off," Tiger growled. He tried to elbow the man away.

It was Orion who raised his gun and shot the attacker in the wrist, narrowly missing hitting Tiger as well. The man screamed out in pain. He let go of Tiger to grab onto his furiously bleeding wound.

"Good shot," Finley said approvingly.

"Any fucking closer," Tiger grumbled.

"You’re welcome," Orion said dryly. He and Coast shoved both of the attackers forward toward the doors leading out of the arena.

Most of my attention was on Aidan, but I didn’t miss the appreciative looks from Sinclair and Wren toward Coast and Tiger.

"Did you assholes take care of Geneva?" Aidan asked.

"I did," Coast said proudly. "Got there just in time. I have to say, Elenna has some balls, standing there like that. I would have pissed myself."

I managed half a smile. Honestly, it was a miracle I hadn’t done that. When Finley first suggested I use myself as a distraction, I was certain I wouldn’t pull it off. I was equally certain Geneva would shoot me on sight, or the moment she knew I killed Oscar.

Instead, I gave the guys time to get into place and be ready, while letting the players on the ice know there was a plan and they’d be needed to execute it.

Later, when all of this sunk in, I was going to be a puddle of jelly.

In the meantime, we helped Aidan into the back seat of his SUV, while Finley slipped into the driver’s seat.

Wren and Sinclair followed in Wren’s tiny hatchback.

Orion went with Tiger and Coast to deal with the two minions.

I almost felt sorry for the injured one. He’d obviously gone for Tiger’s gun in the hope someone would kill him. I didn’t blame him, I’d choose death over being tortured any day of the week.

"Hang on for a couple of blocks," I said to Aidan.

"You’re not getting rid of me that easily." He managed a faint smile.

"I know I’m not," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "But that’s got to hurt." Not to mention the scarf was more red than blue.

"Just a little," he lied badly. His brow was creased and beaded with sweat from the pain. "But I’m proud of you. Coast was right, I would have pissed myself too. You didn’t even look scared."

"I was terrified," I said. "I just did what had to be done. That was all."

"It was more than that and you know it," he said. "If it wasn’t for the tiny graze on my shoulder, I’d take your clothes off and fuck you silly here and now."

"I know you would," I told him. "Just relax. We’re almost there." He looked like he was about to pass out from the pain.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," I whispered back. I kept my hand firmly over his wound as we drew up in front of the hospital.

"Ice Miller is having the time of his life with both of them." Orion pulled up a chair beside Aidan’s bed and sat.

Aidan insisted he didn’t need to lie down, but the doctor disagreed. He’d lost a lot of blood and needed to rest, at least overnight. The bullet went right through, without hitting anything major, but he’d needed to be stitched back together and would have to take it easy for a while.

That would be easier said than done.

"I’ve never seen anyone look so excited about torture," Coast said from the corner. Every so often he glanced at Sinclair who stood with Wren near the window. He was trying to be subtle, but I noticed, even if she didn’t.

"He’s a sick fuck," Tiger declared. He wasn’t trying to hide the fact he was looking at Wren. She was looking back at him too.

"If anyone can get them to talk, it’s him," Finley said. "He’s very good at what he does."

"Why did Geneva attack us?" Tiger asked bluntly.

Everyone looked to Aidan, who shrugged, then grimaced at the stiffness in his right shoulder and chest.

"We were going to deal with her," he said. "It seems she decided to get in first. A bit more dramatic than anything we would have done."

Tiger grunted. "I figured it was something like that. What about the rest of them?"

"The Fiorellis? Either Jamison was lying and Nicholas and Celine were working with Geneva after all," Aidan said slowly, "or he was telling the truth and he was working with them and not her. Either way, they’re going to be pissed off."

"Nothing we can’t deal with." Coast pushed himself off the wall. "We took care of Geneva, we’ll take care of whatever else comes at us." He levelled a finger at Aidan. "Don’t try to tell me we’re not involved. When they attacked Demons Arena, they involved all of us."

"And you were the one who killed Jamison. And Geneva," Tiger said. "In front of a whole arena of people."

Coast grinned. "Let them come at me then. Nothing I can’t handle."

"Getting too cocky will get you killed," Aidan told him.

"Lucky I have you to kick my ass when I get too cocky, Coach," Coast said.

"I think I should have shot you in the ass when I had a chance," Tiger said.

Coast flipped him off. "Love you too, bro."

Tiger grimaced. "Fuck off."

"I think it’s time for everyone to go and let Aidan rest," I said. "We don’t want him too tired to kick all of your asses."

"Yes ma’am." Coast saluted me and stepped towards the door. "Sinclair, do you need a ride to the after party?"

She glanced at Wren, who waved her away. "Go, have a good time. I might see you there later." Wren was eyeing Tiger, who was doing the same to her. I had a feeling they’d be occupied for a while.

I waited until they left to sit down on the side of the bed and lean my forehead lightly against Aidan’s.

"I can’t believe that’s over."

"Those guys are a handful," Aidan agreed.

I laughed softly. "I meant Geneva, but them too." We’d dealt with Geneva. I’d admitted to everyone I killed Oscar. For the first time, I didn’t feel dirty about it. I felt…nothing. That was in the past. It was time to concentrate on the future with my three, incredible men. Past time for us to get some rest and enjoy our lives and each other.

If the rest of the family went after Coast, we’d do the best we could to help. The Demons always looked after their own.