To be fair, I had just told him I’d come there to shag him.
I glanced up at his friends. "You lot, come help me."
They were both huge. Just as big as East was. And they eased him forward, helping him out of the suit jacket. Then I unbuttoned his shirt and winced when I saw the ugly purple bruises already rising up. "Jesus Christ, I'm going to need more ice." I nodded at Bridge. "Please."
Luckily, he didn't argue. Ben eased himself next to his mate. "So, what happened to the fancy alarm system?"
"The alarm system wasn’t functioning because my fucking phone is dead."
Ben cursed under his breath. "That's a low-tech situation."
East grumbled. "You think I don't fucking know that? The real question is, how the fuck did they get in?"
Ben's brows drew together. "We need to go ask the staff. Is it possible that it was Todd? His key card has been revoked, but what if he had someone else's?"
Todd Spivey had been Ben’s sometime driver and security for Livy, but then he’d attacked her in Ben’s flat. Since we’d opted to deal with him legally, he was out on bail. There was something to be said for dealing with things the not so legal way.
East shrugged. "I don't know. I'll look into it.” He winced as I did finger palpations. I asked, “Do you think he needs a doctor? I’m worried."
Ben's brow furrowed. "How bad is it?"
"I mean, from what I'm seeing here, he's taken a couple of kidney shots. The stuff on his pecs, that's superficial. He might have a broken rib. I’m worried about internal bleeding."
Ben pulled out his phone, and before I knew it, he was mumbling something at someone and then turning his phone off. "Doctor is coming."
I blinked. "What, just like that?"
He nodded. "Yes, just like that."
I shook my head. "Who are you people?"
East shrugged and then groaned. "Long story."
Bridge came back with the ice, and we strategically placed the packs around him, using an ace bandage to wrap them in place.
Ben gave me a nod. "Thank you for looking after him, but Bridge and I have it now."
I laughed. "Ah, I think not. I'm not leaving. So you three better get used to me being here. I'll wait for the police too."
East groaned. "Jesus Christ, Nyla. I am in no mood to argue with you right now. I'll have the security work with them on the break-in in the morning, okay?"
I opened my mouth to argue, but I could see he was in pain. I popped two Paracetamol out of their silvery packets, put them into his palms and handed him a glass of water.
He sipped and swallowed. "You know, you make a half decent nurse. I do love a woman in uniform."
I lifted a brow. "You know, I might take back what I said earlier."
He flashed a grin. And even though he was battered, bruised, and injured… God, he was still so sexy. I looked between him, Ben, and Bridge, and the other two stood.
"Okay, Bridge and I are going to go deal with security,” announced Ben. “We'll also deal with the cops and let them know that you will file a statement with them in the morning. In the meantime, are you all right, mate?"
East nodded. "Yeah, if someone would bring my iPad over here, I'll change the security protocols now. So this place will be secured for the rest of the night. And then when all is said and done, we'll try to find out who broke in."
Bridge brought it over, and East nodded a thanks.
Ben was already headed to the door, and Bridge turned to glower at me. "The doctor will be by to check on him later. Make sure that tomorrow we find him in better condition than he is now, yeah?”
I met his dark gaze but didn't back down. "I'm going to make sure he gets in bed and that he gets to rest."
Bridge gave me a nod. It looked something akin to a thank you. They weren't just business partners. They were mates. Actual mates. The London Lords were a family.
When his two friends were gone, I studied East closely. "You ruined my perfectly good evening plans. So let's get you to bed so you can rest, and I’ll take a rain check."
"Woman, I see you. Always trying to get me naked. You should buy me dinner first."
"You should buy me dinner."
"What, I'm injured and an invalid, and you just want me for my body."
I couldn't help but giggle. "Come on, off to bed with you. I'll stay until the doctor comes and leaves."
I slid down next to him and helped him lift his arm over my shoulders as I helped him onto his feet.
"Stay, please. Please don't leave." His voice was so soft, so pleading, and I got the impression that he wasn't used to asking for anything.
I also was worried that he would need much more than the two Paracetamol. I nodded at him. "Yeah, okay, I'll stay."
He groaned as we shuffled toward his bedroom. "If I had known all it took for you to come spend the night was to get my ass kicked, I would have hired somebody to do it ages ago."
East
It was dark in the initiation room. Everyone wore their robes and their masks. The dark red silk hanging off of our frames, obscuring our bodies, making us all the same. The masks obscured our faces, and the only thing visible were our lips and jawlines. If I looked closely, I could make out my mates. I knew their faces as well as mine. The only lights were the lanterns built into the walls from initiations long ago.
I climbed out and was made a brother. It was the one thing my father wanted. The one thing I willingly gave him. But I only gave it because of the lads. Ben was here, Bridge was here, Toby, Drew. We were all together. So I could acquiesce
