Page 67 of Imperfect Skin

“Damage to the shop can be repaired. I just want to know you’re okay.”

I drew in a shaky breath and collapsed in Cal’s arms, the smell of his soap and aftershave synonymous with home and safety.

“I’m okay. What about Alice and Rhys?” I said from within the comfort of Callum’s arms.

“Both fine. Simon’s with them.” Callum touched my cheek and nose, wincing. “Oh, my poor boy.”

“I’m okay, Daddy. High pain tolerance, remember?” I snickered.

“Can I take Mouse to be checked over by Doc?” Daddy spoke to Donald, who had passed a cuffed Ziggy to another officer I didn’t know.

“I’ll need to take a statement from Mitchell but I can wait till after Doc has seen him, he shouldn’t be far off..” Donald gave me a compassionate look. “Are you holding up okay? Need a cuppa or something?”

“Suppose a scotch would be out of the question,” I mumbled. I knew I had to make a statement, but really, I just wanted to go home.

Twenty-Four

CALLUM

Iwas finally able to let out a relieved sigh when I closed the front door behind me.

I settled Alice in front of the TV with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on. She’d clung to Mouse like a limpet since we’d left Doc’s and even demanded that Doc tell her what she should do to help Mouse.

“Mouse and I are just going to go into the kitchen, petal.” I brushed her dark hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. She relaxed a little bit, hugging the new, pink elephant she’d won at the sideshow with Rhys and Mouse.

“I’m fine, Dad. Just make sure Mouse takes his pain pills like Doctor Cullen said he should,” Alice huffed out softly in a tone way older than her years, shooting Mouse a worried frown.

“I promise I will, and I’m sure Mouse won’t mind you keeping an extra eye on him.” I looked over at Mouse who was sitting on the sofa next to Alice, smiling.

“Why don’t we make tomorrow a pyjama party day, eat all the junk food, watch all the TV and build Lego?” Mouse suggested.

“Don’t you and Dad have to work tomorrow?”

“No, petal. We’re going to shut the shop for a couple of days, give it a big clean-up, and maybe finally repaint and freshen the place up like we’ve been wanting to do for ages.”

Mouse’s brows rose, but then he nodded and smiled. Simon and I had already discussed it while Mouse was in seeing Doc, and now the idea had germinated, I liked the thought of giving the old place a freshen up, especially with Mouse buying into the partnership.

Looking down at Mouse, my heart gave a painful lurch. The fresh bruises on his beautiful face filled me with a cold, quiet rage. At least watching Ziggy being hauled off and knowing he’d face charges had helped cool the murderous impulses. Mouse sure hadn’t held back when he fought him off, and Ziggy had looked worse off than Mouse. For that I was damn thankful.

Alice reached out and touched Mouse’s bruised cheek. “I’m sorry he hurt you, but I’m glad you stopped him wrecking the shop.”

“I’m glad I stopped him too. Your dad and Simon spent a long time getting the shop to where it is, and I wasn’t going to let some di—er, bad person wreck it for them.”

“It’s okay, Mouse. You can call him a dickhead, because that’s what he is.” Alice turned and smirked at me.

“Alice Abigaile Harris,” I muttered, trying my hardest not to smile.

“Dad, it’s not like I don’t hear Gran say worse. You should have heard what she called Mr Tompson.”

“I don’t want to know. Now, how about I make us some toasted cheese sandwiches and soup, then we can all watch something on the telly.” They both called out their choices, but I held the final vote. And to be honest, a man could only watch Frozen or The Hobbit so many times before he was ready to murder a halfling or strangle a princess, so I picked a Godzilla film I knew we all liked.

Alice ran up to her room to get changed and Mouse followed me through to the kitchen. Before he had a chance to hop up onto his usual stool, I pulled him against me and hugged him tightly.

“You’re squashing me,” Mouse mumbled, but he didn’t try to pull away.

“Too bad. You can suffer through it till I’ve had my fill.”

Mouse reached around and patted my bum. “I’m okay, Daddy, I promise. I’m going to have some stuff to talk through with Declan, but I’m okay.”

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