Page 74 of Bossed By the Orc

“Dristan,” she murmured against my chest, nuzzling against me. “You’re safe.”

“Of course I am,” I squeezed my eyes shut, guilt assailing me. “No one could ever keep me from you.”

She sighed with relief against my shirt, but she stiffened again when she heard the sirens get louder and the crunch of gravel under the tires of the police cars. She flattened herself against me, trembling as she peeked over my shoulder.

I held her tight, rubbing my palm along her back as the police swarmed around the car, eyeing us with suspicion. They relaxed when they noticed how she was clinging to me, though, her face buried against my throat.

“Sir, please step away from the vehicle,” one of them called, and I knew it was a precaution, but I put my hands up and stepped away with caution. My female didn’t release me, going with me, her arms around me, her face hidden as she sobbed.

I tilted my head toward the building. “There are four males in there. The two orcs came with me to help with the rescue. The human and the cyclops were the ones who took her. They’ve been subdued.” All except one officer hurried toward the entrance. They slammed the door open and there were loud, barked orders from inside.

“Ma’am, are you safe?” the officer who’d stayed with us asked, her gun aimed at me.

“Yes,” Penelope sniffed back her tears and my heart swelled in my chest for my strong female as she pulled herself together, lifting her head to look at the other female. “This is my mate. He came to rescue me. He didn’t have anything to do with those men,” she explained.

I shouldn’t feel pride swell in my chest at being called her mate. It was too serious of a moment for all of that, but it happened anyway.

The officer nodded. “Stay here while we clear the building. Do we need to get you medical assistance?”

Penelope shook her head. “No,” she said, swallowing hard, licking her dry, chapped lips. “They didn’t get a chance to use the knife or gun before my mate came in with his brother and his friend.” Her voice was shaky, but she was trying to get the facts out and I couldn’t be prouder of her.

My annoyance still spiked at the thought of that festering pustule using his knife to threaten her, so I held her closer, allowing her scent—still mingled with mine—to wash over me, soothing the beast inside. “I have you,” I murmured against her curls as she trembled against me, her sniffle loud as her tears wet my shirt.

She nodded, not able to form words, rubbing her cheek against me. I watched as the officers exited the building with the human and cyclops handcuffed, my brother and friend escorted behind them, Kor’s voice a deep rumble as he spoke with the one that appeared to be in charge.

I felt my female go stiff in my arms, and I knew she didn’t want to look at the males. “Can I get her into the SUV?” I asked the female officer who still stood near me, watchful and protective.

She gave me a quick nod, allowing me to get my female seated, tucking her face into my palm. She was so tiny compared to me. So vulnerable. I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you, rega. And I’m so proud of you,” I whispered.

She gave me a tremulous smile, tilting her face upward for a kiss. I met her halfway, nuzzling our noses together.

By then, the perpetrators had been taken into the marked vehicles and I didn’t have to worry about my female seeing them again. I’d find a way to make sure she never saw them again. There was no way she’d face them in court. They would go down without her needing to give a single testimony.

I already had evidence against them, and I intended to dig up more. I was certain there would be a lot more where they were concerned.

“Kor’s going to get this settled and then we can get out of here,” I murmured in my most soothing voice.

She swallowed hard, clutching me close and running her fingers over my arms, as if making sure I was really there. My heart melted for my female. I turned to look at Kor, and he met my gaze, giving me a nod before continuing his conversation with the officer in charge.

It wasn’t long before we were allowed to leave—with the promise to return to the police station to give our statements.

As we drove off, I cradled her on my lap in the backseat, singing an old orcish lullaby, that I remembered my mother singing to Rudgar and I, against her hair.

Chapter Forty-Two

Penelope

I curled against my mate, clinging to the safety of his arms. As I felt the SUV pulling to a stop, I peered over at the hospital, swallowing hard. “Do I have to?” I asked, looking up at Dristan, but he just nodded, waiting with the patience of a saint—which I know had to be hard for him—while I came to terms with the decision.

“Fine,” I sighed, about to get off of his lap, but he lifted me instead and I yelped as we exited, people looking at us with raised eyebrows. “Dristan,” I hissed, “Put me down.”

Rudgar and Kor looked at each other with amusement before they drove toward the parking lot.

“Never,” he murmured and he cradled me closer. “It’s bad enough that the family physician is all the way back in the city and I have to trust your care to people I don’t know and haven’t done a background check on to make sure they’re qualified.” My heart melted at the realization that my mate was just trying to take care of me, but I also felt the heat filling my face as everyone continued to stare.

I could imagine how we looked. A towering orc with a scowl on his face and a human in his arms with bruises all over her face. I ducked my face to bury against his throat, and he tightened his arms around me.

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