Page 8 of F Is for Honey Bee

A pronounced set of dimples appeared as the kid’s face lit up with a smile, making his bright blue eyes shine with innocence and trust.

Trust that the policeman would get him back to his mommy safe and sound. Fuck if that belief didn’t punch Kijani right in his heart.

“Watch this, buddy.” With a forceful thrust, Kijani yanked the passenger seat toward the dashboard with a growl. The metal of the seat groaned and creaked in protest, bolts snapping from their hinges.

The boy squealed, his treat bag crinkling as his arms wiggled around.

“Pretty cool, huh?” He tapped the boy’s arm. “Don’t worry. One day you’ll be big and strong, too.”

The boy gripped Kijani’s finger in a tight hold and gave him a toothy grin. It was amazing how someone so small could make a grown man melt inside. The kid was a stranger to him, but in that moment, Kijani knew he would do everything in his power to keep the toddler safe.

“Let’s get you back to your mommy.” The seat now out of the way, he pulled his finger out of the boy’s grip and slid a claw free. Using the sharp point, Kijani sliced through the straps, careful not to cut the child.

“I’m going to lift you up to Uncle Dominic, okay?” Kijani made a silly face and was rewarded with another high-pitched squeal. “I’m still new at the department, so you can’t tell anyone I called my boss by his first name.”

He gently gripped the boy under his arms and hoisted him free then lifted the toddler over his head.

“I got him,” Sheriff Harper said right before he plucked him from Kijani’s hands.

Kijani looked up and watched Sheriff Harper curl the little guy in his arms before they disappeared from sight.

Now Kijani could concentrate on freeing himself. He rocked the seat away from him and tugged at his foot. His knee whacked against the steering wheel, but his foot remained lodged.

“Son of a bitch,” he snarled.

“Kijani, get out of there!” Sheriff Harper appeared above him again, his eyes wide, the toddler no longer in his arms. “The engine just ignited!”

His heart racing, Kijani renewed his efforts to free himself, thrashing his leg back and forth in an attempt to dislodge his foot from the trapped position. The steering wheel dug into his side with each movement, but he barely noticed the pain as the acrid smell of smoke filled the cabin.

“Come on, come on,” he muttered under his breath, sweat beading on his forehead as he pulled with all his might.

The interior grew hotter. Kijani coughed, his eyes watering. I’m not going to get out of here in time.

His wolf forced its way out with a deep snarl, wiggling fiercely as it freed its paw from the seat. Flames curled through the vents, singeing some of its fur.

Kijani shifted back into his human form and hoisted himself up and out of the SUV, diving toward the ground and scrambling away. Moments later, the front half of the SUV exploded, metal and glass shooting in all directions.

Naked and breathing roughly, Kijani collapsed onto his back and stared up at the sky. Today couldn’t end soon enough.

Deputy Slater Kingsman knelt next to him, his brows pulled tight. “You’ve got a piece of metal sticking out of your gut.” He draped a thin, gray blanket over Kijani’s groin.

Pain erupted inside of him now that Slater had pointed that out. Kijani looked down and saw a thick piece of silver about six inches wide and roughly five inches in length jammed in his abdomen.

“I guess the SUV wanted to leave me with a souvenir.” He dropped his head and closed his eyes. “How’s the kid?”

He wondered, too, about Jonah. Kijani worried about his mate being alone after experiencing trauma. He needed to get back to Jonah, but he first needed to heal.

“His dad showed up,” Slater said. “He said they were heading to the hospital to be with his wife.” He patted Kijani’s shoulder. “He wanted your name so he could thank you personally for saving his son’s life.” He chuckled. “Luckily, he didn’t stick around to witness you jumping naked out of the SUV.”

No way Kijani would have been able to give a reason why he’d been nude while rescuing the guy’s kid. Technically it had been afterward, but that still would have been difficult to explain.

“You can shift in my car.” Slater helped him up. “I’ll drive you home.”

Kijani pressed a hand against the blanket to keep it in place, unconcerned that his ass wasn’t covered. The police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were all nonhumans.

It was the people stuck in their cars, unable to pass, who would question why he was standing there without any clothes on. Kijani was too exhausted and in pain to care.

He winced as he slid into the back of Slater’s patrol car, the small tears in the vinyl seat poking him in his ass. Kijani rested his head back and exhaled deeply. He couldn’t shift when they were parked so close to traffic.

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