Page 207 of Black Bird

“Jenkins, I didn’t think you participated in crap like that.” He ignored Rhaena’s concern and eased down into the chair. She sat a fresh mug down in front of him.

“It’s hard keeping up with this level of flawless physique, sir.”

Foley winced when he laughed, tugging Rhaena’s robe around him. His large frame in the soft black material was truly comical, but it was all she’d had to offer him. Neither she, nor Jenkins had gotten any sleep. They stood watch over their captain all night after they’d rigged the blood bag, and stitched him up, and for some reason … Rhaena was wide awake and jittery. Jenkins relaxed himself against the corner of the counter, crossing one ankle over another as he sipped his disgusting beverage, and she pulled out a chair to sit next to Foley.

“How are you feeling, sir?” she asked, winding both hands around her mug. He stared down at his coffee, circling the rim of his mug with a finger and slowly nodding his head.

“I’m fine. I, uh … heal faster than—well, you already know that don’t you?”

Rhaena smiled, nodding her head. “Cap, we need to talk about that.”

“We do.”

“I should have told you the day you were here. I just didn’t know how, and I was in shock.”

“Told me what?” His eyes locked onto hers and Jenkins shifted at the counter.

“He bit you, didn’t he?” Rhaena asked softly, her voice heavy with sympathy. “When you fought him off … he bit you and you turned.”

Foley grew quiet for a long moment and swallowed. “I didn’t realize it at first. I felt pain, but … it all happened so fast, and my adrenaline was—Lindsey was gone. I saw red. Later that month when it happened for the first time, I almost didn’t believe this was real. She’d barely been in the ground a week, and I was on leave. I can’t even really remember where I went or what I did the first time. I woke up naked in some abandoned part of the slums.” His hand shook as he raised his mug and sipped from it. “As time went by, I started realizing that certain things triggered the change, and that full moons weren’t the only time Boston wasn’t exactly safe from someone like me. When there’s a decent amount of physical pain, or if I’m overly emotional? Mostly angry …reallyangry.”

“So that’s what sparked your transition at Stratford’s …” Jenkins added. The captain nodded.

“I don’t know where this will leave us, Malcolm …” Rhaena started, pressing her lips together, terrified of his reaction. “But … the man who attacked you. The man who made you different? The one that killed your partner—it’s—it was my uncle.” Surprisingly, he had very little reaction. He didn’t even look up from his mug. She felt compelled to continue, feeling it was only fair … at least until he showed some kind of sign that he was hearing her. “His name was Elston Warner. He raised me after my parents died. He was my mom’s only brother. I didn’t have any other family to take me in, and he didn’t want someone with our …family gifts… in foster care. I’d never known him to be anything other than kind … gentle.” Rhaena shook her head. “He was always so tender and affectionate. Taught me what he could about learning to control myself. I had no idea that he could turn from anything other than a full moon. I’d only ever seen him change when I did. He wasn’t a monster, sir. If he was, I sure as hell never knew it. When you told me that the wolf that had killed Trainor was hit by a truck … I knew. I knew it was him.”

Foley finally raised his eyes to her, and instead of anger, or disbelief … there was understanding there. “So, that’s why I feel so protective of you … you’re his blood.”

“Yes …” Rhaena breathed. “I’m so sorry that this happened to you. I wish I could understand it or tell you why. All I can offer you is my help in figuring it out. Sir, I’ve been a lone wolf for a really long time. You’re not alone. I’m willing to do whatever I can to help you. I owe you that much.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Gloves. If what you say is true, you were just a kid. A kid trying to find her own way.” He pointed a long finger at her. “And you did. You became one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of working beside. Someone else’s actions don’t fall on you just because they’re not alive to own up to them.”

Rhaena took a nervous sip from her coffee and blew out a heavy breath. “I can’t believe you’ve been right here all this time, and I never figured you out.”

Foley snorted, “Yeah, well … I only just figured out the same thing about you. So that makes two of us. I can’t thank you both enough for your help. I’m sorry about breaking into your place.”

“Stop, no … it’s really not the strangest thing I’ve come home to. I live next door to a vamp.”

Foley choked on his coffee. “Kane … have you heard from him? What happened to Stratford? And his kid? Is his kid alive?”

“Yeah, about that—” Rhaena was about to brief him on what had happened after he took off into the woods, but a sound knock on the door startled them. Jenkins went to answer it. There were muffled voices, and he reared his head back to look at her.

“Foster.” He jerked his head in permission to let her in and Rhaena exchanged looks with Foley, who nodded. Foster shouldered her way in with several large files. She took one look at the captain, and the tight robe he wore, and grinned as she shook her head.

“Good. You’ll have help, Northwood,” she said, dropping the files to the kitchen table. “I took the liberty of bringing over all the shit you guys thought you were gonna leave me with. How fresh is that coffee? We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

Wren sat down her third cup of chocolate pudding, the plastic spoon hanging from her swollen mouth as she pried open another. She’d barely touched the rest of the breakfast they’d sent up, and twice now, she’d snagged the line of her IV on the corner of the tray, cursing under her breath at the plastic tube. She took the spoon from her mouth and licked the pudding off the foil before tossing it onto the tray. Commotion sounded from outside her door, and she leaned forward, nervousness settling in her stomach as she eyed the open doorway. She heard a nurse mention something about visiting hours, and then a couple of familiar voices, and her heart skipped. She couldn’t stop the oncoming tears as Sarah barged in.

“Wren!” Sarah cried, rushing to her bedside. She slid away the cart, and threw her arms open, crying softly as Sarah wrapped her in a tight hug. “Holy shit … holy shit …” she whispered against Wren’s cheek. When they finally pulled apart, Wren glanced over Sarah’s shoulder to see Athan standing—with a bloody white t-shirt—against the door. He smirked at her, pocketing his hands and inching forward. “Jesus … your eye.” Sarah pointed out, inspecting every inch of her face. “Dammit, I should have never let you leave that apartment.”

“Stop. It’s not your fault. Besides,” Wren waved a hand around the room, “I’ve got heated blankets and room service at this joint. And …” She reached for her pudding. “All the damn pudding I can eat.”

Athan stood at the foot of the bed. “Are you alright?”

“Well … my fucking parents refuse to stay home, so there’s that. I could use a very expensive blowout for Christmas. I’ve got a concussion, and one good eye … but Conrad got his head blown off.” She gave a tight shrug, spooning pudding into her mouth. “I’d say I’m more than alright in that aspect of things.”

“I’m so sorry, Wren. I—I heard about Brent … I’m—” Sarah paused, shaking her head. Wren lowered the pudding cup to her lap, unable to keep more tears from coming.

“He hasn’t opened his eyes since he came out of surgery. At least, that’s what they tell me. They won’t let me see him.” Wren sniffled, wiping beneath her swollen eye. “He didn’t even hesitate, Sarah. As soon as Conrad pointed that gun at me, he—” She shook her head, her face crumpling. Sarah leaned forward, hugging her again. “How did you hear about it? Did you talk to Rhaena?”

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