Page 28 of Graveyard Dog

He pulled her tighter, wanting to protect her now more than ever. It was the tears. He was such a sucker for the tears. He’d never make it in the mental health industry. “How did you know I’d come?” he asked, patting her back as Izzy smoothed her hair.

She straightened and patted his face, her eyes swollen and her cheeks wet. “That’s why I wasn’t scared. Or, well,thatscared. Celie told me. She said even though she hates you with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, you’re still good, and you and your friends would stop at nothing to get me back.

“My friends?”

She hiccupped again and nodded. “She said you have lots of friends with special gifts who can help if you need them to.”

This Celie was seriously starting to get under his skin. How much did she know about him and his ragtag family? If she was a demon, he wouldn’t let it slide. He would call in reinforcements, which would not end well for the supernatural being. Unless she was into being ripped apart by a departed Rottweiler named Artemis. “It was a very close call, and I was pretty scared, too. Your bravery is what saved the day, Squirt.”

She smiled and threw her arms around his neck again. He caught the barest hint of adoration flash across Izzy’s face, but for whom? Emma? Michael? The EMT who was still trying to bandage Emma’s hands?

Michael glared at the man just in case. He didn’t have a lot going for him. He didn’t need some nerdy kid stealing Izzy’s affection.

The EMT didn’t notice. It was probably for the best.

* * * *

An hour later, Michael sat beside Emma’s bed as Izzy administered a breathing treatment. She’d also given her another hit of Benadryl, so Emma lay struggling to keep her lids from closing over those beautiful gray irises.

“I’ve called for backup,” he said to Izzy.

Izzy stiffened but pretended not to. “Your friends? Are they coming here?”

“Just a couple. And, yes, they are.”

“Are they also members of the Bandits?”

“Former members. One of them was the local chapter’s president for quite a while.”

The muscles in her jaw contracted as tension built inside her.

“I’m going back to that area to look for the Jeep. He must be hiding out somewhere near there.”

“Oh. Okay. I’ve never had people over. Should I make snacks?”

He chuckled. “They can fend for themselves. And Carson already has a team scouring the kitchen. I don’t think you’d get much done in there.”

“True.”

“Is the girl coming?” Emma asked.

Michael frowned. “What girl?”

“Celie wants to know. She just saidthegirl.”

Ah. “No. If she knows what’s good for her, Elwyn is in school.”

“You’re just going to drive around?” Izzy asked, circling back to his admittedly lame plan. “And hope Ross’s accomplice was stupid enough to leave his vehicle in the driveway?”

After a quick chuckle, he said, “One can hope.”

“That’s a terrible plan.”

He couldn’t argue that. “What’s her story?” he asked, gesturing toward the creature in the bed with a nod.

“She thinks she’s British,” Izzy whispered.

Suddenly wide-awake, Emma’s eyes flew open right before she rolled them. “I’mnot British. Celie is. But don’t worry. I’m still in here, too.”

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