Page 52 of Warrior's Cross

“He certainly had an impressive ability to get back up, sir,” Preston pointed out.

“You think maybe you just missed him the first two times you shot at him?” Julian asked as he pressed the ice pack harder against his head.

“I don’t miss, sir,” Preston assured him confidently as he took the turn into Blake’s driveway. “I do, however, sincerely apologize for the failure, sir,” he added with as much sincerity as Preston’s flat delivery was able to convey. “It’s my job to deal with any protection detail, and—”

“Preston?” Julian interrupted tiredly as he saw Blake standing out on the stone steps of his house, waiting for them.

“Yes, sir?”

“Don’t ever apologize to me again,” Julian ordered with a small smile.

“Yes, sir. Terribly sorry, sir,” Preston responded with a straight face as he put the car in park and got out. “Won’t happen again, sir,” he called just before shutting the door.

“What have you done to yourselves this time?” Blake called from the front door of his house.

“We’re just making sure you stay in practice,” Julian claimed as he started toward Blake. He stopped as his head began to spin, and his balance faltered.

Preston was at his side in an instant, supporting him easily and helping him the short distance into the house.

“Come on then,” Blake muttered. “I’ve got the medical kit and the Valium all ready.”

“I don’t need any Valium,” Julian told him as he held the ice pack to his head.

“It’s not for you,” Blake responded with a smirk as he led them to his study, where he always stitched them up when they ran into trouble.

He walked straight to the sideboard and opened a bottle. “You’re the most god-awful patient known to man. Your doctor gets the Valium. So does the nurse. Preston?” he offered cheekily.

“Thank you, sir,” Preston responded, managing to keep a straight face as he took the glass of whiskey Blake handed him.

“I hate you both,” Julian muttered as he covered his eyes with his icepack.

Cameron sat on a quilt on the floor, grinning as the four puppies tumbled all around and over his legs, each vying for his attention. He laughed at their antics; it was a warmer and healthier sound, if still a bit garbled. He’d just gotten home, courtesy of Miri, who’d picked him up at the hospital and shuttled him and the dogs home.

“Do you have any idea how much of a mess these little monsters make?” Miri asked grudgingly. “I can’t tell you how much hair is all over my apartment.”

“I told you that you had to brush them.” Cameron laughed again as the dogs cavorted. “But they’re worth it. Did you ever remember their names?”

Miri rolled her eyes. “No. I called the yellow one No, the red one Bad Dog, the white one Get Off That, and the blue one Stop It,” she said drolly, referring to the colors of their tiny woven collars.

“That’ll do,” Cameron said as he picked up Saffron and cuddled her close.

“All right. Lunch,” Miri said to change the subject. “I brought several dinners from Jean-Michel, and he said if you want anything specific, anything at all, just call the restaurant, and he’ll send it over.”

“You all take such good care of me,” Cameron told her, preoccupied by being made into terrain by sixteen tiny feet. Miri smiled from where she stood at the bar and started unpacking the bags.

Cameron ran his fingers through the puppies’ soft coats as he leaned back against the couch, taking it easy. He was tired after the trip home. He could tell he was much improved, but he was under doctor’s orders to stay at home at least another week. He wondered what he’d do, besides Tuesday night and Friday.

That turned his mind to Julian. What Julian had said at the hospital bothered Cameron. He was concerned and a little afraid of the hints at some mysterious danger. It was so much easier to remain ignorant of what Julian did when he wasn’t around. Because when Cameron began wondering and asking questions, even if he never actually voiced them out loud, he grew tense and worried. Sometimes, though, he couldn’t help himself. What if what Julian did was illegal? Cameron already knew his job was dangerous, despite Julian’s assurances that he would be okay. And every time he saw Julian hurt, Cameron got a little more scared for his lover. And now, perhaps the smallest bit for himself.

Julian seemed fearless. If he was frightened for Cameron, shouldn’t Cameron be afraid as well?

He snapped out of his thoughts when the phone rang. The handset was just within reach, so he waved Miri off and stretched out to pick it up. “Hello?”

“How are you?” Julian’s soft voice questioned.

Cameron’s eyes flew across the room to check on Miri. She was busy in the kitchen, unwrapping things.

“I’m doing better now. Still taking it slow, though.” His voice warmed as he spoke. He’d missed Julian since their last visit in the hospital, where he’d ended up staying for a total of four days. Julian hadn’t come back to visit him, even on Friday, and Cameron had tried not to worry.

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