Page 51 of Claiming Ours
“Oh good, there are more of you.” Amy groaned good-heartedly. “I guess this type of job, and Brandon using his military past for recruiting new hires means we’ll only get over-the-top protective men.”
“We’re not over-the-top,” Liam grumbled with a half smile to Amy.
“Right. I only have about a hundred instances to back up my statement.” Pushing off the bale of straw, she stood and patted Liam’s shoulder with one hand while the other reached out to Memphis. “I didn’t get a chance to meet you yesterday. I’m Amy, Brandon and Carl’s wife. Well, technically, just Brandon’s on paper, since this state doesn’t allow poly marriages.”
“Memphis Thomas,” he responded with a quick shake before pulling his hand back.
After eyeing him, then Liam, she whirled around to me. “You’ll need a bigger cabin.” I choked on my spit. Memphis gently patted my back as I coughed into a loose fist while staring in disbelief at my friend. “You have a single, and so does Liam.” She tapped her cheek with a single finger while studying the ground as if it held all the answers. “Miles and Aiden’s old place would work. It’s only a two-bedroom, but it’s bigger than what you have now.”
I held up a hand, stopping her organizing a living situation I wasn’t even sure the three of us were ready for. “Give us more than twenty-four hours to figure this out, okay.”
“Fine. But just think about it. All remnants of theincidentare gone, just in case that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Incident?” Memphis asked, glancing between us. “What remnants?”
Amy, Liam, and I looked at each other, sharing a silent conversation.
“Fill you in later,” Liam said, running a hand down his face before focusing on me. “Right now, it’s time for me to feed Baylee. Come on, Little Bit, let’s get you some lunch.”
Taking his offered hand, I allowed him to tug me against his chest. His lips pressed against my ear. “And while we’re there, I can eat you for my dessert.”
Yes, fucking please.
17
LIAM
Someone yelling and the repetitive smack of feet sloshing through the mud and rivulets running along the perimeter of the barn drew our attention to the open barn door. Unsure of the threat, I tucked both Amy and Baylee behind me at the same time Memphis shifted so we stood shoulder to shoulder, widening his stance.
A pulse of relief had me breathing a little easier, knowing he was ready to protect the women with me. Sure, I was a trained fighter and could take out almost any threat, but it was a reprieve knowing I had backup.
I straightened to full attention as Ethan, Uplift’s survivalist trainer and all-around outdoor badass, sprinted into the barn. He skidded to a stop when his frantic gaze landed on the four of us.
“Help,” he rasped, chest heaving. “It’s West. He’s hurt.”
We all snapped into action, taking off in a sprint to follow when Ethan turned and ran back out into the pouring rain. My muscles tensed at the cold drops, and goose bumps pebbled my skin as soon as we stepped out into the storm, soaking us withinseconds. Keeping Baylee in my periphery, catching Memphis doing the same, I sprinted down the main road, noting when Ethan took a hard right and headed in the direction of our aircraft hangar.
“What happened?” Amy shouted, running toward the small huddle of people near the touring helicopter once we were all inside. Her words were almost swallowed up by the rain thundering against the metal roof.
My stomach dropped as I slowed my approach, unsure of what exactly I’d be walking up on. West was laid out beside the helicopter, passed out cold, his head resting in a sobbing Juno’s lap. His face was pale—too fucking pale. I didn’t realize I’d stopped in my tracks until Memphis shouldered past me.
Dropping to his knees beside West’s head, Memphis gently pressed three fingers to the man’s throat. “Where is he injured?” He eyed the streaks of blood on the concrete floor and growing puddle near West’s ribs.
“His hand,” Juno whispered through her tears. “He was working on something inside the engine, and then suddenly—” Her voice broke, and she squeezed her lids shut. “He just started screaming. I don’t know, I don’t know….” She repeated it over and over while stroking West’s shaved head. Her tearstained face turned to Memphis. “Please help him.”
He just nodded. “His pulse is fine. The pain must have made him pass out. Which is good and bad.” He assessed me with a critical eye. “Know where I can get some basic field medical supplies? You guys have a first aid kit?—”
“Langston does,” I said, already turning in the direction that would get me to Langston and West’s place the fastest. “He has a bag. I’ll be back.”
By the time I returned, Lang’s medic bag in hand, West was awake, his screams and curses cutting through the storm’s noise. Both Baylee’s and Amy’s cheeks were wet with tears,same as Juno, who looked almost sick. I dropped the bag beside Memphis and squatted low.
“How bad is it?” I murmured as he ripped open the clasp and started rummaging through it.
“Bad. I’m not sure—” He cut himself off and shook his head. “Baylee.” She appeared on his other side. “We have to do something for his pain or his body could slip into shock. This is too much for his body to process, and that’s not what we want. Do you have any pain relievers in your cabin or something for the animals that you know is safe for humans?”
“I can’t risk that,” she rasped. “I want to help, but?—”
“I have some at our place from when Brandon hurt his back last year.” With that, Amy bolted out of the shed that had suddenly gone deadly quiet.
