Page 20 of Steel Trap
Chapter Six
“How do you stay so relaxed?” Smith tried to get comfortable on The Wyverns’ sectional. Adrian, still in his sheriff’s uniform, carried on digging through an enormous first-aid box.
“If I worried every time Teddy got himself in trouble, I’d have an ulcer the size of Iowa,” Adrian said. “Half the time, I don’t know whether to kiss him or throw his ass in jail. Teddy’s noangel.”
“None of them are. That’s the point.” Smith shrugged off his jacket, trying not to wince. He unbuttoned his shirt but was too sore to carry on. “Would you mind?”
Adrian ambled over. He helped Smith out of his shirt and the Kevlar vest beneath it. Smith gave a sigh of relief as the restricting garment was cast aside.
“Wow. Perfect shot to the heart,” Adrian observed. “You’re going tohave one doozy of a bruise.”
Smith examined the red mark covering the center of his chest. “I feel like I was trampled by a herd of stampeding elephants.” He grinned, remembering other recent elephant references he’d had cause to make.
“You also have gravel embedded in your shoulder.” Adrian held up Smith’s shredded jacket. “Should have worn leather.”
“Not sure I could have played my part quiteas well dressed like a Wyvern.”
Adrian gave him an appraising glance. “You’d need roughing up a bit before you’d pass at all.” He chuckled. “Not that I can see you as part of a lawless biker gang, anyway.”
Smith didn’t quite know how to feel about that. Rogue tolerated him, just, and the others no doubt saw him as Horatio Trap’s minion—just a puppet on a string passing on the latest orders.Hatchet was different. He looked at Smith like a person rather than a distasteful scientific specimen. Smith would never have expected to fall for a musclebound tattooed biker whose idea of fun was to create mayhem and challenge authority at every opportunity. Smith liked things to be well ordered and organized. He made lists and plans. He worked out scenarios. Hatchet was a live grenade tossed intothe center of Smith’s life and he had no idea how things were going to work out in the resulting explosion.
“I need to clean your shoulder. It’s gonna hurt some.” Adrian sat next to him armed with sterile wipes, tweezers and gauze.
Smith stayed as still as he could while Adrian administered first aid. The tweezers prodding his damaged flesh hurt the most, but he wasn’t badly injured. He wasmuch more concerned about what was going on with Hatchet and the others.
“Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”
Adrian checked his watch. “Soon. Teddy will let me know what’s happening when he can.” He taped gauze over the scraped section of Smith’s shoulder before helping him back into his torn shirt. “Hatch is gonna shit a brick when he sees the state of you.”
“It’s just a few scratches.”
“He wasn’t happy you were involved in this job at all. How come you’ve started venturing into the field? First, Mexico, now this. You getting a taste for action, Smith?” Adrian headed for the kitchen. “I’m gonna get us a couple of beers.” He returned with two bottles, caps already removed.
Smith took his and pressed the cold glass to his cheek. Condensation wetted his skin. “I guess I felt guiltyabout sending others out to do dangerous jobs when I was safely tucked away behind the scenes.” He took a long swallow, savoring the malty taste and refreshing cold. “The Wyverns, with the exception of Shelton, have all been coerced, to a certain extent. They don’t have a choice when I send them out there. I wanted them to know that I and Mr. Trap value their efforts beyond simple dollar remuneration.”
“Nothing to do with falling for Hatchet then?” Adrian grinned. “No need to be embarrassed. Remember, I’m a paid-up member of the most inadvisable relationship ever club.”
“I admire your ability to keep your job and private life separate,” Smith said.
“It’s not always possible,” Adrian replied. “But I have a nice cozy cell with Teddy’s name on it. He seems to like it in there—says it gives himtime to think. He’s also horny as hell every time I let him out.”
Smith chuckled. “Hatchet is…straightforward. He knows what he wants and takes it.”
“Sounds like you don’t object to that?”
Smith shifted in his seat. He had the phantom feeling of Hatchet’s sizeable cock up his ass. He couldn’t wait to get it in there again. Before he could answer Adrian, his phone rang. The ringtone made Smithsmile. “I fought the law and the law won—that’s the version by The Clash, isn’t it?”
Adrian nodded as he answered the call. “Teddy. How’s it going? I’m putting you on speaker because I’m here with Smith.”
“He okay?” Teddy asked.
“Fine. A few scrapes and bruises.”
“Good.”
“You in one piece?”
“All the parts that matter. Hatchet ain’t doin’ so good.”
