Page 91 of Night of the Living Manny
Liam relaxed down, sleep tugging hard at him. Eyes heavy, he sighed, nuzzling at Brenden’s shoulder.
“Rest, love. You need it.”
“I do. If Susanna calls, I’ll wake up.” He hoped.
“Your phone is right by our heads on the nightstand.” Brenden madeshhhing noises. “Sleep.”
“Sleep. Lover. Sleep.” He took a deep breath and then collapsed, sleep drowning him.
Chapter Eleven
BRENDENcrept out of bed at dawn, checking on Britt and Peter before heading to the hospital area to see Susanna. He wanted to know her prognosis, wanted to see her for himself.
The soldiers were on guard, and Susanna was sleeping hard. Her arm looked rough, the wound open and draining, but the angry redness was gone, along with the feverish cheeks.
He smiled at her but didn’t wake her up. In fact, the only member of the family he went back to wake up was Moose. Brenden went to Britt’s door, ball in hand, and waved it.
Moose eased out of Britt’s arms and padded to him, tail waving in the air. They snuck back out of the family quarters, and he stopped a patrolling soldier. “Where can we play ball?”
The guy grinned at him. “That’s a great dog. What’s his name?”
“Moose. He’s a Newfie, and he needs exercise, bad.”
“There’s a mostly empty hangar. I’ll call it in to the security shed so no one worries about you.”
“That rocks.” Brenden needed exercise too.
“No problem. The little girl hanging in there?”
“She is. She looks way better, so I hope that bears out.” Susanna was so damn brave. Hell, obviously everyone knew her story already. He followed the soldier to a building about the size of… maybe a football field.
“Have at. There’s no one here to bother you.”
“Thank you so much. Moose. Ball.” Brenden stepped inside the building and threw the ball.
Moose took off like a shot, focused on that ball like a laser. Moose would rather swim or run with him, but ball was his default exercise when kids were about, and he was good at it. Ah, drooly ball. Moose dropped it into his hand, then waited, dancing.
So he flung it again.
It took damn near an hour for Moose to tire, but it did happen, his pup exhausted and well-run.
“I need some coffee, buddy, and I bet you want breakfast.” The sun was starting to peek over the horizon when they walked back to housing. “Not only that, but your little girl is going to be worried if she wakes up without you.”
Moose bounced, drool flying everywhere.
“I know.” He let himself in, peering in at Liam, since their room was first. Sleeping the sleep of the exhausted. Peter was snoozing, but Britt sat up, her hair crazy. “Is everything okay?”
“Moose needed to run a bit. Now he needs breakfast.” He grinned at her. “Want to run to the bathroom and come help, or do you want to sleep? I know it was nice to sleep in a bed, huh?” She’d been planted on the couch for days.
“I’ll help. I’ll help. Don’t go, Brenden, okay? Please?”
“Nope. I’ll wait here in the hall while you go potty and wash up.” Bless her heart. She was still so scared.
“You’re not going to leave me?”
“No, baby. I will not leave you. I promise.”
She ran to the bathroom like her little ass was on fire. He heard the flush moments later, and the sink, so at least she washed up. “Here I am.”
