Page 15 of Liar & Champion
“The man who assaulted my girlfriend? I’m pretty sure I don’t need many more details than that. The cops are on their way. I’m going to zip tie you to this tree while we wait for them.”
Nix moved him but then I took a step and my hips were dislocated, so that didn’t work very well. Nix let go of Michael so he could catch me, and Michael used that moment to dive into the car and drive off, tires squealing until he got it straightened out. He hit a garbage can that exploded all over the road and then turned the corner, covered in shredded paper and banana peels.
Nix exhaled heavily and then carried me into his house. I hurt so much that I didn’t even notice the pain from him holding me, but it must hurt, because it always did.
“This may sound ignorant, but hear me out. I know that you’re determined to not date anyone, but it may be in your best interest to have a boyfriend around who can handle himself in case of emergencies,” he said, putting me down on a mattress on the floor that had sheets but no blankets or pillows.
“What are you doing?” I asked, suddenly panicked. Being inside a house with a man was even more dangerous than being in a car.
He turned away and opened a big box, taking out a tool box that he set next to the bed. He sat down on the edge of themattress and opened it up. I recognized a very good quality first aid kit when I saw one.
“I’m not the best at stitches, but it doesn’t look as if you need those, unless he cut you somewhere under your clothes.” His voice was still pleasant, but there was a flicker of rage in his eyes that I sometimes saw in Beastie.
I put my hand on his shoulder. “I’m fine.”
He raised a brow and put my hand back on my lap while he rummaged around for whatever he was looking for. “You weren’t walking. Why’s that?”
I licked my lips. I should lie and crawl out of there, but that flash of rage wouldn’t let me go until he’d fixed what was broken. “My hips are dislocated along with a few fingers.” That was totally normal, right?
He nodded like it actually was and then turned, pulling me down using the sheet so it didn’t put pressure on my hips. He lifted my left leg and then rolled the join just so, making it snap back into socket.
I gasped, from his sensible reactions more than the pain, but it had hurt. “How do you know about—” I gasped again as he did the other one, then straightened my legs down and took my hand.
“Martial arts. Some have more dislocations than others.” He smiled sweetly, gentle blue eyes crinkling before he popped my fingers back into place one by one. He got a bandage out of the kit and set it to the side then put some kind of bruising and swelling cream on my knuckles. When he wrapped them, he was so careful that it didn’t hurt.
“I’m still not dating you,” I said, stubbornly. If that’s why he was doing all of this, he could forget about it.
“No? All right, but I reserve the right to claim to be your boyfriend every time you’re assaulted in my front yard. You told him my address. I’m glad you did. It’s okay to use me to protectyourself. I know that women have it hard, and I’m honored that you trusted me enough to direct that charming gentleman to my doorstep. Do you have his address so I can return the favor?” He wiggled his brows and I sighed heavily, pressing my palm to my eyes.
“I hate violence.”
“I don’t blame you. There’s nothing worse than feeling powerless. The guy, did you know him?”
“He stalked me a long time ago, but it hasn’t happened for years. I hope Bosky’s okay.”
“Should I call an ambulance? Do you have someone to call who can check up on him?”
“I left my bag in his car along with my phone and homework. He’ll probably deliver it to me with a creepy note. Michael Dupre is his name, and we went to school together years ago in Switzerland. He was creepy then, but now he’s really come into his own.”
“You went to school in Switzerland? Did you learn any interesting languages?” He started rubbing ointment on my arms.
“I can do that,” I said, taking the jar away from him.
“Can you do your back too? Because I’m pretty sure you’re bruised just about everywhere. I’m not going to hurt you, Kitten, and I’m not going to force you to date me. As hard as it is to believe, I’m okay with you saying no. I want to help you, because you’re a bruised little kitten, but if you want me to walk away, I can do that. I might call an ambulance and have them carry you away on a stretcher to the hospital, because it wouldn’t be right to let you suffer for no reason, but I won’t touch you against your will.”
I squinted at him. I really hated taking ambulances to the hospital. “I can’t reach the ones on my back,” I finally said. “Do you have any Gatorade I can drink? I’m kind of dehydrated.”
He grinned at me. “I have something even better, without the food coloring. I’ll get that while you do your arms, although those dislocated knuckles aren’t going to be useful for at least a few hours, better if you let them heal for a couple days.” He left me alone for a few minutes, then came back with a sealed bottle with labelling in another language. “My friend Jezzy brought these back from one of her trips, and they’re amazing. Can I put the ointment on you?”
I traded the ointment for the bottle, holding it carefully in my non-injured hand.
He was so careful not to hurt what was already bruised, or to bruise what hadn’t been injured. He smelled so good, clean, fresh, spicy, and for a second, I leaned my head on his shoulder while he worked on my back from his place to my side, strong arms around me, but not holding me exactly.
The sob caught me unawares. I’d been almost dozing and then the aftermath of the violence, the terror and anger, mixed with helplessness, caught up to me and I sobbed again. I held my breath, trying to not do this in front of my neighbor, but he only stroked my hair with featherlight fingers.
“It’s okay to be upset.”
I trembled and then broke, cracking open as the pain and fear poured out. He caught me in that storm, held me as sweet and gentle as you could, and murmured soothing nonsense that eased some of the pain inside. His voice was magic fire, pushing back the terror bit by bit while I clung to him, as desperately as if he was my dad, come back to save me from a world I couldn’t keep, however good or bad it was.
