Page 52 of Izzy
Ulises stopped on the sidewalk in front of a huge mansion. The white sign in the house's yard said it was a community center.
Ulises pulled him into a hug. "You're right. You've been through a lot too. I'm sorry I made you feel as though it was a competition. It's not."
"I know." He'd just wanted Ulises to understand he wasn't as innocent as he seemed to think. Ulises ended the hug, so Todd asked, "What about you? What's your job in the club? Not an enforcer or whatever Izzy's called."
"I don't have a job with the club." They started walking again. "Izzy and Daruss rescued me."
"Rescued you from what?" There weren't any cars parked on the street except for one. A red pickup truck that appeared as though it were brand-new. It stuck out more than normal because of the dark tint on the windows. They were so dark they appeared black. On a truck it seemed odd. Todd had seen the truck before. It had been parked on the street outside Ulises’ house.
Street parking wasn't a thing in Wingspan because they didn't need it. The houses were spaced far enough apart for driveways.
"Some very bad people." Ulises didn't elaborate but he did notice the truck a second after Todd did. He frowned but otherwise didn't mention it. "I'm not sure what my kidnappers wanted but they snatched me off the sidewalk on my way to class one day. I was in undergrad school for teaching. The experience completely derailed me."
"So you didn't go back to college after that?"
"Nope." Ulises pulled Todd into the community center doorway.
Todd glanced out of the window, watching the person in the truck drive away. "Should we mention that to Izzy?"
Ulises shrugged. "I keep seeing it. It’s followed me before."
They shouldn’t leave Ulises alone anymore, just to be safe.
The room they had entered had chairs stacked against the far wall. A table had a coffee pot on top of it. They headed down a hallway and then turned at the end. Todd wouldn't remember the way out. They took a series of turns before Ulises opened an unmarked door.
No one was inside the room, but the area was set up as though it were a waiting room.
Ulises entered the examination room without knocking. He held Todd’s hand the entire time and then pointed to a chair in the corner.
Machines and computers sat on top of a long counter. Todd recognized the microscope but not the thing the doctor fiddled with.
The doctor wore a lab coat and jotted down notes in a book. He waved the pen he held at the exam table. He didn't take his focus off what he was doing. "Sit. I'll be right there. Just gotta prepare for you. How's the cold, by the way?"
Ulises sat on the exam table.
The doctor turned, seeming startled but he recovered quickly and met Todd's gaze. "Oh. Hello. I didn't realize Ulises had brought someone with him."
Todd shrugged and sat where Ulises had indicated. "Just me. His future mate."
The doctor raised his eyebrows and directed his gaze at Ulises who blushed and shook his head. "He's not serious. He's mated to Izzy. Not me."
That made his eyebrows raise even more. When he turned to Todd, he smiled, losing some of his curiosity. It was as if hehad figured something out. "I'm Easton. Ulises’ best friend and doctor. I assume Izzy has come to his senses."
"Yes. With my help."
Easton grinned and met Ulises' gaze again. "I like this one."
Ulises shook his head, but he smiled. "I do too."
Todd winked at Ulises but otherwise didn't respond. Ulises and Easton start talking about Ulises' health, so he didn't want to interrupt them.
"The cold has gone into my chest, but I think I'm at the tail end of it."
Easton picked up a needle and alcohol swab. He lifted Ulises' sleeve and wiped the fleshy part of his shoulder. Before he stuck the needle into Ulises' arm, he said, "This is just vitamins that will give you energy and boost your immune system. B12 and 6. Vitamin C mostly. But also Selenium and zinc."
"Okay."
Easton administered the shot. "I was going to give this to you anyway because I think I've improved the drug that will shrink your tumor."
