Page 71 of Finding Her Panthers

“It’s not your job to protect me. Just be my friend.” She smiles slightly.

“I am your friend. I’m allowed to be upset when mental people kidnap my friend because of me.”

“Alright. I’ll let you be upset but not guilty. You didn’t do this to me. They did.”

“You are something else. I should be the one trying to cheer you up,” I say, disgusted with myself.

“Just being here is doing that.”

“Crap, I should have known you would see the positive in this.” I roll my eyes.

“I don’t want to think about it,” she whispers.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Just one thing I have to know. Did they rape you? Touch you in that way at all?”

“No. Ames stopped that creepy dude. If he did, I might not be able to bounce back quite so fast,” she reassures me. “I have to say, I wish I had your superpower healing, though.”

“It does come in handy.” I laugh.

“So, you came after me.”

“Always.”

“Did they hurt you?” she asks, concerned.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Sure. Your mates found you?”

“Yes, along with Ryker.”

“The vampire?”

“Yeah, you know I was doing great on my own. I had everything under control.” I lean back in the chair.

“I’m sure. Mouthing off?” she asks dryly.

“Maybe a little.”

“So Cindy is a piece of work. Didn’t take your threats seriously, did she.” Penny tries to sit up against the pillows. She waves me off when I stand to help. “She was bragging about sleeping with your mates. Where is she now?”

“She never slept with any of them. She won’t be bothering anyone again,” I say vaguely. “Should you be sitting up?”

“The doctor gave me some good shit. Don’t worry. Well, good riddance. How’s the mate situation going? Progress?”

I move the neck of my shirt to the side so she can see the marks. “Some. I’ve bonded fully with two of them.” I pick some invisible lint off my shirt.

“Not Blue, though, right?” She looks at me knowingly.

“Why would you say that? You have hardly been around him.”

“That man has some demons. Plus, I know someone just like him.”

“Who?”

“Seriously? You are just like him.”

“I don’t think so. How?” I demand.

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