“Kenny Reeves. Tonight is his twenty-first birthday. It’s nice to meet you, Kenny.” Michael kissed the top of the man’s head before standing. The other men in the room didn’t say anything, but Michael could read the compassion in their eyes.
Keeping Kenny cradled in his arms, Michael walked toward the door leading out of Gideon’s office. He took one stair at a time, his polar bear pacing angrily. The bear didn’t want to let the human go and although Michael agreed, he needed to think of Kenny’s needs before his own desires. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Michael took a deep breath and looked down at his mate’s sweet face once more.
“It’s going to be okay. I don’t want you to worry. My friends and I are going to drive you to the hospital. The man that assaulted you, he’s been arrested. When I step through this door, the music is gonna be pretty loud. I just wanted to warn you.” The man’s eyes filled with moisture and Michael felt incredibly guilty. He didn’t want his mate to cry or to be sad.
Leaning his face down, he whispered into Kenny’s ear. “It’s okay if you forget tonight and all the bad stuff.” I’ll find you and win you over, he vowed inside his mind.
“I’ll clear a path and we’ll drive you to the hospital.” Damon opened the door and the loud music rushed in, taking the silence away.
Sheltering Kenny’s body with his own, Michael rushed through the Silver Bullet. He stayed close to Damon’s heels as the man cleared a path. Nobody seemed to notice them, the other patrons were too busy dancing and drinking.
Once outside, the night air wrapped around them and Michael breathed out a sigh of relief. He stayed close to his friends as the men made their way through the parking lot. When they passed the white van, he stiffened, wishing he’d done more damage to the man that had assaulted his mate.
“Don’t worry,” Nicholas murmured. “We took care of him.”
“That bastard might not ever get a hard-on again.” Damon chuckled darkly and Michael couldn’t find the compassion inside his heart to care.
“I appreciate the back-up, guys.”
“You’re family,” Damon said simply, and Nicholas nodded in agreement.
“So…who’s driving?” Michael asked, because he knew that both men were big car lovers.
They didn’t carpool like most friends and relatives. Instead, they each took their own ride everywhere they went.
“Me!” they both shouted at the same time and Michael groaned.
He figured it was better to have this conversation while walking through the parking lot rather than standing beside the vehicles.
“No.” Nicholas shook his head. “Your car may be a classic,” he said the word as if it disgusted him. “But mine is brand new and way more comfortable.”
“Are you kidding me? Do you even know anything about cars?” Damon growled. “My 1965 GTO could kick your car’s ass. He’s an iron beast, built to deliver a beating and to take one. This car…” He glided his fingers over the blue paint. “…is always ready to burn rubber.”
“Your car is loud, rude, and offensive,” Nicholas told him.
“This car is the best thing to come out of the American car industry,” Damon challenged.
“Hey guys,” Michael interrupted. “I’ll just drive Kenny in my truck.”
“The hell you will.” Nicholas made a face. “Your truck wouldn’t make it to the hospital.”
“Look, I’m getting old here and my mate needs medical attention. Can you guys argue about this later?”
“Fine, we’ll take your new car, but only because Michael needs to hold Kenny in the back,” Damon relented, and Nicholas clicked the unlock button on his fob key to his BMW 4 series. “This conversation isn’t over.” Damon stared at Nicholas as he opened the passenger side door and sat down.
“Here, let me get the door for you, Michael.”
“I would’ve opened the door, but he was on your side of the car,” Damon argued and Michael groaned.
He ignored them both as he carefully slid into the back seat with Kenny situated in his arms. Leaning back, he adjusted the man so that he would be more comfortable. Michael didn’t take his eyes off Kenny the entire drive. He blocked out the conversation between Damon and Nicholas and focused all his attention on Kenny, his mate.
When the car stopped and the ignition turned off, Michael looked up. Before he even moved, there was a tap at the window. Jerking his head to the side, he saw Stephen standing there. He waved before opening the door.
“I know some of the doctors on staff here so I thought I would help you check him in. I called ahead and they’ve got a room ready. He’ll be well taken care of, I promise,” Stephen said.