Page 54 of New Nebraska Heat

And I needed to be at full strength to protect my mate. Conrad or Armand finding her again was a real possibility.

I raided the full-sized fridge for a water bottle, offering one to Bryce and Serenity, who refused and accepted respectively. The plastic crinkled in my palm as I pressed it against my temple, rubbing the condensation around and enjoying the refreshing cold. There had been more than enough heat for tonight.

A different doctor opened the door and strode in. This time it was a tall, mature female Fae wearing a teal cardigan, and a hospital ID on a lanyard around her neck. Doctors were in such a shortage in our new state, I’d read doctors’ salaries were triple here compared to the usual Fae hotspots like England. Not that you’d have known from her sour-looking expression. She slipped Dagger’s chart off the bottom of the bed and while flicking through the notes said, “Detective Pierce, you’re very lucky indeed.”

“Yeah, I feel it,” he replied, glumly munching on his banana.

Looking up, she speared him with a sharp smile. “I should think so. Another few minutes of such intense pressure and heat against your bones and we’d have been talking prosthetics.” She put the chart back, cracking a warmer grin for Bryce. “As things stand, considering shifter healing capacity, you should be walking normally again within around a week. Maybe ten days. You owe Mr. Harding your legs though.”

“I don’t want them,” Bryce quipped, who’d sat up a little to hear the doctor speak.

The fire story, because it involved mega celebrity Bryce—in his birthday suit too—was already all over internet sites. The newspapers would be adding all kinds of bullshit to the facts, come morning.

“When do you think I can get discharged, doc?”

“We’ll keep you in for monitoring tonight, just to err on the side of caution, but most likely tomorrow afternoon. Do you have someone at home who can assist you? Preparing food, changing clothes, bathing, and so on?”

Dagger shook his head. “Don’t you worry.” He held up his bicep and flexed. “This jaguar is solid titanium. I’m not having anyone helping with—”

“I can take care of that,” Serenity said.

Dagger swallowed hard and croaked out, “Actually, doc, I think you’re right. Maybe I do need some help with stuff like that.”

That little shit. I knew his game. I cleared my throat. Loudly.

Serenity leveled me with a scolding frown before clasping Dagger’s tattooed hand. “You threw me clear of that collapsing house. I’d never have survived. It’s the least I can do. And Hunter is family. You should come stay with us, until you’re better.”

This time my jaguar cleared my throat for me. The jealous growl bounced off the suite’s white walls, causing everyone to stop and stare.

“Would you like a throat lozenge, Mr. Pierce?” the doctor bantered.

I breathed deeply through my nose, reminding myself how Socrates or Marcus Aurelius would have carried themselves in this situation. With dignity, humility, and compassion.

But if Dagger thought he was getting a sponge bath from my mate, he was in for a reality check.

The doctor left and Serenity yawned, slumping back in her chair. “I’m so exhausted. I could really use a nap.”

She’d been through hell. I wanted her to get a peaceful sleep, and it wasn’t going to happen if I argued with her about where Dagger should stay. And it wasn’t going to happen in that armchair either, no matter how luxuriant the upholstery. Bryce, who was lying with a Serenity-sized space in his bed, looked at her with a yearning so intense that, if it had been anyone else, I would have roared loudenough to shatter the windows. But even my jaguar liked Bryce, and that speckled smartass didn’t like anyone.

Plus, Bryce had saved my dumb gumshoe of a twin from early and eternal retirement.

Prick or not, I knew deep down that Dagger did a lot of good keeping the streets of this messed-up city from ripping themselves to shreds. And he had a talent for saving innocents. Of course, he developed that too late for our parents.

I ground my teeth, torn between walloping his slappable face and wondering why I found it so easy to hate when I saw the same one in the mirror.

Serenity was nodding off. I winked at Bryce. He returned it with a discreet nod.

I took her dainty hand in mine and led her over to Bryce’s bed, kissed her goodnight and tucked her into a spoon with my billionaire best friend. He was a hero and a gentleman, and the look of bliss he showed when her skin touched his warmed my heart.

Dagger, ignorant of Serenity’s unique ability to touch Bryce, bolted upright. “What the fuck! You’re going to have them both in agony!” Then, seeing them quickly begin to drift off in a state of—well, serenity—he jerked his head back, flabbergasted. “What in hot fuck?”

“This isn’t police business,detective. So mind your own,” I said in a hushed voice. Sighing and picking up Bryce’s stained suit jacket, I squeezed into a chair and spread the tailored cloth across my chest like a ten grand blanket. An uncomfortable night lay ahead.

“But how can she…?”

My jaguar growled a message within my mind as I closed my eyes and tried my best to catch a few Zs.

“My jaguar wants to tell you something. It’ll explain the situation.”