Page 65 of Omega Untamed

I squeezed Bast’s hand and turned my head to see him.

He had had his eyes closed. Dozing. Quickly, they opened. “Kee?”

I nodded. I couldn’t believe I was still alive. And Bast was right here next to me, holding my head in his lap. Bast the cop. Bast my rescuer and hero. I knew I was completely safe. “Well, that was fun. When can I go home?”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Bast began.

“What are you apologizing for?” I asked. “That I got shot? Or that you never told me you were a cop?”

He looked alarmed. “I couldn’t.”

We stared at each other for a long time.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I guess it takes a lot more effort than Myre had to kill me,” I replied.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I just got shot.” Then I smiled.

“It’s nothing to joke about.”

“Yeah. Well.” My thoughts turned more serious. “I just want to go home.”

Bast winced. “Home? Yes. Uh. Where is that?”

I pouted, then glared. “Well, I was doing a really good paint job, you know. And it still needs finishing touches.”

Bast blinked.

“If you’ll have me. I mean, try it out for a while?”

Bast bit hard on his lower lip. So hard I thought there might be blood. Then his eyes flashed with sudden excess moisture. He smiled hard, like the way a person does when they’re trying to hold back a ton of emotions.

“Yes. Yes! Of course! Try it out for a while.”

“Okay, then.” I moved to try and sit up. “Let’s call that doctor and see about getting me out of here.”

Bast said, “Maybe just rest for a little while?”

“No way. I hate hospitals.”

Bast helped me sit up. And then I was exhausted. “Well,” I said. “Maybe I could leave after another nap.”

*

The hospital kept me for a whole day. The bullet had been through and through and had not hit anything vital. I was broken, but not horribly so. The doctors and nurses released me into Bast’s tender care.

When we got to his apartment, all my stuff had been delivered from the hotel.

“Did the cops do that?” I asked as Bast got me settled into the—our—bed.

“I asked Sam for a favor.”

“I think saving your ass was the favor.”

“Yes.” He tucked the covers around me.’