Dead in the Shop by Dahlia Donovan

Author:Dahlia Donovan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Chapter Twelve

“Are you going inside?” Reggie prodded Valor, who found it difficult to move now that they’d finally parked outside the cottage. “As much as I enjoyed the ten hours trapped in a vehicle with you, I’d think you’d be anxious to get inside.”

Valor dropped his head against the seat and gave Reggie a nod. “Cheers for the clothes and the ride.”

In total, between the abduction, rescue, and recovery time at the hospital, Valor had been gone from Grasmere for over a week. He’d mostly recovered from his ordeal. His frostbite required a few more sessions of heat therapy for his toes, and the injection sites were still a bit sore.

Nerves had built up inside him over the last hour of the drive. Irrational, but there nonetheless. He hadn’t faced the truth of how close he’d actually come to death. The crash, the fire, and being dragged off to Scotland. How much more can we survive?

Forcing himself out of the vehicle, Valor had to take a few breaths to settle himself. He started up the walk toward the door, which swung open almost immediately. Reva stared at him for several seconds.

She flew down the walk and pounced on him, ignoring his pained grunt when her shoe bumped into his. “You’re alive.”

Valor gave her a tight hug but released her when Bishan hobbled down toward him on one crutch. “Bish.”

Ducking around them, Reva disappeared into the cottage. Valor didn’t even pay attention to her; he focused his attention on the man held tightly against him. Bishan had looped his free arm around Valor.

“Val. Val. Val.” Bishan grabbed onto Valor’s shirt so tightly he worried the buttons on the front might pop. “Val.”

He waited patiently, despite the rain beginning to pelt them, while Bishan continued to murmur his name over and over. “I’m here. I’m all right—didn’t even lose a finger or toe in the process. They’re a wonky pink colour, though.”

“Not funny.” Bishan’s fingers dug into his back a bit more firmly as he pressed closer to Valor. “Mum said to stay hopeful. I made Sunny take me to the shop. Saw the blood. Your blood. I thought he’d finally gotten you.”

Valor decided not to offer fake platitudes; none of them knew if they’d escape alive. He’d been incredibly lucky in Scotland, as had Bishan in the explosion. “I did my best to get home, Bish. I’ll always fight with everything I am to stay safe for you.”

The increasing rain drove them into the cottage. Valor helped Bishan through the crowd inside, who immediately tried to get their own hugs. He managed to embrace each of them with Bishan still clutching his hand.

While Valor appreciated their vigil in Grasmere for him, their presence had to be overwhelming for Bishan. I’m tired of them already, and I just got here. Is it rude to toss them all out on their ear? Probably.

I just want a moment to myself with Bishan without an audience of hundreds.

Not hundreds, but it’s more than I want to deal with.

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