Barrett knew Jayden wouldn’t move no matter how painful it was.
Barrett stilled himself and positioned the knife. Jayden’s body would burn off the effects of the painkiller due to his high metabolism, so he had to act quickly. He prayed the painkiller would at least dull the sting of the knife.
He cut into his lower back and Jayden flinched underneath his fingertips yet didn’t cry out. Barrett could feel the bullet and wasted no time in digging his knife further into his Guardian’s back.
When he finally dug out the silver bullet, he pressed a wad of gauze against Jayden’s back that Braxton handed him.
After he patched the gauze to Jayden’s lower back, Barrett helped Damon turn him.
Jayden’s face was paler than Barrett had ever seen and he was a little afraid that Jayden might have lost too much blood.
“Is he going to be okay?” Haley looked up at him, her eyes watery.
“Yes.” He hoped he wasn’t lying.
#
Jayden opened his eyes.
Nope it wasn’t a dream. He’d hoped the pain he felt was part of a nightmare. No such luck.
“Hey. You’re awake.”
He jerked his head toward Haley’s voice. She leaned down over his bed.
“Hey you.” He reached up and cupped her cheek.
“How do you feel?” Her eyes were red from where she’d been crying.
“Like I’ve been shot.”
She smiled a little. “You were.”Jayden grimaced. “I think I remember Barrett digging out the bullet.”
Haley nodded. “He did a good job though. The Guardian doctor said you should heal within a few weeks.”
Jayden frowned “How long have I been out?”
“Only a day.”
“Where’s Mark?” Anger raged through his veins.
She looked away.
“What? What is it? Did he get away?” Jayden bolted up in bed and grimaced when his back ached in pain.
“No. He’s not going anywhere.” Haley bit her lip. “He has to recover from surgery.”
Jayden frowned.
“Let’s just say he is one nut short.” Haley blew out a breath.
“You bit his nuts off.” Jayden frowned.
“Just one. He’s still got the other.”
“Well, did you wash your mouth out?”
Haley laughed. “Yeah.”
“Good, then come kiss me.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“Are you ready?” Jayden crossed his arms and leaned against the kitchen door. It had been four weeks since he’d been shot. It only took him a week to heal from the silver bullet. Haley had stayed by his side refusing to leave for a minute. She refused to go back to college until he was completely healed.
“I’m almost ready.” Haley called out from the bathroom. Barrett had let Haley stay in his house and finish out the semester. After finding out who her fiancé really was, Dana had been devastated. She’d really cared for Mark, only to learn he was a psychopath who was going to rape and murder her best friend. Although Dana asked Haley to move back into the dorm with her, Haley said she needed more time. They both did.
“Stop stalling,” Jayden called out.
“Who’s stalling?” Haley emerged from the bathroom wearing a tight T-shirt, jeans that showed off every curve, and biker boots.
Jayden’s mouth went dry as he straightened.
“I’m ready.” She propped her hands on her hips and smirked.
“Let’s go then.” Jayden opened the front door and let her walk out first.
The summer breeze ruffled her hair and her scent wafted over him, making him hard. Since her stalker had been captured and brought before a Tribunal, they’d not had any time. At the Tribunal, Mark was found guilty and sentenced to death. Jayden was deemed the executioner by Barrett.
She’d not asked how Mark had died. He’d hoped she wouldn’t. If she asked, Jayden would tell her. He would tell her they were left alone in a room, where they each shifted into wolf. Mark had attacked first. Jayden let him. He knew once he got a taste of his blood, he wasn’t going to stop. He had paid Mark back for all the pain and suffering he’d inflicted on Haley. He’d ripped him apart until you couldn’t tell what kind of animal he’d been.
Haley looked at his bike and then back at him. “Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Perfectly fine.” He handed her a helmet and strapped it on her head.
“I’ve never been on a Harley before.”
“Not just any Harley. A Harley Breakout,” Jayden corrected her. She looked gorgeous standing by his bike in those tight jeans. He almost wanted to tell her to forget the whole thing and go back in the house and make love to her.
“I’m ready.” She beamed a smile at him.
He straddled his bike and waited for her to settle behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he didn’t fight the smile that played at his lips. She felt fucking perfect.