Bedmates Soulmates

"What are you doing? the man shouted at his companion. 'Get over here and help me with this bitch!'

"Stop!" Damian yanked on the tall man's collar and hauled him backwards, away from Kira.

The shorter one rushed to his friend's rescue. 'Hey! Who the hell are you? Get lost!!

Damian wasn't much of a talker, he was a doer.

He broke the tall man's wrist, shoved him to the ground, turned in time to parry the short man's incoming fist with his forearm, caught the fist, and broke the short man's wrist as well. It took him all of five seconds to incapacitate both men.

You Let Them Off Too Lightly

'Are you hurt?'

Kira didn't hear him, still sobbing.

Austyn scanned her face, her neck and her body, his eyes coming to rest on her bare feet

He lifted her left foot gingerly.

There was a cut on her sole.

It was about the length of a man's finger and still bleeding.

Austyn clenched his jaw.

She didn't know how to take care of herself.

How could she just run out of the house like this?

He camed her in his arms to the Hummer.

Kira didn't struggle.

Damian followed the couple, shaking his head in amusement.

"My apartment's nearby,' he said to Austyn. "Your villa's uphill and further away. Why don't you drive to my house? I'll call Jesse to come and check her out." Austyn nodded.

Damian jogged back to his Jeep.

Austynlaid Kira down on the backseat.

He was in the rain for less than five minutes and already soaked.

Kira grabbed Austyn's shirt and refused to let go.

She was shivering

Austyn twisted his body to reach the dashboard,

He adjusted the temperature.

The aircon started blowing warm air into the car.

"Better?"

Kira nodded, her teeth chattering.

Austyn ran a hand over her body, checking for wounds,

Other than the long gash on her left sole, she also had multiple smaller, shallower cuts and scrapes.

Her cheeks were swollen.

Her t-shirt and jeans were spattered with mud.

'I called Jesse.' Damian sprinted over. 'He's on his way."

'Thanks."

'Don't mention it."

"How'd you find her?"

'I went back to Springriver today. Dinner ran late. I was on my way back to the apartment when I saw her."

Springriver Mansion was the family residence of the Matthews.

Damian continued, 'She was waylaid by two thugs in the woods. I intervened."

"What did they do to her? Austyn's voice was glacial,

One guy slapped her on the face before I could get there. They didn't have time to do anything else.

tod

"Where are they now?"

"I broke their wrists. They ran away"

Austyn curled his lip. 'You let them off too lightly."

'They're just a couple of drunken cowards, Damian took the criticism with equanimity. I would've delivered them to the police, but I couldn't leave Kira alone, given the state she was in'

He glanced at Kira whose face was buried in Austyn's shirt. 'What's wrong with you? How could you let her come out alone at this hour?

Austyn removed his suit jacket and covered Kira's shoulders.

The jacket was wet, but it was better than nothing.

Kira's breathing had slowed down to normal.

She was no longer shivering

"We had an argument,' Austyn said in a low voice. 'I left the house and went to Luca's. I didn't expect she would run out after me."

She must have been so scared, first by the thunderstorm, then by the two thugs

Austyn didn't dare imagine what would have happened to her if Damian hadn't passed by.

He looked down

Kira's eyes were closed, her long, wet lashes trembling

Damian shook his head. 'You guys are really something."

As a man who lived alone, he didn't envy his married friend.

He slapped the side of the Hummer. 'Come on. Let's not waste time chatting. Follow my car. Be careful.

Austyn tried to get up.

He was in the backseat with Kira.

But she refused to let go of his waist.

'I need to drive," he said.

Her eyes were screwed shut.

She didn't appear to have heard him.

Austyn tried to free his arm, but she had a surprisingly strong grip and he didn't want to hurt her.

He paused, then he carried her in his arms and exited the Hummer,

He walked over to Damian's Jeep.

"What's wrong?' Damian asked.

"I can't drive with her hanging onto my arm."

'Okay. Get in.'

Austyn got in the backseat of the Jeep.

'What about your car? Damian twisted around in his seat to look at the couple

I'll have to

to leave it here and call someone to pick it up later."

'Aren't you worried it'll get stolen?

'I locked all the doors and windows. There's no o

one out and about at this hour. I think it's sate enough."

"okay. It's your call. Damian started the engine.

Ten minutes later, he stopped the car.

Austyn carried Kira into the split-level apartment.

"Jesse needs another hour, Damian said, checking his phone.

"Yau Let Them Off You Lightly.

3/3

""May I?' Austyn tilted his head towards the bathroom.

'Go ahead.'

Austyn brought Kira to the bathroom and set her down in the bathtub.

There was no time to draw her a bath, so he turned on the shower, waited for the water to heat up and then ran the handheld showerhead over her body. A knock came from the door.

Austyn switched off the shower, made sure Kira was sitting up in the tub and wouldn't slide down, then he came out of the bathroom.

Damian handed him a small stack of clothes. They're my wife's. Might be half a size too big for Kira. But it's just for the night. "Thanks, Damian.' 'Don't mention it."

Kira's eyes were still closed when Austyn returned to the bathroom.

He was getting worried.

Was she sleeping or passed out?

Austyn helped her change out of her wet clothes and towelled her dry.

He got her dressed and carried her out of the bathroom.

Damian opened the door for Jesse an hour later.

The doctor had one hand against the door jamb and was panting

'What took you so long?'

"What?" Jesse straightened up, wiping water away from his forehead.

He pointed a finger to the windows. "Have you seen the rain? It's bucketing down out there, brother. Some razas are closed. Others are

slippery. I was lucky to get here in one piece.

He shook his head like a dog to get rid of the water on his face.

Damian tossed him a towel. 'Quit complaining. It's just a little rain."

'A little?' Jesse shot Damian an incredulous look

A supercell thunderstorm was just a little rain to his battle-hardened friend. Jesse bet Damian would call an amputation 'just a little wound."

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The doctor removed his wet shoes and changed into indoor slippers.

He glanced at the shoe rack by the door.

All men's trainers, brogues, loaters and combat boots.