Dealing With the Dead by Toni Griffin Page B

for you to come down to the station." Noah took the card from the detective and placed it in his wallet. He watched as they left the room.
    They sat in silence for several minutes until the peace in the room was disturbed by a nurse and the entire Thompson family filing in. Thank God they had a private room.
    The nurse set about checking Jayden over, taking his temperature and blood pressure and filling out his chart.
    They visited with Jayden's family for about a half an hour, his brothers firing questions left, right, and centre about what had happened. Jayden took it all in stride and answered what he could.
    "So, I hear you had to go out to the crime scene?"
    Jayden asked Jackson.
    Jackson laughed. "Hell, bro, you have more magic

in your little finger than we do in our entire bodies."
    Jackson smiled, showing there was no malicious intent behind his comment. "It took all six of us working for hours to lay the women, and every single pet that you managed to raise in a matter of minutes, back to rest."
    Noah really didn't think he misheard the awe in Jackson's voice as he spoke to his brother. They continued to talk until it became obvious that Jayden needed some rest. Once they were alone again Noah kissed Jayden on the lips.
    "Sleep, Jay."
    "Don't go, please?"
    "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll be right here when you wake up,"
    Jayden nodded then slowly moved over and rolled onto his side. "Hold me, please?" His voice was so soft and quiet that Noah didn't have the heart to tell him no.
    "Okay but you tell me if I hurt you."
    "'Kay." Noah walked around to the other side of the bed, kicked his shoes off before climbing up on the bed behind Jayden. Gently pulling the man back against his chest Noah kissed the nape of Jayden's neck and settled down to get a little sleep of his own. Jayden's sigh of contentment was all the encouragement he needed to close

his eyes and sleep.

CHAPTER 12
     
    Six weeks had passed since Jayden had been
    released from the hospital. His bullet wound was now fully healed, and he had received word from Detective Daniels yesterday that they had finally caught up with Eric Benson, the man who had chased him through the streets shooting at him. Eric had been found in New South Wales, and the police were currently in the process of getting him extradited back to the Territory so he could face charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, rape, and a whole host of others.
    Now, however, Jayden stood in his parents'
    bedroom looking at himself in their full length mirror. He'd had his hair done again especially for the occasion. His eyes were lined in black liner, he had a light sheen of gloss on his lips, and he wore a tailored black suit. Any other time and Jayden wouldn't be caught dead in one of these things, but tonight was special.
    Tonight he and Noah would finally be joined as mates, and he wanted to make an effort to look good. He'd even given his boots a miss for the night and went with a shiny pair of dress shoes. His tie was a vivid blue to complement his hair and his eyes.

Jayden turned at a knock on the door and watched as his mother came into the room.
    "Oh, Jayden. You look wonderful."
    "What no 'baby'?" His mother laughed
    "I can learn." Jayden laughed at his mother's comment. Jayden smoothed his hands down his jacket.
    "You don't think it's too much, do you?" he asked.
    "Nonsense, you look stunning. Noah is a lucky man to be getting you. Plus the weather's cooperating and it's a lovely June evening so you won't be too hot."
    Jayden hugged his mum before giving her a light kiss on the cheek.
    "I'm the lucky one," he whispered. He truly believed that. Noah was everything he could ever want in a partner.
    He had finished moving Jayden into his apartment with the help of Jayden's brothers, since Jayden had been unable to help due to his wound.
    He and his brothers had finally sat down and had a long conversation about anything and everything after his shooting. They were all getting