Into the Mist by Maya Banks Page B

up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”
    â€œI’m pissed because I tried to go see D and got blocked by two of Jonah’s henchmen.”
    â€œAhh.” Mad Dog turned back to the M&M bowl and fingered one of the orange ones.
    She shot him a quelling glare, and he picked a brown one instead. “Ahh? Is that all you can say? This sucks, Mad Dog, and you damn well know it. Locking him up like a fucking animal? Forbidding me to see D like I’m some kind of goddamn child he has to babysit?”
    Mad Dog stared pointedly at her.
    She blew out her breath in frustration. “Okay, forget the babysitting part. I know I fucked up, but the keeping D locked up and me away from him bites, and you know it.”
    He reached out and chucked her lightly on the chin. “I know it sucks, baby. But in this…this time I support Jonah’s decision.”
    Tyana looked away, trying hard not to be angry with him. It wouldn’t change anything, and she really didn’t want there to be bad feelings between them. Or with Jonah for that matter, though after tonight, she knew there wasn’t a lot she could do about that.
    â€œI want to see him today, Mad Dog,” she said softly. “I need to see him and make sure he’s okay. If I have to fight my way through that goddamn door, I will.”
    He sighed. “I’ll make sure you see him after Marcus has been through to check things out, okay?”
    She nodded.
    â€œDid you and Jonah make up last night?” he asked in an abrupt change of subject.
    She made a face and hoped to hell Mad Dog hadn’t seen her and Jonah get all mushy. “Yeah, we’re cool. That is until he pissed me off again this morning.”
    He laughed. “Yeah, well him pissing you off is nothing new and vice versa. When you two start being nice to each other is when I’m gonna start looking for a new job.”
    She grinned. Their relationship…well, it just worked. It always had. She had a deep and abiding respect for Jonah that had started as hero worship and evolved as she’d grown older. Which made it so difficult for her to disregard his orders for the first time.
    Mad Dog cocked his head to the side. “I think I hear the chopper now. That must be Marcus.”
    She stood eagerly, but Mad Dog pushed her back down. “Let Jonah handle it. You’ll only get in the way, start butting heads, and D doesn’t need that right now. Be patient. I promise you’ll get to see him afterward.”
    With a resigned sigh, she settled back on her seat and stuffed more orange M&Ms in her mouth. When Jonah rounded the corner, their gazes connected for a moment before he walked out to the helipad to greet Marcus.
    â€œDown, girl,” Mad Dog murmured.
    She threw an M&M at him which he caught and promptly popped into his mouth.
    A few moments later, Jonah returned with Marcus, along with two men carrying a whole host of medical bags and equipment.
    Her panicked gaze found Mad Dog’s, and he reached out and covered her hand with his.
    â€œHe’ll be all right, baby. Trust in that.”
    She closed her eyes against the pain and fear that threatened to slice her in two. Damiano had to be all right. She simply wouldn’t accept anything less.
    â€œCome on, let’s go shoot some pool. It’ll get your mind off D for a while.”
    She reluctantly followed Mad Dog into the game room, but her attention was focused on what was happening upstairs.
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    After three frustrating rounds in which Mad Dog kicked her ass, Tyana was ready to concede defeat. She was solidly on edge, and with every minute that passed, she was more tempted to charge upstairs.
    Then Jonah appeared, standing in the doorway, his expression giving nothing away.
    â€œYou can go up and see him, Ty.”
    She tossed aside the pool cue and shouldered by Jonah without a word. When she reached the stairs, she vaulted up two at a time.