didn’t bleed. Keeley’s wasn’t. So, where was the blood coming from?
Reece used one of his claws to cut open Keeley’s shirt, spreading the material to check his chest. Again, besides some cuts, scratches, and a few bruises, there were no deep wounds. He didn’t find any when he stripped off his jeans either.
“I’m going to roll you over now, Keeley. I need to check for injuries on your back,” Reece said softly before he carefully rolled him over. Okay, no major injuries. Most of the blood seemed to be on his clothes.
He looked down into Keeley’s face again, noting the purplish bruises forming on his delicate face. Someone had worked him over pretty well, and if he ever got his hands on them, they would wish that they were dead.
“Keeley? I’m going to pick you up now. I want to take you upstairs and get you cleaned up a bit, then I’m going to put you to bed, okay?” Reece said softly. Thinking of the other people in the house, he grabbed a towel off the shelf and wrapped it around Keeley before gently lifting him up into his arms.
As carefully as he could, Reece carried Keeley out of the laundry room. As soon as he reached the living room, he called out for Devlin, then hurried up the stairs. He was just reaching the top steps when Devlin came out, Douglas on his heels.
“Keeley fell asleep so I’m putting him to bed. Do you think you could come up and get the door for me? I have my hands full,” Reece asked, shielding Keeley’s body with his much larger one. He didn’t want anyone to know that Keeley had been attacked until he knew what had happened. “Douglas, could you get us all a drink? There’s a liquor cabinet by my desk. We’ll be down in just a moment.”
Devlin looked confused, but came up the stairs anyway. Reece watched until Douglas went back into the study before heading to the bedroom. He waited for Devlin to get there, still hiding Keeley from his view until the door was open.
“Devlin? Come in and shut the door,” he ordered.
Devlin still looked confused, but did as Reece said, shutting the door before coming back to stand at the end of the bed. Reece carefully laid Keeley down on the bed before sitting down next to him. Only then did he see what had been done to him.
“Oh my god! What in the hell happened?” Devlin shouted in horror.
“Ssshhh! Keep your voice down. I don’t want anyone to know what happened until I know what’s going on,” Reece admonished him.
“What did happen?”
“I don’t know. I found him lying on the floor in the laundry room. God, Devlin, there was blood everywhere. I thought for sure he was dead, but I can’t find any major injuries on him. He has cuts and abrasions all over his body like he’s been in a major fight, but the only real injury is this,” Reece said, lifting Keeley’s hair out of the way to show Devlin the puncture wounds in his neck.
Devlin stepped closer, his mouth dropping open in shock. “He’s—he’s been bitten.”
Reece nodded. “There was a bloodsucker in our house, Dev, and whoever it was, they attacked Keeley. This didn’t happen by chance. Someone was waiting for him in that kitchen, and they had help.”
Devlin looked at Keeley for a moment, then nodded his head as he walked over to the phone on the nightstand and picked it up. “I’m calling Chase and Donovan home. I think we need the added protection.”
“That’s probably a good idea. Until they get here, I don’t want anyone knowing what happened to Keeley. As far as everyone is concerned, Keeley fell asleep while cleaning up the kitchen. Understood?”
Devlin nodded even as he heard someone answer the phone. “Chase? It’s Dev. We need you to come home. We’re in trouble.”
Chapter 7
“Reece.”
Reece quickly turned and leaned down over Keeley when he heard him murmur his name. “Keeley? I’m right here, baby. Can you open your eyes for me? I need to see those beautiful green eyes of
Gemma Halliday
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CHRISTOPHER M. COLAVITO
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