The only response I got was a moan.
Zab was already grabbing her other arm as we hoisted her up. “Should we bring Hawk here?”
“No. Quicker to get her there.”
We stood, walking her back as fast as we could, leaving a trail of blood in our wake.
We walked into the office, each of us with one of Gilli’s arms slung over our shoulders. She continued to moan, tears streaming down her face. I wasn’t sure if she was even cognizant at this point.
“Get Hawk,” I yelled to a frozen Bibbi.
Hawk was already there, walking in from the back room. He backed out of the door and pointed to the couch. “I’ve got to go get supplies. Keep her seated with her feet on the ground to limit circulation.”
“What about the blood loss?” I yelled to him as he walked out.
“More concerned about the poison,” he replied before he was gone.
Musso rushed over. “Damned grouslies again. Fifth attack in the last few weeks.”
Bertha sat beside Gilli, draping a throw over her shoulders. “It’ll be all right. Hawk will fix you up.”
Hawk was back downstairs seconds later, covering her legs in the same tincture he’d used on me. I nodded to Zab, motioning over to the side of the room and out of earshot.
“Does she have family?” I asked as he joined me.
“No. Just her. I’ll run over and tell her employees that she’s okay. They’ll figure out something to cover the shop tomorrow. They’ve been with her a while.”
I put out my arm, blocking him from going. “I’ll go. The grouslies won’t bother me, and they might still be nearby.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’ll shoot over—”
“Zab, let Tippi do it. We know they’re close, and they won’t touch her,” Hawk said from where he was bent over working on Gilli.
I gave Zab an I-told-you-so look, knowing he wouldn’t go against Hawk, not that he should. It was common sense.
“Before you go, what was that weird light-up thing you did when you were running at them?” he asked.
My stomach clenched and my mouth was suddenly dry. “What are you talking about? I thought that was you.”
“That was definitely not me. Your skin was nearly glowing.”
“I don’t know. I guess I just got excited or something.” And now I knew why Gilli’s employee was looking at me weird, afraid to get close. I probably should’ve offered to escort Zab over there, but I couldn’t walk it back now. The girl would have to get over it.
By the time I got back, Gilli and Hawk were no longer in the back room but everyone else was hanging around, having tea and basically sharing their nerves with each other. Oscar had gotten back and Bibbi was there too, petting something on her lap, which could only be Dusty, unless she’d developed a weird nervous tic.
“Where’s Gilli? Is she okay?” I asked.
“Hawk put her in a room upstairs,” Zab said, looking at the cocoa in my hand.
“She was rattled enough. I didn’t even want her to give me this one. I couldn’t very well ask her for another.” She probably would’ve given me ten to get rid of me. The only reason the employee had made it was that she’d been looking for an excuse to keep her distance.
“Aren’t you going to share?” Bibbi asked, as if she’d missed out as well.
“Sure. I guess. Who wants some?”
“Me,” said everyone. I managed not to groan as my cocoa, the only bright spot of the evening, was decimated.
“What room is she in?” I asked.
“In his wing somewhere, I suppose,” Bibbi said, in a slightly less cheerful way than normal. That was understandable, considering what Gilli had just gone through.
She was ripped up and attacked. Only a sicko would want to trade places with her, so what did that make me? Obviously a sicko.
I glanced down at the small drop of cocoa I had. This night was not going well.
13
“Did anyone see Gil yet?” Zab asked as I made my way into the back room for breakfast.
“I didn’t,” Bibbi answered, chewing on a pastry, the likes of which I’d never seen before.
When strange food started appearing, it meant only one thing: Bertha was on edge. Musso had admitted recently that as much as he hated when his wife was upset, there were a few perks to it. Looking at the spread on the table, he might be right. It looked like a wedding brunch spread.
“No, but I’m sure they’ll be down soon.” Bertha stopped moving for all of two seconds before turning to reach for another bowl. “We need more biscuits.”
“Great idea, Bertha. Couldn’t agree more.” Oscar grabbed two more off a towering heap.
I followed Bertha over to the side, where she was cracking black eggs into a bowl. “Bertha, are you okay? I didn’t know you were so close to Gilli.”
She put the bowl down and began wringing her hands. “I’m not. I have to tell you something horrible. I used to get annoyed with her and her chocolate, always carrying on about how hers was the best and no one could make chocolate or fudge like her.” She looked about the room, making sure no one was listening before she leaned in closer. “Sometimes I wished she wouldn’t be able to make chocolate for a while just so she’d shut up.”
“You didn’t do this to her, though, and you have nothing to do with the grouslies.”
“I don’t know. Thoughts can be a tricky thing. You don’t know how they might manifest. The least I can do is give her the best breakfast when she gets up, just in case my thoughts somehow contributed to this. It will make me feel better.”
“Getting annoyed with her and grouslies attacking her are very different, but I understand. And I’m sure she’s fine.”
She nodded as Hawk walked in, Gilli cocooned in his arms, her one arm wrapped around his neck. Her fingers were getting very familiar with his shoulder, rubbing back and forth, as if she were petting him. Her cheeks were a healthy, glowing pink. Her smile nearly split her face in half as he carried her to the couch.
Bibbi came and stood beside me, nudging me with her boot. When I glanced her way, she wasn’t looking at me but at Gilli’s hand on Hawk’s shoulder.
Bibbi had a point. Did Gilli really need to be carried?
Don’t be petty. She’d been attacked, and even though I was able to get past the stiffness in a day without too much trouble, everyone was different. She might be struggling. He couldn’t very well let her crawl downstairs.
Well…
No. He couldn’t.
But…
No.
Bibbi kicked me again, as if once wasn’t enough for the spectacle before us. She stood without a glance my way and a smile plastered on her face as she walked over and said, “Gilli, how are you feeling? Can I get you tea or cocoa? It won’t be as good as yours, of course, but maybe you’d like something?”
Gilli glanced up from where she was sitting on the couch, the look on her face slightly off. “I prefer Gillian, if you don’t mind? And a tea would be wonderful.” She searched the area. “Is that okay, Hawk? Can I have tea?”
Hawk was already halfway across the room. “What?”