Page 21 of The Russos
I’d heard some of it from Luca, but it was a totally different story coming from Hannah. It gave me a better understanding of what we were dealing with. Once she was done, she was exhausted, laying heavily against me and our males were nearly done wearing each other out too by the looks of it.
I’d have to think on it as I didn’t know what plants I’d be able to find here, but I had a feeling that I could help. Human drugs weren’t good for our animals, but I’d mastered the art of herbalism and complementary medicine long ago, thanks to my grandmother.
Luca and Anton had limped their way to us, sides heaving in exhaustion. It had been the one night that Luca hadn’t made love to me. The next night I’d arranged for Luca, Drake, Sam, my dad, and me to tag team Anton, that way we weren’t exhausted, but he was.
I’d not mentioned anything to anyone, but I was studying up on a tea that I thought would help Hannah. Her animal hadn’t disappeared completely, but she did seem to have taken a back seat in the healing process. From what I understood, the only time Hannah had changed was when Anton had spent the night away from her and she’d done it without realising it. Seemed the mate call was strong even if they weren’t fully bonded.
Luca and I were pulled out of our kiss when my dad shouted, “We’re rolling out in five minutes, people. Get your asses out here.”
“Fuck me, baby,” Luca groaned, rolling his forehead against mine. “I think your dad has a sixth sense about when my hands are on you.”
Snickering at his aggravation, I say, “Or he knows that anytime you have me close, you have your hands on me.”
“I’m always going to want my hands on you. I warned you about this,” Luca chuckles, pressing one last hard kiss to my lips before he steps back and picks my case off the bed.
“Come on, let’s get out of here before I throw you on the bed,” he rumbles grumpily.
Laughing, I walk past him to the opening of the tent, jumping when his hand connects with my ass.
“Hey,” I mutter, still laughing as I rub a hand over the area.
“That’s what you get for laughing at my pain,” Luca smirks over his shoulder at me as he walks past toward the two four-by-foursthat are parked under the trees in the shade. It’s early, not even five o’clock in the morning, but I can already tell it’s going to be a hot day.
Stopping by my dad, who’s eyeing Luca like he wants to kill him, I wrap my arms around him, breaking his stare as I give him a hug, “Morning, Dad.”
“Morning, darling. How are you feeling?”
“I’m good, Dad. I’m happy.”
Dad’s eyes soften as they roam over my face. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but he seems pleased with whatever he sees because he relaxes. Pressing a kiss to my forehead before he turns and walks us towards the vehicles.
“Morning, everyone,” I call cheerfully, getting various replies back in return.
“Let’s get moving, people,” Dad bellows out. Those of us that have served under him jump to. Anton and Luca look amused.
“Can you imagine when he meets the Chief?” Anton says to Luca with a chuckle. He’s smiling, but we can all see the strain in his face, from the tired dark circles under his eyes to the lines of strain bracketing his mouth.
“Fuck,” Luca rubs his hands over his face, “I’m not sure if we’re ready for that.”
We’ve all heard about the Chief, and while we’re laughing, I can see that Luca is worried about Anton.
Decision made, I open my bag and pull out a piece of paper with a list of herbs and plants that I need. I’m not sure if we can get all of them, but I need to try.
Walking over to Anton, I hand it to him; he takes it and reads it with a puzzled look before lifting his eyes to me in confusion.
“I can help Hannah. It’s a tea and those are the herbs and plants I’ll need. I’m not sure if I can get them all here or if you have something similar I can use.”
Luca had come up behind me and his hand settled on one shoulder drawing me back against him.
“Really? You can help?” Anton asks.
Nodding, I tell him, “Human medicine seriously messes with our animals. I’ve questioned Hannah but she didn’t know what they gave her. This tea won’t do her any harm, but it may just be what she needs to expel the rest of what they gave her. I’m warning you now she may get ill from it for a while until her body has got rid of all the poison. Because that’s what it is to her animal. It’s poison.”
Anton looks at Luca and hands him the list to read. “The only one I can think of who may know about these plants would be Annie. I’ll go and call her now.”
With that, Luca walks off, going to the small hill as it’s the only place where there is signal here in the campground.
Hannah had joined us while we’d been talking, leaning up against Anton, looking even more fragile this morning than what she usually did. This whole thing was taking a toll on both of them.