“What’s going on?” Riley asks immediately, moving closer to Spike.
“Maverick’s men will be arriving within the hour,” Spike says, pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. “His estate isn’t an option right now, so I’ve offered the compound as a meeting place for today.”
“They’re Maverick’s people,” Sunny says quietly. “Aren’t we safe from them? He’s our friend.”
“I’m not taking any chances, baby sister,” Spike says gently. “I trust Maverick with my life…with all of your lives…but some of his people might not agree with our friendship. It’s best if my most precious people stay where I know they’re safe.”
“Aww,” I pout. “I thought I was on your list of most precious people. You’re just going to throw me in the middle of danger?”
“Like you don’t live for it,” Spike snorts. “War room in ten. We need to discuss shit before they arrive.”
He turns and leaves. I turn straight toward Eli, whose face is white as a damn sheet.
Shit.
“Baby,” I say quietly, cupping his cute, round face. “Are you with me?”
“Will you actually be in danger up there?” he whispers. “Can’t you just… stay down here? With me?”
Oh, my sweet boy.
“I’ll be okay,” I promise, pressing a slow kiss to his forehead. “Spike’s right. I live for these moments. But I’m really fuckingsmart. I don’t do stupid shit that puts my life or my brothers’ lives in danger. Everything I do is calculated. And I swear to you, Eli…I’ll always do everything in my power to come back to you.”
His breathing hitches. Too fast. Too shallow.
He’s panicking.
I can’t let that spiral go any further.
So I lean in and take his mouth…slow, deep, claiming him like he’s already claimed my fucking heart. It takes barely a brush of my tongue before he melts and opens for me. His fingers curl into my shirt like he’s drowning and I’m his lifeline.
When I finally pull back, he’s breathless.
“Not sure this is helping my racing heart,” he pants.
“I imagine not,” I chuckle, brushing my thumb across his lower lip. “Now it’s racing for a whole other reason.”
“Eli,” Abby says gently.
I step aside and let her in.
“I know you’re scared,” she tells him. “But I have something that might help. It helps me.”
With a little nudge, Eli follows her to the couch.
Abby taps a few buttons, and suddenly the security feed fills the screen…hallways, gates, open spaces of the compound.
“We can’t hear them,” she explains, “but we’ll be able to see them. We’ll know they’re safe.”
“No matter where they go?” he asks quietly.
Abby shakes her head. “Inside the war room isn’t monitored. Neither are the bathrooms. But everywhere else is.”
“Except the homes,” Riley adds. “There aren’t cameras inside the houses. But every porch has one. You’ll be able to see where Skip is, no matter where he goes. Even if you lose sight of him for a minute.”
Eli nods, but his eyes keep darting to me like he thinks I might disappear if he looks away too long.
My chest squeezes almost painfully.
