Part of me wondered if that was because Tommy was always worried about what my father would do if he disobeyed. The other part worried he was saving it all up for his teenage years.
Apprehension skated along my nerves as I followed Stalker downstairs to Sinclair's office. I knew he'd called Sinclair to tell him we were coming, but I wasn't expecting to find the room full of people. Once we entered, I pulled Tommy close against me.
"What's up, Stalker?" Sampson asked.
"With your acceptance, my mate and I would like to join the pride."
Sampson smiled. "We would welcome you both."
"Before you say that, you need to know what we're facing," Stalker said. "Jojo's father is after him and the boy. From what Jojo's told me, he won't stop until he has them. Our joining the pride could bring his wrath down on all our heads."
"Pppfff." Sampson waved a dismissive hand. "If we can't protect your mate from one alpha, we have no business being assassins."
"And Tommy," I said quickly. "He's more important than I am."
He was still just a baby really. He needed the most protection.
"Protecting your son goes without question, Jojo," Sinclair said. "He is a child. He must be protected, but we would protect you just as vigorously, whether you become a member of our pride or not."
I nodded. "I know, and I thank you for that."
"I believe joining the pride would grant Jojo and Tommy added protection," Stalker said. "And something in my gut is telling me they'll need it."
My gut clenched at Stalker's words. Did he know something I didn't? And if so, how did he know it. "Stalker?"
He shook his head. "I don't have anything concrete to tell you, babe. It's just a feeling I have, and in my line of business, I've learned to trust my gut. Right now, it's screaming that you and Tommy need every bit of protection we can get you, and you need it now."
That was not what I wanted to hear.
"Well," Sinclair said, "I guess we should welcome you into the pride then."
I raised my eyes to look at Stalker when Sinclair pricked the tip of his finger with a knife then held the knife out. Stalker grinned as he pricked his own finger. My eyebrows shot up when they exchanged the blood drops on the ends of their fingers, each of them licking the blood off the other one's finger.
Stalker's eyes widened for a moment before a big grin spread across his face. "That is so funky."
"What?" I asked.
"It's like a pressure at the back of mind, an impression of each member of the pride."
Stone chuckled. "It's weird, isn't it?"
Stalker nodded before holding the knife out to me. "Prick the end of your finger, Jojo, and Tommy's. We need you to exchange blood with Sinclair."
I grimaced as I took the knife and pricked the tip of my finger. I glanced up at Stalker. When he nodded, I stuck my finger out to Sinclair. As soon as the man's blood dropped on my tongue I felt a wave of pressure build in my head.
For a moment, I was afraid, terrified even. I could feel something tugging hard, painfully. When it snapped, my knees gave way beneath me. Stalker caught me before I could hit the floor.
"Jojo?"
"Wait." I blinked rapidly to dispel the tears that had sprung up in my eyes due to the pain in my head. "Just give me a minute."
I thought I was going to be okay when the pain faded, but the sense of contentment and being a part of something bigger than myself that swept through me was unlike anything I had felt in my life.
"What is that?" I whispered.
"That's the pride," Sinclair explained.
I shook my head emphatically. "No, I've been a part of a skulk. It never felt like that."
