"I hate this! I hate living like this!"
"I know, darlin'. I'm doing everything I can to make it better. That's why I'm bringing Black Hat Security in. It might take them a little while to find the slippery bastard, but they will. It's what they do. And once they find him, I'll put an end to him. Let me make the call."
"Isn't awfully late?" she asked, since it was already after eight in Alaska.
"Locke will still be up," he replied before he pulled out his phone and put it on speaker so Frankie could be part of the conversation.
"Black Hat Security Company, Locke speaking."
"Locke, it's Yaeger Delacroix."
"Yaeger, it's been a long time. How's it going?"
"Yeah, it's been a few years. And not so good. That's why I'm calling."
"I gathered this wasn't a social call. Tell me what's going on."
"First, I have to tell you, you're on speakerphone so my girl can be part of the conversation, since this is about her."
"Your girl? Well then, introduce us."
"Frankie Riggs meet Locke. Locke, Frankie," Yaeger said.
"Hello," Frankie said, leaning forward a little.
"Hello there. It's nice to see someone got this man to settle down."
"Now you're making me sound like a manwhore," Yaeger grumbled.
"If I recall correctly, you hit on, and got turned down by, both Sumi and Lila," Locke countered.
"Fair point, but back to why I called."
"Yes, let's get back to business."
"I'm calling in that favor you owe me. My girl has a stalker. He's a rogue shifter who has already killed two humans for putting their hands on her. We're pretty sure I'm in his crosshairs and he's just biding his time before he attacks."
"So you'll need protection for both you and her."
"No, I want him to come after me so I can take him out."
"Chances are, he'll come at you when your guard is down and you least expect it. No, protection detail for both of you. I'll put Sumi on Frankie and Knox on you. Give us a week to finish up the job we're on and then we'll be there. Where are we headed?"
"Thorne Bay, Alaska. Bundle up because it's cold as fuck," Yaeger told him.
"Noted. We'll see you in a week. Try not to get yourself killed before then," Locke said before he hung up.
"I'm surprised you didn't argue having a bodyguard," Frankie said once it was just them again.
"It wouldn't do any good with Locke. He's going to run this show his way, so I just have to suck it up," he replied. He wrapped his arms around her. "At least that's done. You'll like Sumi. She's a leopard and she's deadly."
"So you hit on her and she turned you down, huh?"
"Jealous?" he chuckled.
"Do I need to be?"
"Not a bit, darlin'," he said as his arms tightened around her. "There's only one woman for me and I've got her right here. How about we put on a movie and relax?"
