Lexi glares at her brother. “I was excited for Riley to come home, not you, asshole.”
He chuckles, ruffling her hair. “Good to know this ordeal hasn’t affected your sass.”
She smirks. “It’s going to take a little more than this for me to stop arguing with you every chance I get.”
“Good to know.”
It takes over an hour to clear the warehouse, making sure every crate is checked and every document in the offices is read, but Lexi’s captors are in the wind, and that thought fills me with more anxiety than I can ever remember having.
Lexi and Laken cling to one another in the back seat of my SUV, and although I hate that either of them had to go through this, it’s nice that they’re not alone, that they have someone that understands to lean on.
I’ve tried calling Chris Lancaster, Laken’s father, several times, but he’s yet to return my call, something she wasn’t surprised by when I checked in on them a few minutes ago.
Nico hovers around the SUV, his eyes darting around for any threat that could come to them.
I tried telling him that the car may as well be a tank and you’d need a military-grade rocket launcher to get the door open, but that clearly hasn’t eased his worries.
I’ve seen men fall hard and fast for a woman, Cruz being a prime example, and that’s exactly what’s happening here.
“You ready to head home?” Cruz asks.
“We should take the girls to a doctor, just to get checked over.”
“Let’s do it at your apartment, where Lexi will feel more comfortable and that cat of yours can make sure her human is safe.”
Riley messaged a little while ago to tell us Pancake has been waiting at the elevator, letting out sad meows, ever since we left.
Like I said, cats are wildly in tune with their humans.
I nod. “Can you call the doctor?”
“You got it. Head off now. I’ll wind up here and meet you there in a little while.”
“Thanks, man.”
I don’t bother waiting for a response before striding toward the SUV.
Nico watches every step I take, his body tightening the closer I get.
“Get in,” I say, rounding the car rather than waiting for him to argue with me.
By the time I’m settled behind the wheel, Nico’s in the passenger seat, checking in on the girls. He turns back to me. “Where are we going?”
“My place. A doctor is going to meet us there.”
He looks like he might argue, but I take off toward my apartment building before he gets a chance.
Once I have Lexi back where I can ensure her safety, I might finally be able to breathe again.
FIFTY-SIX
LEXI
The drive is quiet, silent even, but I don’t mind it.
When I was locked in the cell with nothing but my own thoughts and insecurities, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to handle the lack of noise again, but I’m safe now.
Colten won’t let anything happen to me, and if the way Nico is looking at Laken is anything to go by, he’s not going to allow any harm to come to her either.
