“It’s not the only thing in the fucking press,” Rue muttered angrily, and Monty got a sinking feeling.
“What this time?” he asked with trepidation, already aware of how the omegas had suffered.
“Someone in the hotel sold their story about what happened with the omegas three weeks ago.”
Kendrick held up his hand. “Sorry, what happened three weeks ago? I don’t read newspapers, they’re full of shit.”
Rue ran through everything, giving brief highlights, then explained how four of the omegas were moving to the ranch.
“You’ve offered to be the one to facilitate the move here?” Kendrick clarified deliberately.
Rue nodded slowly. “I have skills from my army days that could help. Only two of the security team are due to be coming with them.”
“What am I missing? Are they in danger from more than just the press?”
Monty witnessed Rue’s hesitation at answering Kendrick, his stomach twisting into knots. “There have been threats, I won’t lie. The alphas involved in the abuse aren’t happy that this is all going to court and they could get prison time.”
“Fuck, so you’re putting yourself in the firing line.”
Those words rang through Monty, but not because of the threat. Hell, no. For Rue to consider this… then surely, he must have feelings for them? Want to see where this thing was going? Was he reading too much into this?
“I can handle myself, Kendrick.” Rue smirked sexily. “I might like you to pin me down and fuck me, but if I wanted to do the same to you, I could,easily.”
Monty groaned aloud, his body responding to the visual of something that hadn’t—as far as he knew—been on the cards.
Kendrick looked ready to burst through the screen. “That can be arranged.” He was so close to the screen his face filled it. “I’m going to assume that you’ll both need a place to stay—with me.”
It really wasn’t a question, and Monty giggled, although Rue’s laughter surprised him.
“Bossy much?” Rue ran a hand through his hair, his expression turning serious. “Is that ideal? We… what… shit I don’t even know what we’re doing here.”
“Figuring our shit out is what we’re doing. I miss you both.”
Raw honesty gave Monty a hard knock to his chest, his hand trembling as it pressed against his racing heart.
Rue’s throat clicked when he swallowed. “We could try—”
“I’m in.” Monty had no issues in wanting to see how this could work. Life was a gamble, and sometimes folks lost, but then some won big. Hollis, Frey, and Ziggy had, so why couldn’t he? Kendrick’s home was gorgeous and big enough for them not to be up in each other’s space all the time. A definite bonus.
Rue’s groan was long and pained. “Is that right?”
Monty leapt into Rue’s lap, not overthinking it, and slung his arm around his neck. Grinning cheekily at Rue, and then Kendrick, he said, “He offered, I don’t want to offend him, but staying in a tiny cabin versus Kendrick’s big house is a no brainer.”
“Thanks, I think,” Kendrick spluttered through his laughter. “What about you, Rue?”
His smile was hesitant. “It could be too much, having us there—all the time?”
“I’m a big boy. I can express myself if I’ve a need to. You don’t need to add that to any pile of worry you've got going on in that head of yours.”
“If you want us to leave, feel it’s not right, then just say and we’ll head to the ranch,” Rue persisted.
Monty’s stomach flip-flopped. Was that a yes? “Are we doing this?”
A saucy smile aimed at the iPad got Monty wiggling on Rue’s lap. “A two-foot-four cradle for a bed versus your enormous bed? As my PA said, it’s a no brainer.”
Chapter Nineteen
Kendrick
