“I can walk, you know.” Though it does feel rather nice, being cradled against his chest. Like something precious.
“I know you can,” he says easily, turning the corner and walking down another empty hall. “I’m carrying you for purely selfish reasons.”
“Such as?”
“Well, for one, I’ve been itching out of my skin ever since they sent you to the Cathedral. Holding you makes me feel better.”
Oh. “I…suppose I can understand that.” We pass a reception desk and are almost to the elevator. “I’ve been pretty miserable too…and it’s nice bein’ held by you. I don’t know if I’ve had a proper meal the whole time I’ve been gone.”
All my men, even West, growl at my words.
Nuh-uh. We cannothave that. Not when we’re about to enter the line of fire again and I have some personal business to take care of. I make my voice extra sweet. “Sammy-boy, will you set me down, pretty please?”
Something in my tone must alert him to my annoyance, because he sighs as he puts me down, and crosses his arms.
My back to the elevator, I place Turnip on my shoulder and prop my hands on my hips, surveying my men. Kole, dark and broody. Sam, hard and reserved. West, open but cautious, and Hayden. My sweet,tortured boy who looks like he might lose it if I ask him to take a step back.
But I have to.
“Listen.”
I scowl at Declan and Rory as they mutter, “Oh, here we go,” and lean against the wall.
“I went through some shit. I will give you every name of every asshole who did me wrong. But right now, what I need from all y’all is to take your growly alpha and beta mojo and shove it deep,deepdown. I promise, as soon as we get out of here I will let you pamper and coddle me. I’ll let you rub my feet and hand-feed me grapes if that’ll make you happy.” I meet all their eyes, one by one, and let it sink in before I say my next part. “But what Icannothave you do is put my mission in jeopardy because you’re tryin’ to protect me. Or worse, get yourselves killed ‘cause you’re too worried about keepin’ me safe. If we fail to get Mabel, everythin’ I went through will be for nothin’. I can handle myself, remember? Declan hasn’t spent the last five years teachin’ me how to do circus tricks.”
“Well, notjustcircus tricks,” Declan pipes up, and I shoot him a middle finger.
“Regardless,” I continue, rolling my eyes, “I need you guys to promise me you’ll let me handle myself, okay?” A draft from the air conditioning picks up, and I shiver, rubbing my arms.
“Here you go, sweetie, you must be cold.” I look over to see Helaena holding an oversized cardigan out to me. “It was draped over the chair behind the reception desk.”
Giving her a grateful smile, I pull it on, and let out a mental sigh of relief when it reaches mid-thigh on me. At least my ass is covered now. I move Turnip from my shoulder to the pocket of the cardigan, which thankfully, buttons shut.
Sam sighs, running a hand over his buzzed head. “I get it. Here.” He reaches for one of the knives strapped to his thigh and holds it out to me. “I’d feel better if you had this.”
Oops. Yeah, having a weapon might be good.
I take it from him with a sheepish smile before turning back to the three remaining members of my pack. “Are we clear?” I ask West, Hayden, and Kole. “Because if any of you are thinkin’ that I can’t handle this, I need you tonotcome with us.”
“Try to stop me,Lisichka,” Kole rumbles, stalking over and pressing a kiss to my lips. “I know you can handle yourself.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Hayden’s voice is more determined than I’ve ever heard. “You may be able to handle yourself, but you don’t have to bebyyourself.”
“You’re the most terrifying woman I’ve ever met,” West murmurs, cupping my cheek. “I would pray for their souls…but they don’t deserve it.”
I let out a heavy sigh, and lean into his touch, closing my eyes briefly.
“Okay.” My eyes snap open, and I nod. “Let’s fuck some shit up.”
sixteen
Jo
The guys keep trying to give me their bullet-proof vests in the elevator, no matter how many times I tell them no.
It’ll only slow me down, and more importantly, it’ll squish Turnip.
We arrive at the floor “D”, and I’m not sure what it’s supposed to stand for, and I don’t really care as long as it’s not D for “Dick”.
