“Ah, yes. Master Vander called while you were out. He sends his apologies, but Master Xavier has extended their business another two days.”
Adela’s shoulders deflate. “Oh. Okay. Thank you, Bertrand.”
She goes to roll up her window, but then Bertrand is speaking again. “Shall I send someone to help with your guests' bags?”
My eyes widen in panic. We don’t have bags. A dead giveaway to the fact her story is completely fabricated.
“Wouldn’t you know it, the airline lost their luggage!” She shakes her head like she can’t believe what the world is coming to. “Can you have Ellen meet me at the guest house so we can get some clothes and toiletries ordered for them?”
Bertrand gives a sympathetic smile. “Noted. I’ll have her meet you over there. Please enjoy your stay.”
Adela rolls up the window, her shoulders slumping in relief. “Holy shit, I can’t believe that worked.”
“Cousin, eh?” I grin leaning forward, making Sam’s grip on my waist tighten. “Which side? Just so we have our stories straight.”
“I actually do have a red-headed cousin on my mom’s side—her brother’s daughter. So let’s stick with that.” She pulls into a garage, and when we get out of the car, I realize I didn’t even pay attention to our surroundings.
I step out of the garage, and see that the house we’ve been brought to is more of an estate. “This way.” Adela waddles around the side of the car, and I loop my arm through hers out of habit. She freezes, her bottom lip wobbling slightly before she throws her arms around me,pulling me as close as she can with her protruding belly between us. “Oh, Jo, I thought…I was so worried about you!”
“I’m okay, Addie.” I hold her tight, patting her back. “Really, I—woah!” Something pushes against my stomach, and I release Adela, looking down at her belly. “I think it just kicked me!”
“He,” she gives a smile, rubbing her belly, “don’t you dare kick Auntie Jo, young man.”
I find myself smiling, my hand pressing against the firmness of her bump. Something presses against me, and my brows shoot up, a squeal leaving me. “Oh my gods! I felt it!”
I turn to the guys, my cheeks hurting from my smile. My joy morphs into something more needy when I see the way they’re looking at me. “What?” I ask with a nervous laugh.
Hayden snaps out of it first. “Just their primal lizard brains imagining you pregnant.” He shakes his head, throwing an arm over my shoulder. He seems off, and I can’t really blame him, considering we just killed his dad. “Lead the way, Adela.”
Adela nods once, and starts the trek around the side of the garage and into the back yard. Or…the grounds? There’s too much space to simply call it a back garden. Not to mention a swimming pool the size of a house and a set of tennis courts. Where we’re going is easy to spot though. It’s the only small building in the area, a yellow cottage looking house with potted plants hanging from the porch. It’s oddly adorable, given the aesthetic of the rest of the property.
“Alright,” Adela nods to us as we approach the little house, “the code to get in is 59301. I’m going to let you guys get settled, okay? Oh! Here’s Ellen.”
A tall, thin, severe-looking woman in a pencil skirt and button-down blouse approaches, a tablet in her hand. “Ms. Olivier. I wastold there are…” her eyes look us over as she clearly holds back a sneer, “guests?”
“Yes, my cousin and her pack. The airline lost their luggage, so they’ll need some clothes and toiletries.”
Ellen nods once, observing us each closely and making notes. My omega bristles at the scrutiny in which she observes my men, but when she rattles off pants and shirt sizes for each of us, I realize she must just have some really good clothing-size voodoo going on.
When we confirm, she sniffs and turns on her heel, heading back to the main house, which is a damn sprawling mansion.
“Adela, do you have a phone we can use?” I bite my lip nervously. “One that…can’t be tracked?”
She doesn’t even blink. She reaches into her purse, shifting her hand around until I hear a zipper. She places the flip phone in my hand. “Keep it. It’s a burner.” I frown, looking up at her, but her expression is a mask of stone.
“I’ll check on you guys in a few hours. I have something to take care of.” With that, Addie turns and walks towards the house, her shoulders straight and her head high.
“Does anyone else think something fishy is going on?” Hayden asks, his voice quiet. “It’s not that I don’t think Adela is trying to help us, but—”
“She’s not even phased,” West finishes for him.
“Let’s worry about it in a minute,” I tap my foot. “I need to call my brother—he must be goin’ outta his mind with worry.”
Sam inputs the keycode to the door, and when we enter, it’s like I can breathe. The space is open and airy. A small living room with couches, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a bedroom with a king-sized bed. A luxury for a couple…but there’s five of us. There’s no way we’re all fitting on that.
“I really wish we had Turnip,” I mutter, and not just because she’d be able to sniff for bugs.
“Call Declan,” Hayden squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sure he’s found her.”
