CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“You guys better be done visiting dead people today,” Megan said, holding the door open to the mansion. “Because I need help with this out-of-control female.”
Alaric stepped inside first out of the chilly room and into warmth. “Yes, we paid our respects today. Thank you so much for asking, Megan.”
She jerked her fingers through hair, frazzled as heck. “I’m sorry. Really. But I need some help. Thank you for coming when I called.”
I stepped in beside my husband. “What’s going on?”
“I can’t find her,” she hissed, glancing over her shoulder like someone was watching. “The little she-bitch is following me, I know it. I need a hunter here right now, and Rune is busy at work.”
Alaric rubbed his hands together, sparks lighting his eyes. He lowered his voice, whispering, “I know where she is right now. Do you want me to call her out or have a little bit of fun with her?”
Megan cocked her head in thought. “It’s her first day here. Don’t scare her.”
“Roger that. I’ll be back in five minutes.” Alaric kissed my cheeks, and then he jogged down a hallway into their house.
Megan shut the door and leaned back against it. “I really have no clue what to do with that girl.”
I sighed heavily. “Maybe just let her know she’s safe here from any type of abuse. Theron told you about her dad, right?”
“Yeah, he did. And he told me what he did to him. In graphic detail.”
I gagged. “I do not need to know any of that.”
Not even a minute later, pizza girl raced into the room with us, glancing over her shoulder. She skidded to a halt in front of Megan, and was shrill when she spoke, “There is a man here!”
As if Megan hadn’t called in reinforcements, she rolled her eyes and scoffed. “We do have friends over occasionally.”
“No.” She shook her head grandly, the bandage on her forehead bright pink. “He’s in the hall bathroom. And he is groaning and shitting so loud there has to be something wrong with him. You need to make sure he’s okay.”
I walked out the front door and shut it behind me.
Then I slapped my hand over my mouth. My shoulders quaked with racks of hilarity, my stomach clenching from each guffaw. I sucked oxygen through my fingers only to silently laugh all over again.
Alaric walked out the door around the time tears were streaming down my face. His dark brown eyes held mine as his shoulders started shaking. He yanked me behind him, farther away toward the secret elevator.
Inside it, we let loose.
Our laughter rang loud and clear.
“How did you manage that?” I gasped.
“Mere child’s play.”
I raised my hand to him. He smacked mine.
“That is how it’s handled!” My husband grinned.
“As long as you handle me tonight…,” I winked through my unattractive snorting, “…then I agree.”
“That’s damn sexy.” He grabbed my waist and pulled me flush against his body. “Snort a little, please.”
The elevator door opened.
“Take that shit to your house,” Rune griped, standing outside the elevator on the forest floor. He barged his way inside with ease, and then physically used his boot to knock our ass outside. “I have an unruly guest I have to deal with.”
“I already did that for you.” Alaric shrugged.
