Before I can even demand more of an explanation, the pure elation on his face is pretty telling that Koz bought the whole damn building.
“Koz! Come on, buddy, it needs to make money for it to be an investment. We’ll need the rent; I’ve told you to be more strategic in your spending.”
“I know,” he growls before he shrugs. “I’ve got my eye on an emerging artist who needs a studio renting one floor. I thought I could probably sublet another part as a training area to some young hotshot who’s hell bent on getting into the National Hockey League…”
“I’m only going pro if Raney comes to watch. There’s seriously no point if she’s not there,” Puck argues, making me pull a hideous grin that morphs into a grimace as I struggle to fight through the waves of emotions. Koz shuts him down with a roll of his eyes before he continues on with his dubious explanation of spending a large chunk of our money.
“And, I’m hoping the last office goes to Talon. To get him out of our apartment at least for a few hours a day, so I get time alone with you.”
“Probs won’t happen, but I appreciate it,” Talon says from near me.
“And Raney will appreciate you working on yourself. Plus, you have not seen our omega when she works—she’s an absolute ball breaker. Anyway, since you’re no longer looking at a career with the police department, perhaps you can work with Lew on security, take it off my hands.”
Talon smirks. “Holy shit, you’re officially asking me to work with you?”
“For me.” Koz tips a perfectly poised eyebrow up, without moving his beautiful laser focused ice blue eyes away from mine. He keeps reiterating over and over in words and actions of how he will find a way to share me, and my life, with others. “To answer your question a while back, we have an unmarked entrance only accessible to us, but I’m asking you not to venture down there by yourself. The doors are always open if one of us goes with you. Now that we are pack, micina, I’ve painted an even larger target on your back, I’m afraid.”
“Nonsense. I have you and the rest of my pack to protect me always. Anyone there yet?” I ask.
Koz spins away for a moment, and I look over to the others for an answer, all of them wearing Cheshire-Cat inspired grins letting me know I’m the last to know.
Our pack alpha returns and places in front of me an ostentatious floral arrangement of striking red flowers, wrapped in black paper.
“Are you aware of the sort of flowers these are?” he asks but doesn’t give me any time to answer. “I had no idea, and I like to think I’m a floral connoisseur. Although admittedly only for wisteria.”
“No shit, I’ve tried to grow them for years.” Puck looks stunned at Koz while Hayes shrugs in agreement too.
Koz flicks his head up in understanding before he continues. “They are delonix regia, commonly known as phoenix flowers.”
I crack up laughing, “Are you telling me Phoenix Group are in the business of sending flowers?” I splutter through my snorting. It’s worthy of my reaction, the vigilante group of unknowns who go around righting wrongs for a fee don’t seem the sort to send flowers.
“When you see the invoice they sent, micina, you’ll be asking for more than flowers. But this is their way of letting us know to expect another delivery later.”
“Who?” My laughter falls away.
“I believe we got a two for one deal. They may have been scattering in opposite directions, but both Sharlene and Andrea will be arriving downstairs before morning. I don’t want you going anywhere without us at any time. Please.”
I hold his eye, “Of course.” I smile at him, rubbing my chest at the reality of how he is making my world safer hits home. I swing around and look at Puck first, and then Hayes. “You don’t need to be involved. There is no point to prove about who is the strongest.”
“Raney,” Hayes stops me, his gentle calm voice acting like a weighted blanket around my shoulders. “We all have to make peace our own way. Some of us will take that peace in the form of their blood and pain. For others, seeing them may be enough. It’s not a competition, much like loving you isn’t either. We will reclaim however we need, and I suggest the reward of seeing you smile is all worth anything we choose to face.”
“I don’t want you suffering,” I admit.
“And I don’t want you doubting. Together, we will find a way, and sometimes that will include things you wish it didn’t but we will always come back to you. Nothing and nobody will tear us apart, you need to remember none of us are letting you go.”
He stops talking and raises his head ever so slightly in challenge. Where Koz’s dominance has a bite and vicious energy to it, Hayes’s is just as potent but universes apart. He has my submission—it’s easy to give him. As easy as loving him is. I drop my eyes, and he leans over and kisses my forehead.
“I agree with Koz though, I mean about everything, but especially the doors locked on our bedroom suite. Fuck me, I would literally skin a prick, including any of my Fallen brothers, if I thought they saw where you sleep.” Puck drags us back to us.
I nod, agreeing because the thought of showing anyone where I sleep with them and my nest is enough to have me hissing. I bite my lip to stop me doing it, but they see. And yeah, I don’t miss the satisfaction that burns in their eyes in return.
Puck’s eyes freeze me on the spot, and he takes a couple of his gigantic steps to sweep me up into his arms. “Happy?”
“About to sob like a baby happy. What about you?”
“You in my arms, wearing my claim on your neck, properly this time, yeah, you could say I’m happy. I’m thanking the fucking archangels they let me have their best angel on earth.”
“Sweet talker,” I mutter, laying my head against his chest, hearing the happiness in his heart as he walks us through the room.
