He glares at me, until I hand them over, grumbling under his breath. “Get your butt inside, go have fun or I’ll get the sack and have no way to feed my children.”
“I’d never fire you.” I laugh at him, before ducking under his arms and into the foyer to wait for clearance to enter. “Sorry, all okay?”
“Yeah. I’m seeing what you want me to make you for dinner tonight,” he says, and I can hear his smile. I can see the twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, I love that. Can we do the pilaf rice with pistachios, and the orange vinaigrette and grilled salmon?”
And I love that my Alpha, who is the head of a faceless vigilante group, who is currently in the middle of a complicated setup involving hostages and trucks filled with explosives, makes the time to call me to see what I want for dinner.
“Of course. Do you want anything else?” Through the phone I can hear him grunt, which I assume is him picking up or moving something.
“Only you, Ram. And your brothers.”
“Okay, we’re going offline for a while. I’ll check for texts though,” Ramses says, his footsteps echoing as he walks around. And I don’t need to know exactly what he’s up to. I already know where they are, and what they’re doing: an assignment.
“I know,” I offer quickly. In the distance I can hear Darius’ laugh and Kai arguing with him.
“Go put on your happy face and set your timer. Two hours, and then we’re done.”
“I’ll see you home.”
“Yes you will, baby,” he chuckles before hanging up.
Perfect timing too because the door buzzes and we get let through.
Koz stands there half glaring at me, definitely glaring at Ronnie. I laugh at him being overly protective.
Before he can open his mouth, I jab my finger in his direction. “Do not offend me or my bodyguard by demanding you frisk either of us,amica.”
“You don’t scare me, Omega,” he growls, bending down to glare at me. “You might be one of her best friends in the whole world, but if you do a thing to upset my micina, I will dangle you upside down by your dainty toenails from the highest point of my building before using you for target practise. You follow?”
Since he’s newly packed and his mate is pregnant, I swallow my snide retort but refuse to budge on being frisked. “Koz, Raney’s waiting, probably wondering where the both of us are.”
“I will remember this moment, amica, when we finally meet this pack of yours.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I roll my eyes, suddenly nervous.
He stares at me expectantly, his mood getting worse by the second. Ronnie breaks the tension, by dropping his suit jacket and standing against the wall in the pat down.
“See,” Koz growls. “He understands.”
“So do I. I just wonder how you’d feel if I did the same to Raney?”
“You want to play that game?” he hisses while he frisks Ronnie.
“Not particularly. Since it is your house, you make up your own rules. God, please tell me you at least ordered the good champagne this time.” And despite Koz acting abrasive and moody, it’s all an act. He leads me into the lift carrying all the gifts Ronnie had, also making Ronnie take the next lift.
The doors shut and he immediately starts his interrogation. Koz questions everything—do I need more security; do I need more guns. He offers me everything he can. Admittedly, I nearly choke on my own spit when he even offers to have The Phoenix Group meet with me as a precaution. From his line of questioning, it’s easy to ascertain my bestie has been gossiping with her Alpha. Her concern for me makes me overly sentimental and almost a little teary.
“Thank you, honestly Koz, I know I can rely on you. You’re one of a handful of people I’d call if I was in trouble. But I’m not. And don’t make today awkward with snide comments about not having enough bodyguards, I already had a humongous argument with my pack. I trust Ronnie and you have a small army up here already. I’ve got another crew downstairs, but I’m well protected.”
“I don’t get how they could leave you,” he admits sourly. And most definitely he’s judging me, but I suspect he’s also wondering how my pack could actually leave me with a handful of guards.
“When you finally meet them, you can ask them yourself.” I shoulder bump him, probably pushing past the boundaries of our strange relationship. Before I can say a word, the lift opens, and I’m pushed up against the mirrored wall of the lift being accosted by a wisteria scented Omega.
“Ho.” She squeezes the life out of me. Making Koz growl at her again.
“Micina, your pretty ass is meant to be in your sea of cushions. We agreed on no strenuous activity. Go,” he interrupts and all but plucks her off me. Koz marches her out the lift, back to her outdoor nest which is where Tris and Simona already are.
