“You do?” Hendrix triple checks. “Jesus, he’s going to love that when pay negotiation starts.”
“I can ask Dale to help,” Ryder offers, and Hendrix turns to look at him.
“No fucking way. Dale is a complete toss.”
“I’m not arguing with you there, Hen. But he is the most highly trained person on my security team. He is the best at his job, he’s just a shady dude. If I ask him to watch Sin, he will do it till his last breath.”
Hendrix grits his teeth but doesn’t disagree, instead he looks at me. “Are you okay with Dale being one of the men with you?”
I look at both of them, focusing on neither of them. “Maybe you’ll need to ask him if he’s okay helping. He didn’t seem to like me. Although, he was very protective of Ryder, and fast, so I’ll give him that.”
“Not fast enough though, he didn’t get you, thankfully,” Hendrix says with a wink.
“Admittedly, I was terrified of being caught because I didn’t want to go home. I had extra motivation to evade him.”
I stop and realise how easy it is sharing long held secrets with them. But as always, my moment gets washed away by a wave of nausea that appears out of nowhere. I get it’s my mind playing cruel tricks and it’s solely attributed to how happy and safe I feel. It still sucks.
Dominic keeps his eyes on the screen, but he finds my hand with his and squeezes. Our emerging bond warms with his concern. I accept it greedily, trying to ignore the stab of reality invading my thoughts.
“What’s going on, Sin?”
My attention flies to Ryder. And again, the words spill before I have the chance to stop them, or wonder if I should even say them. “I’m having a moment. A good one, but you know bad too. I’m so happy but I’m not sure I’m going to get the ending I want.”
“But you’re not alone, you have us to help you now. A problem shared is a problem halved.”
I shake my head. “I have to ask myself if it’s right to drag you into this. I guarantee if he finds out we’re involved, your name will be mud,” I hold up my fingers as I list everything off. “Your reputation will be ruined and everything you’ve worked so hard to protect will be blown open.” He opens his mouth to say something, but I rush on. “Sometimes I think I should quit while I’m ahead. I already have a heart full of incredible memories. Every second I spend with you brings me more than I could ever have asked for. But in doing so, you take away my ability to cope. Up to now, I have been doing okay because any experience, or person I met was new and those reminders would be enough when I have to return home. Now, I have dreams, Ryder. Dreams involving you, Hendrix, and Dominic. I want to see you perform and then I want to learn all about Hendrix including Noire and how he got into photography. I also want to be a part of Dominic’s world, and I want him to know me forever. But dreams aredangerous. If I end up back home, instead of simply coping like I would have before now, I’ll suffer because I’m aware how incredible my life could have been.”
“You’re talking like we’ve already lost you,” he says quietly. “And that breaks my heart, Sin. It means we haven’t been clear enough that we won’t be letting you go. You are ours. There’s no ifs, buts, or maybes in that equation; it’s a done thing.”
“I should have put a ring of bites on your throat, then perhaps you wouldn’t be so insecure of our future,” Dominic says, pulling my face around.
We’d spoken with Hendrix and Ryder about what happened in the heat of the moment. I was shocked neither of them berated him for being impulsive, instead they congratulated the both of us. Without a skerrick of judgement. Before they admitted they felt a significant change occurring to Dominic through the pack bond the three of them share.
I rub my eyes hating how hard it is to break out of the cycle I’m caught in. “I hate Wren for being so complacent, and now I’m her. It’s so frustrating. It’s going to get so tiring for you to deal with me like this.”
“Enough!” Hendrix snaps. “Stop being so fucking hard on yourself. I don’t see my mate as weak. Your courage and resilience, Simona, are only some of your redeeming qualities that makes your grace and compassion shine even brighter. In the past you’ve had to be stout-hearted for a reason but now you are with us, you can allow yourself to be as soft and sensitive as you truly are. That is what a real pack does—become the yin to your yang, and vice versa. In case you didn’t realise, I think the three of us can attest we find it incredibly sexy having a woman as sweet hearted as you are, Simona. Don’t change. Please.”
I take a long deep breath and the smile from before returns. “Sorry you have to keep saying the same thing overand over, but I appreciate you seeing where I struggle. I guess I’m nervous about seeing the girls. I’m not a great actor and I have to sell them this stalker story.”
“Telling Siderno about your stalker will have added substance already. I’d put money on every Alpha going with you to your girlfriend’s packing already being aware of your situation. Which is what we want.” Ryder adds.
And it makes sense. Heidi has grown up with a professional team of guards watching her every step. Tristan is also used to the need for security since she’s a successful and popular model. While Raney, falling in love with an international arms dealer meant she too has been flanked by a team of people whose only job is to protect her. My having a stalker will be an easy tale to tell.
Hendrix waits until I’m looking at him before he takes over, adding his own power to the direction we’re talking about taking. “The stalker angle is a much smarter way of handling Brody, because that little fuck is too dangerous to face head on. I did some digging, and it looks like he’s the one who made the complaint to both the Fire Department and Liquor Licensing.”
“Without even knowing we’re all involved,” I say to prove my point about how malicious Brody, and the founding family can be.
“Correct,” Hendrix says, a wicked smile tugging at his lips.
“What’s that look for?”
“I love he was such a prick and made sure you were included in the membership to my club. He did it intentionally to hurt you. Unfortunately for him, when I cancelled his access and membership, I didn’t cancel yours. I want to see his face when he realises he pretty much single-handedly facilitated us becoming officially unfaithful together.”
Hendrix leans close to the camera. “In fact, I love theidea so much, I’m going to pay Rye to write a song for me called, ‘Tonguing her in my sex club before kicking your ass to the street’ and record it. And because Rye is so fucking talented, it will be his next hit. Which is great but what’s better is that every time Brody turns a radio on, our song will be playing, people will be singing along. It will haunt him and be a very fitting reminder of how perfect you are for me, and us.”
It’s impossible not to laugh. And it’s exactly what was needed to chase the darkness away.
Before I go I get lots of sweet promises to catch up properly as soon as I get back in a few days.
