“Agreed,” Greel grumbled. “I’ll speak with the others. We’ll set up patrols, make a plan for them if they come looking.”
Allie stared between us, her eyes wide. “These aren’t petty criminals. The Vexalar Syndicate has resources you can’t imagine. They’re dangerous.”
“And we’re orcs,” Greel said. “They have no idea what they’ll deal with if they try to hurt one of ours.”
The simple way my brother stated it, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, made pride swell in my chest. Thiswas what family meant. What belonging meant. Allie was one of us now, and orcs protected their own.
“You could get killed.” Allie looked directly at me. “Because of me. Because of secrets I should’ve told you from the beginning.”
“Hey.” I cupped her face, making sure she was looking at me. “No one is going to get k-k-killed. We’re going to handle this.”
“How can you be so calm?” Her voice cracked. “They killed Simon Blackstone, my father’s partner. Shot him in his own gallery because he couldn’t tell them where the missing art was hidden.”
“They won’t get near you,” I said simply. “Someone is threatening you. That means they’re threatening me. And I don’t lose.”
Greel made a sound of agreement. “Neither do any of us. These humans think they can come into our territory and hurt someone under our protection?” He shook his head. “They’re about to learn how wrong they are.”
Allie looked between us again, and I could see the exact moment she made her decision. Her shoulders straightened, and some of the fear in her eyes was replaced by determination.
“Alright,” she said. “I’ll stay. I’m tired of running, tired of being afraid. And…” She met my eyes. “I trust both of you.”
The words hit me harder than any declaration of love could have. She was putting her life in my hands.
“You won’t regret it,” I said.
“What about her car?” Greel asked. “If they’re tracking it?—”
“They could be,” Allie said. “I’ve been careful, but they have endless resources.”
“We can’t risk you driving it to my place,” I said. “If they’re tr-tr-tracking it, we’d be leading them right to you.”
Greel nodded. “I’ll arrange for it to be moved to a secure location.”
“Where?” Allie asked.
“It’s best you don’t know,” my brother said.
“Hail,” Allie said, and I realized my hands were shaking with suppressed rage. “I’m alright. They haven’t caught me yet.”
“Yet.” The word tasting bitter. “They came too close tonight.”
“Which is why she’s going home with you,” Greel said. “Where she’ll be protected.”
Tressa, who had been watching our conversation, padded over to press against Allie’s legs. My wolf had excellent instincts about people, and her immediate acceptance of my mate meant everything.
“I’ll help you co-co-collect your things,” I said to Allie.
“It won’t take long,” she said. “I don’t have much.” Tugging a car key fob from her pocket, she handed it to Greel. “Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate this.” She named the color and make of her vehicle, plus told him where he could find it.
With a sharp nod to me and a sympathetic glance at Allie, Greel left.
I followed Allie into the hotel room, stopping in the doorway to take in the destruction. Whoever had searched this place had been thorough and vicious. Clothes lay scattered everywhere, the inside of her suitcase had been shredded, and even the pillows had been slashed open.
“Fates,” I breathed.
“They were angry.” Allie moved through the wreckage, picking up things, tossing them onto the bed. “They thought they’d find something here, and when they didn’t…” She gestured at the carnage.
The idea of these people laying hands on her belongings made me want to howl. “What if you’d been here? What if-if you’d w-w-walked in on them?”
