Something about him taking control, the slight bit of violence, appeals to me. It’s my new life. The one I was forced to live in and now it’s what feels like home. I need to warn him about this Hancock guy. What he’s planning to do.
Tonight I’ll send him a message. He doesn’t need to know who it’s from just to be aware of what’s planned.
I keep watching, moving the camera and zooming in so that I get to spy on a little bit of each of them. It doesn’t escape my notice that Nash keeps staring up at my window. Holden must see it as well.
“What are you looking for?” he asks, turning his head to gaze in the same direction as Nash.
“I was looking to see if I could get a glimpse of that girl again,” Nash replies, using the back of his hand to wipe some sweat from his forehead. I feel this compulsion to make each of them something cold to drink and take it to them, but I don’t.
“What girl?” Holden questions, shaking his head when he sees nothing. He won’t. My curtains are pulled so there’s not even a sliver of light invading my apartment.
“The one I told you I saw the last time we were here. She was hidden in the curtains, but I saw her. She was watching us.” He pauses, glances back up at the window, then speaks again as he takes off his hat and runs his fingers through his brown hair. “I swear I saw her. I was just hoping to catch another glimpse of her. Maybe talk to her.”
“You heard what Tav said that day. She’s of no concern to us. We don’t need any trouble, so forget about her.” Roman steps over, his voice rising. “We’re here to work, not to flirt. So get back to it.”
They both salute him as if they were soldiers and speak in unison. “Yes, Sir.”
Nash reaches behind him, gripping his shirt and pulling it over his head until he’s standing there on the screen, baring his magnificent chest to me. My heart beats faster, thudding against my ribcage as my core pulsates.Holy fucking hell!
I watch them work over the next few hours, never once leaving my seat. My bladder is begging for relief, but still I sit staring at the screen. Not wanting to miss anything. Finally the sun begins to fade, and they call it a day. Roman heads up to the house and knocks on the door. Josh appears just a couple of minutes later, and they speak briefly.
The three of them move around the yard with a kind of ease that comes from long hours of work together. They don’t need to speak; they know exactly what needs to be done. Boards are stacked, tools gathered, laughter in low rumbles carries through the warm evening air. Sweat clings to their bodies, as my eyes trace every hard line of their arms and shoulders as they lift, bend, and reach. I am in literal heaven.
My breath becomes slower, heavier, full of something I never thought I’d feel again. My heart flutters against my ribs. I shouldn’t be doing this, but yet it’s all I want.
I exhale long and slow. It shouldn’t make me nervous, just watching them work, but something about their quiet confidence makes the moment feel alive, humming with possibility beneath the sinking sun.
Once they’ve cleaned up the area, they pack up their tools and head out of frame. My eyes linger on Nash’s shirt still lying on the deck chair. I bite my lip nervously. My fingers quickly tap on the wooden desk top. He’s left it. I can sneak down there claiming the article of clothing as mine. I can already imagine getting the first whiff of his scent. Will it be something fruity, smoky, or would it be more woodsy?
Just when I’m about to rise from my chair, I see him rush back over, pick it up and put it on.Dammit!He looks around the yard, almost as though he’s checking to make sure he hasn’t left anything else, before taking one final look at my window. My fingers reach out toward the image of him on my screen, tracing along the outline of his face, stopping on his full lips. I wonder what they feel like in person. Are they soft or cracked? Is he a passionate kisser or more sensual?
Finally he leaves. And I’m left alone again. No longer pulled in by their presence, I'm able to disconnect from the surveillance cameras.
I don’t know how long I sit there building up the nerve to message Roman. But he needs to know.
Me: You don’t know me, but I have information you’d be interested in. About a recent fight you won and a bitter loser. He has plans for revenge.
I leave it at that. He has the opportunity to message me back. And if he doesn’t, I’ll still tell him what he needs to know.
I’ve barely placed the burner phone back in the drawer when a message comes in on my personal one. Only the guys and Storm and his pack have the number. They must be letting me know they’re on their way back home.
But it’s not them. Or Storm.
Unknown: You’re a hard person to find. But we have.
My heart races and I start to panic.
“Breathe, River.”
I open my phone and begin tracing the number that the message came from. Something about it is familiar. Then it hits me.
It’s the same as the number messaging the missing omega I’ve been trying to locate.
Chapter 26
Roman
Ididn’t see the cryptic message until after we got home and I took a shower. Who the fuck is this, and how do they know about my fight? Fucking asshole couldn’t even give his name.
