I’m luckily saved from more arm pats by the arrival of Meena. You wouldn’t look at her bright pink sundress and full face of makeup and think that she’s a big shot in the werewolf world. Her five-foot-five stature brings the biggest werewolves to their knees.
Let’s just say werewolves have an internal power detector pre-installed in their heads. They recognize people who can fuck them up and are wise enough to back off when they know they’ll lose.
“We accosted the resident of the house on the street, but he escaped,” she informs us, her face grim. “Two agents are still trailing him.”
We nod, already knowing the chances of them finding him tonight are slimmer than Schitt’s Creek getting a reboot. I almost volunteer to join the search, but that would require me to not be in the same building as Oliver. I don’t think I can do that right now.
“Anyway, Matthew, talk to me. Did you suspect the guy and come to check his apartment?” She stands beside me, letting the others do what they do best… outside of keeping track of unnecessary details about my life.
I hesitate only a second before telling Meena everything. About how Oliver was so scared that he couldn’t even open his door. Remembering that look on his face makes me furious all over again. I explain everything he saw and how I convinced him it wasn’t suspicious. Nick joins us halfway through my recap.
“Alright, I’ll initiate the protocol for Oliver,” she says.
I already knew she would say this, but my heart still lurchesat the idea of a bunch of werewolves digging into Oliver's life and interacting with him. But it’s for his own good. He can’t know the truth.
I’m so engrossed in convincing myself to calm down that I almost miss Nick’s next words.
“I was thinking,” he says, dramatically tapping his index finger on his chin.
“Yes, Nicholas?” Meena gives him the universal ‘get on with it’ gesture.
“The human, Oliver,” Nick’s gaze snaps to mine, “already knows Matt, right?”
My eyes get wider with every word. What the fuck does he think he’s doing? I signal him to abort whatever he’s planning, but he isn’t looking at me anymore.
He continues, laying it on thick. “He also trusts him. They’ve been neighbors for over a year. They’re basically pals. I’m pretty sure Matt is Oliver’s emergency contact.”
“Well, that’s not…wise,” she comments.
“Hey!” I say. Even if it’s definitely not true, I’d make a great emergency contact. I’m a first responder, dammit!
They ignore me.
“They’re close, and they live right across the hall from—”
Meena interrupts him. “I’m glad Matthew has a good social life. I also could have survived without knowing anything about it. Would you get to the point?”
“We don’t really need to bring in another agent to convince Oliver he didn’t see anything. Matt can do it from right across the hall,” he finishes with a flourish.
“You could have just said that! We’re always glad to have volunteers take some work off our plates,” she says, easily. She looks at me. “Matthew, are you alright to handle the human?”
Am I? No.Absolutely not.Say no, Matt!“Umm…”
“Great,” Meena claps her hands. Wow! They’re really desperate to delegate tasks, huh? “Spend some time with him. Talk to him a few times and see where his mind’s at. You have my number if you need any help.” Shepats my armand walks away to check on Sloan.
Nick gives me a grin and a thumbs-up. I glare at him until he walks away, too.
“The cleanup crew will be here in an hour, and they’ll transport the bodies. We’re not expecting Dalton to make a reappearance here. And Matthew, the great agent he is, volunteered to take care of the human,” Meena summarizes. “You all can leave.”
“You really are a nice person,” Sloan says solemnly, elbowing my side as we’re walking to the stairs.
I glare at her, too.
There goes my master plan of ignoring Oliver forever.
Chapter Three
Oliver
