Sliding the last closet door shut, both of them visually relaxed. Flora pulled her shoes off leaving them neatly on the shoe rack in her bedroom before pulling out two gym bags, thinking it should be enough for her stay at the Packhouse. Hopefully, this would all end soon and she wouldn't have to come back for more clothes or bathroom necessities, or anything because, in reality, she would never come back to her cozy, safe home. She’d have to break her lease, move out, and find somewhere new. The thought of skipping town ran through her mind but her friends and business kept her rooted. Plus, if she was being honest with herself, she loved Rainfall Avenue. Sighing, she pulled hoodies, dress pants, and blazers from her closet.
“You’re going to put those in a gym bag?” Dylan asked, leaning back onto her bed.
Even with sweat dried on his forehead, Dylan was still a sight to behold. With the new distance between them airing out the funk, the sexy in Dylan came back. Huffing at the fact she was rumpling her nice clothes, she continued to neatly pack them in the bag.
“Yes, it's only a 30-minute ride anyway. I’ll hang them up once we get there.”
“So, you’re accepting the help of my Pack and getting comfortable with the thought of staying at the Packhouse already?” Dylan teased, “I thought it’d take more convincing.”
“It would if we weren’t just attacked. This is bigger than a stalker who's in love with me or an ex-girlfriend who secretly hates me...”
“Emery is not off the suspect list, kitty cat.”
“I have no idea why Cassandra and Romeo would want to…kidnap me?” Flora questioned. “Can you kidnap an adult?”
“Yes, you can kidnap an adult,” Dylan said with a sigh. “Enemies could never get close enough to hurt you, hence why normally it’s family and friends who do the backstabbing.”
“I don’t want to think about it anymore,” Flora muttered.
“Do you want to be at the briefing? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Yeah, I want to be there,” Flora said, folding a mini skirt into her bag. Turning around she stood in front of her closet, wondering if she needed anything else.
“Don’t forget laid-back clothes; we’ll be training and sleeping too,” Dylan chuckled, getting up from his spot on the bed.
“Together?” Flora flirted, the thought seemingly pleasing her insides. Only after a nice, hot shower for both of them. She couldn’t quite wash the feeling of stained blood off her skin.
She grabbed some sweatpants, leggings, t-shirts and sports bras. With as much as she was packing, she felt as if she was moving in, adding more pressure to being a guest and stepping into unknown territory.
The ring of her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. Willow’s name appeared across the screen and worry coursed its way through her body. Why was Willow calling?
“Hey, we’re outside your door. You have this envelope sitting here. A flower too,” Willow said. Jackson had called Luxe who in turn called Willow and said they also should stay at the Enchanted Packhouse. Thank God. At least she wasn’t the only guest.
Flora rushed to the door but paused at the entry rug. She waited as Dylan opened the door. Without any words, he took the envelope from Willow’s hands, stepping outside as he ushered her friends inside the apartment and shut the door.
“I’m sure it's for safety reasons,” Flora said from down the little hallway of her entrance in her apartment. Seeing Flora, both Willow and Luxe rushed forward, crushing her in a group hug.
“Oh, my goodness, are you okay?” Willow asked.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again,” Luxe said, lightly slapping Flora’s arm as Willow continued to look Flora over.
“Didn’t mean to. I swear I wasn’t even going to tell you.”
“That’s even worse, Flora,” Willow yelled, anger replacing the worry that once dominated her face. Laughing off the guilt of making them worry and now having to stay at the Packhouse, she led everyone to the kitchen. Dylan stormed in, note and flower in hand. Placing them on the counter for Flora, he looked as serious as ever.
“We have to go, now.”
“Now?” Flora asked, picking up the note that must have been in the envelope. She paused, not wanting to read it. It was from Cassandra and Romeo, which meant they beat her and Dylan to Rainfall Avenue and that they knew where she lived. She took a deep breath and opened the folded letter.
Patience is key, as they say. Flora, do know we love you very much. We need you to come home. Fulfill your duties by coming to us. If not, then we will simply come and get you ourselves.
Love,
Cassandra and Romeo
“What the actualhell does that mean? Why the flower?” Luxe vocalized, reading over the short, creepy note. Flora shuddered, letting Luxe grab the note from her hands and watching her hands shake.
“An aster flower,” Willow mumbled, lost in thought. “Patience?”
