I fill a pot of water.
Lo lights a gas stove. “How are you and your father getting along?”
“We’re not.” I shut the faucet. “I haven’t talked to him in two and a half years.” I place the half-full pot on the stove.
“Huh, well I think eventually he’ll come around.” Lo rests a comforting hand on my shoulder. Dr. Keene has been loyal to the families for a very long time. See, they hope my father and Ican mend whatever we tore, but that’s only going to happen if I leave security and work as a doctor.
And I’m not leaving Omega.
I’m not leaving Maximoff.
He drops his hand to pour tomato sauce in a pan.
“Dad.” Maximoff enters the kitchen from the living room, where the rest of the Hale family watches a sci-fi show before dinner. “I can help with?—”
“No,no.” Lo points a spatula at the door. “Out.”
This is the fifth time Lo has shooed his son out of the kitchen. Maximoff narrows a glare onto me like,do something.
I lean on the counter. “You can’t be a part of everything, wolf scout.”
“Says you,” he refutes. “I say I can.”
“At least now we know who’s smarter.”
“Me—”
“Farrow and I have this under control,” his dad cuts him off. “Him and me—we’re talking. Go spend time with your mom. The one who nudged you awake when you slept as a baby. All because she was afraid you weren’t breathing.”
“Alright.” Maximoff straightens up and shoots me a look likedon’t let him know we’re together.
No shit.
After he disappears, Lo asks me, “How’s the security working next week with the tents?” He means at the Camp-Away.One week left.
I removed my radio tonight, but Donnelly has been counting down to the raffle’s closing. We’ll have randomly chosen the 300 entrants by midnight. Then, we all have the arduous task of vetting them in seven days. I’m of the mindset that if any fucker slips through, we’ll handle it at the camp.
Preferably with no fists.
I’ve already had four bodyguards tell me, “Better get ready to grab Maximoff,” believing I’ll need to drag him out of a fight. Everything’s now shaded in a new light.I’d drag my boyfriend away from a fight.Not just my client.
My boyfriend.
I sense an emotional current racing through my veins. At a much higher voltage.
I shake salt into the pot of water. “Since Maximoff, Jane, and Sulli are the only ones attending the Camp-Away, besides the raffle guests, we’ll put most of the security on those three at night,” I start explaining the sleeping arrangements to Lo.
“How?” He stirs the sauce, his concern apparent in his daggered amber eyes.
“Their personal bodyguards will be inside their tent at night?—”
“So you’ll be sleeping in Maximoff’s tent with him?” His voice is edged. Normal for Loren Hale. But I pause, shoulders tensed up, and I study his sharp features.
Shit, I’m caging a breath right now. I never hold my breath. Not unless I’m having mind-blowing, eye-rolling sex with his son.
I comb both of my hands through my black hair. “Yeah. There’ll be another bodyguard from Alpha outside of the tent. No one can unzip it unless they want a broken wrist.”
Lo stirs silently and then nods several times.
