“Text me when you get wherever you’re going,” Randall said. “Call Dad or Harry if you get picked up. Don’t ask for me.”
Emerson sighed inwardly. Of course Randall wouldn’t want it noticed that his own brother was caught up in the raid. He was trying to make detective and didn’t need an alpha-attracted sibling potentially leaving a black mark on his record.
“Go,”Randall whispered.
Lightning flashed again, and he saw anger and disappointment mixed on Randall’s face, but then again, disappointment in him was normal. Why did it hurt this time, though?
There was no time to contemplate that. Emerson urged Dash ahead of him, leading him to the shadows as the thunder rumbled around them again. He tried to forget that look on Randall’s face and focus on getting them out safely. He could stress about what his brother assumed he knew later.
“Walk three blocks and then we’re hooking a left towards the marina,” he whispered from his spot behind Dash.
“The marina?”Dash whispered back.
“Trust me,” Emerson said, keeping his voice low.
Dash glared at him over one shoulder.
Yells sounded nearby. They both pushed up against the closest building façade, hiding under the cover an awning provided. Emerson lifted his gaze to the stars just below the edge of it, listening for more yells and directional noises. After a few seconds, the chaos seemed to move away from them, the noise fading to almost nothing.
Two flashes of lightning struck before rain poured down from the heavens. Just what they needed. Luckily the awning protected them, but they couldn’t stay there all night. It was going to be a wet walk to the boat.
The good thing about the rain was it would be harder for them to be seen. It would also make it harder for the Guardsmen to be seen, too—but if he knew anything, he knew they could be lazy fuckers who hated to be out in the elements. The storm’s arrival might signal the end of their search for the night.
A couple of flashlight arcs materialized farther down the street before disappearing. He heard nothing but the torrential rain falling around them. He glanced at Dash but saw little of his expression.
“What now?” Dash asked.
“We can stay here for a minute. See if the rain slows. But it raises our chances of being caught. We should move. Wet or not.”
“Wet it is,” Dash replied.
“Come on,” Emerson whispered, urging Dash out beside him.
Within seconds, his clothes were clinging to his body and so were Dash’s. The rain was icy cold and slid down his back, but all they could do was keep moving. After a series of twists and turns through a few more alleys, the familiar scent of salt and seaweed filled the air, mixing with the clean aroma of the rain. Emerson took the lead once they reached the docks and drew them to his boat. Once inside with the door locked behind them, Emersonfinallyfelt safe.
They stood, dripping wet and panting, staring at one another in the faint light the stove hood let off. Adrenaline continued to pump with nowhere to go. He wondered if Dash felt as charged up as he did or had his Black Guard training helped him recover from moments like those with more ease? Dash appeared mostly unruffled, his barely labored breathing the only sign he’d been running for his life.
“For fuck’s sake,” Emerson said, taking in a deep breath and scrubbing his face to wipe away some of the wetness. “That was a close one.”
“Tooclose,” Dash said, searching the salon.
“I’ve got some fresh towels,” Emerson said. “Follow me.”
Emerson walked deeper into the boat. When he looked over his shoulder, Dash wasn’t there. He strode back out and found the alpha right where he’d left him.
“Dash?”
“I shouldn’t be here,” Dash whispered.
9
Dread struck Emerson at the thought of Dash leaving. He wasn’t ready to let go. The adrenaline buzzing in his blood still had him on high alert, and the powerful drive to protect the man lingered. Dash didn’t need protection, though. The guy was not only an alpha but also a trained ex-Black Guardsman who might be capable of kicking his ass and making light work of it.
Logically, he understood Dash could hold his own. Innately, the raw instinct was there.
Why?
Emerson had been with countless alphas over the years. With a couple of them he’d experienced a raid at their side and brought them back right to where they were standing. He’d never felt the same need to offer shelter before. He’d never feltanythingfor another alpha like he felt for Dash.
