Lifting my chin defiantly, I glared at the shifter. “I can keep myself safe.”
“Against your…family?”
Evan’s question might’ve been spoken softly, but the dubious note in his voice hit me like a train. It had myhackles rising, along with my defences, as I unleashed on him again. “I’ve been doing it all my life, Evan. I asked for your help once before. I’m not asking for it again.”
I mean, seriously, how many times did I need to tell him this before the message finally sank in?
Evan shoved off the wall. From the corner of my eye, I saw Finn take a step forwards, but Evan wasn’t heading for me. No, he was going for the door, vibrating for all he was worth. He didn’t stop, didn’t look back. Just kept moving until he vanished into the tree line.
Guilt hit me in the gut, even more solidly than Evan’s question had. Fuck, he’d looked really cut up. Was I being too harsh with him?
I chewed on my lip as I debated whether or not to go after him. I wasn’t this much of a dick, I really wasn’t. Something about Evan just brought out the worst in me. The hurt, angry little boy that I’d thought had been left behind.
Before I could come to a decision, Finn made it for me. “You were a child. Evan didn’t know any better.”
My guilt vanished as I turned my icy glare on the leader. “He should have.”
Finn sighed. “If he’d known, he would’ve acted. I promise you, Reid, no one regrets what happened more than Evan.”
“That’s not true,” I muttered darkly. “I think you’ll find I win the regret trophy, thanks very much.”
“Okay, I have no idea what’s going on.” The tiny shifter popped up beside me suddenly, looping his arm through mine. “Obviously there’s some tea justdyingto be spilled. But I like you, Reid.”
I side-eyed him dubiously. “You barely know me.”
He waved that off. “Meh. You have a flairfor the dramatic and can apparently hold a grudge almost as well as I can. That’s all I need to know.”
I snorted, my temper simmering down. “Thanks, I guess.”
“You’re welcome,” he chirped. “Now, I know you’re feeling weird fuzzy things about opening up to Evan and him keeping you safe, but he’s just one part of the…what did you call us?”
His innocent tone suggested he rememberedexactlywhat I’d called them. From how the other two shifters reacted, they weren’t too happy about my word choice.
The shifter clinging onto my arm though, he seemed thrilled as he clicked his fingers. “The furry cavalry. Anyway, you have three other cavalry members here to help you. What do ye say?”
My lip found its way back between my teeth as I glanced at the woods again. “I’ll just be dealing with you three?”
Finn was the one who answered. “Just us three.”
Chester stepped forward suddenly, his lips thin. “Reid, you don’t have to go with anyone if you don’t feel comfortable. If you’re worried about being in danger, maybe we should call the police.”
I winced alongside the shifters. That wasn’t an option on the table. Supes didn’t bother with human law enforcement for very good reasons. Most notably because they didn’t know about the existence of the supe community.
“No.” I detached myself from the shorter shifter. I really needed to find out their names. “I don’t want the police involved, Chester.”
My boss exhaled as he shook his head. “Okay. I won’t push. I’ve been there and I get it.”
A pang of pain went through me. My reasons for not going to the police weren’t what Chester was thinking, but I fuckinghatedthat he’d been in a situation even remotely similar to this.
I patted his arm gently, trying to ignore the tension rolling off the shifters at Chester’s statement. “Thanks, boss.”
Chester looked to Finn. “You’ll look after him?”
Finn inclined his head. “With my life, m’eudail.”
My heart sank at that promise. It should’ve been reassuring, but it wasn’t.
Something told me the McCarthys weren’t going to let me run without a fight.
