“No, just being cautious,” Hayden says.
It’s another surprisingly pleasant day at work. Blithe Holdings is still doing well. Ms. Frost is happy. My boss is happy because she’s happy. I spend most of the day working on reports and monitoring the ups and downs of the stock market. I’m just about to sign out for the day when Mr. Fleming walks up to my cubicle.
“Ms. Frost wants you to research a few companies,” he says, leaning against the cubicle frame. “I emailed them to you. She expects a full report on each of them by the end of the day tomorrow. Think you can handle that?”
“Oh, absolutely!” I say, glancing over at my email. I quickly review the names. I’m familiar with two of them. One, I’ve never heard of. “Yes, sir. I will make sure you both get those reports tomorrow.”
“Ms. Frost will also expect a recommendation,” Mr. Fleming says. “She trusts you after what you did with Blithe Holdings. If you think any of these companies are worth our time, you’ll be managing those investments.”
I can read between the lines. The more they trust me, the bigger the portfolio I manage becomes. That’s what I’m here for, and how I turn this job into a career.
“Understood, Mr. Fleming,” I reply. “You can count on me.”
I shut down my computer as soon as he returns to his office. The finance nerd in me wants to dive right into my new assignments. Have the reports done before I go to bed tonight. But I’ve got to wear a different hat now. Daisy’s best friend. I really hope she’s okay.
I text Hayden before I step outside. I barely get down the steps before the SUV rolls up to the curb. I’m a little disappointed when I see that it’s only Hayden. I like spending time with both of my mates now.
“Any luck hunting vampires today?” I ask as I climb inside.
“No, the trail is going cold,” Hayden growls. “There were some disappearances in a different part of town last night. Remy’s putting together a map. We’re going to check them out tonight.”
“Sounds like a lonely night for me,” I sigh, looking down.
“We’ll come back to you when we can,” Hayden tries to reassure me. “But we’re going to need to move a different safehouse.”
“Why?” I ask, raising a brow.
“We need one with walls if we’re going to have a guest,” Hayden says.
“A guest? Oh, you mean Daisy?” I blink in surprise. “She might not be asobedientas I am.”
“You’re hardly obedient,” Hayden chuckles. “I wouldn’t do this unless I had to. The vampires know we saved Daisy. They’ll be looking for her. It’s best if she stays in hiding until we deal with the threat.”
“She won’t like it if I’m going to work every day and she’s stuck in a safehouse,” I sigh, nibbling the inside of my lip. “How much can I tell her?”
“Our kind has a word for what she is to you.Mitra. Back when wolves ran free, and there was more forest than concrete, we considered a Mitra an honorary member of our pack,” Hayden explains. “If you trust her, then you do not have to hide anything from her.”
“That will make it easier,” the relief apparent in my voice.
“However, revealing everything to her does require her to be as secretive as she is trustworthy. You understand the risk that comes with being exposed,” Hayden continues.
“The Crimson Templars,” I say, shuddering a little. “I’ll make sure she understands. Oh, um, what’s your policy on cats at your safehouses? Caddo is going to be her top priority after she wakes up.”
“The cat is staying with her mother,” Hayden puts a not-open-for-debate punch into his words. “That’s probably for the best right now. I don’t think her mother will react well if Daisy shows up and immediately runs off again.”
“True,” I admit. “Plus, the police are looking for her. I’m sure she’ll be okay if she knows Caddo is being taken care of.”
“Most cats don’t react well to our kind anyway,” Hayden says. “They can sense the wolf in us. I was a little worried about feeding it to begin with.”
“You could have mentioned that,” I say, glancing over at him.
“No, because then you would have insisted on going,” he says. “I’d rather have a scared cat climbing the curtains than put you in danger.”
I look out the window and recognize the street we’re on, even in the daylight. The last time I was here, I was riding on Hayden’s back, praying that Daisy was going to make it. I really hope she’s okay.
“Let’s go,” Hayden barks, parking the SUV near the alleyway.
I follow Hayden down the alleyway until we reach Morgan’s door. Hayden knocks and a few seconds later, the door opens. Even in the daylight, Morgan’s eyes glimmer like gemstones. He gestures for us to enter and takes a step back.
