When I turn, Lisa hasn't moved. She's standing in the middle of the room, one hand on her stomach, the other hanging loose at her side. Her mouth is slightly open, and her eyes are fixed on me with an expression I've never seen from her before.
"Bear," she says.
She looks at my hands, at my shoulders, and then, with understanding at the healed bullet holes in my torso and leg.
"Bears," she says again, quieter, and slightly less disbelieving.
Her eyes flick toward Van who’s just about to disappear through the door. "And you?"
“Nope.” Van raises his hands with a small smile. “Just him.”
Lisa turns back to me, her lips parting, and I brace myself for a barrage of questions until my bear's attention snaps sideways.
A new scent drifts under the door, carried on the night air, making my whole body tense.
This can’t be happening.
Van's head reappears again, expression now completely different.
"Beau. We might have a problem."
I cross to the window and ease back the curtain an inch so I can peer outside.
Lisa comes up beside me and grabs my still healing arm, making me gasp in pain. "I'm aproblem?"
Pointing outside, I ease back and let her see for herself. "Not you." Four men stand in the parking lot, spaced apart, facing our door, not even trying to hide their presence. "Them."
They ignore Van, who’s now standing off to the side by the truck, right there in plain sight. It's not him they're here for.
"Who the hell are they?" Tripp asks, ready to barge outside, until I shake my head.
“Wait.” I hold up a hand, and Tripp frowns. This is something I need to deal with alone. I let the curtain drop and turn to face Lisa, cupping her jaw with one hand and kissing her, firm and brief.
Her eyes are wide when I pull back.
"Stay inside. Lock the door. And if anyone comes through it, both of you, protect Amber."
30
LISA
Pressing my face to the thin, smoke-stained curtain, I grip the windowsill as Beau crosses the parking lot toward four men, his stride steady despite the slight limp.
Taking in his battered body, the largest of the four inhales deeply, his nostrils flaring. He turns his head away at an angle looking slightly repulsed.
“It’s been a shitty few hours, gentlemen, can’t this wait?” Beau grumbles, his breath fogging in the chilly night air.
Behind me, Amber makes a small sound that breaks my heart. She's pressed against the headboard in the next room, visible through the connecting door, her already gaunt face pale.
Tripp moves to position himself between her and the door, one hand raised. "Nobody's coming in here."
She doesn't look convinced, and I don’t blame her. The motel door is flimsy, and they don’t look like they’re here to offer a helping hand.
Outside, Beau stops a few feet from the group and sighs wearily, arms folded across his chest.
The one at the front is tall and lean rather than muscular like Beau, with a thick scar from his hairline to his jaw. The three behind him are younger, jumpier and potentially, far more dangerous.
"Beau Lennox, my name is Aaron, beta of the…"
