“I’m back.” Luna comes walking up before I can respond. Her hair is green today, with something glittery on her bangs, and I can’t help but smile.
“Nice hair.”
“Thank you.” She grins.
“Meeting is starting now!” Rage calls out to us.
“We’re coming.” I reach for Allora’s hand and though she closes her fingers around mine, I feel that emotional distance growing with every step we take.
She’s starting to frustrate me.
It’s not like anything that’s happened is my fault. I rescued her, brought her into the fold at Shadow Security, and fell in love with her. I think I’ve been pretty damn respectful of her situation and have bent over backwards to make her not just feel safe but to show her that I’m serious about us.
In return, she fights me on almost everything and I’m caught between a freakin’ rock and a hard place with her father.
I love her but I’m no longer confident that’s going to be enough.
Because I’m going to fight tooth and nail to keep her safe.
Even if it costs me everything…includingher.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Allora
The plan for protecting me in New York is intense.
Almost the whole crew will be there—Landon, Elliott, Chris, and two of the new guys, Eric and Ron. In addition, Daniil and Courtney will be in New York on a short babymoon, a chance to get away before the new baby arrives. Micah is staying home with Luna, who’s excited to be on babysitting duty while they’re away. So even though Daniil and Courtney are technically not on protection duty, they’ll be close by just in case.
It’s a lot.
But at least I get to go.
Except I feel like a teenager asking permission to go on a field trip and receiving grudging permission. Not only that, I have to have five chaperones. I won’t be able to breathe without someone watching me.
“Allora?” Daniil is watching me, curiosity on his face.
“I’m listening.”
“Do you have anything to add?”
“No.”
He hesitates but then nods. “All right. Then I guess we’re done for today. Luna and Courtney are making hotel reservations and I’ve chartered a plane so we don’t have to fly commercial.”
“What do you need on our end?” Silver asks.
“Just keep your people out there asking questions. I’m wondering if your…girls have noticed anything.”
“I can ask Layla to reach out,” Metal offers. “She’s still close to a few of them.”
Great. Things have gotten so bad they’re getting my dad’s sex workers involved.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Things wind down and my dad, Metal, and Thunder get ready to leave. It’s late in the day, and my stomach is growling but I don’t know what the plan is for dinner.
“Allora.” Dad calls my name and I walk over to him.
