“Is pacing partner code for ‘slow’?” Vero asks wryly.
“Everyone is slow until you get cooking,” Cassidy says easily. “We’re going to do a few miles. Some we’ll walk, others we’ll jog. If we need to split up, we’ll break into two groups. Rosa, you got a weapon?”
“I do,” I say, pulling her gun from where it’s holstered at my stomach underneath the band of my shorts. “There's a knife in my cleavage too.”
“I have a taser in my pocket,” Vero says. “It’s a small one.”
The three of us did a little online shopping for weapons and holsters yesterday while we were waiting for it to be time to move on our plan. I want to go shooting at the range with Pablo and Vero, but I need to buy new guns for the three of us. Cassidy’s hands are larger than mine, and I want something a little more comfortable.
“I’ll stay in the middle,” Pablo snorts, amused. “I don’t do as well when my opponent is moving.”
“That’s why you learn how to hit so they don’t do it for long,” Abbott grunts. Cassidy’s lips twitch as she nods in agreement, and then we begin walking as a group to warm up.
“I hate sparring, but it’s good practice,” I sigh.
“Fighting while you’re kicked and beaten repeatedly is not sparring,” Vero mutters under her breath.
“You mean learning to get pummeled while staying awake isn’t a skill set?” I ask, rolling my eyes. “My father’s men suck.”
“Men who beat the fuck out of women aren’t men,” Pablo grunts.
“They’re not.” A man I don’t recognize walks with us, and he looks down as he shakes his head at himself. “I’m Riley, Nina’s alpha. I was caught up at the hospital when you had your meeting.”
“Hey,” I say with a nod. “Nina had a lot to say that day. I’m sorry to see she couldn’t join us.”
“She joins in on a lot of our runs, but Cooper was being needy,” he grins. “I bet they’ll find us later. I have my location on so they can track us.”
“So I’m not the only one with alphas who stalk them?” Pablo grumbles.
“Nope,” Cassidy laughs. “Alphas are territorial, protective, and co-dependent fuckers. Including me.”
“I’m not much better,” Vero shrugs. “I was stalking you at one point.”
“Pick it up!” Abbott yells.
Making a face, I push myself into a light jog. Vero isn’t doing too badly, and she easily keeps pace with us. I know she’s trying not to overdo it, but I don’t think she needs to worry. Her side is healing well.
She’s always been concerned about not being able to keep up with the more nefarious side of my life, however, I watched her jump out a bathroom window once.
I think she needs to be reminded of what she’s capable of. I’ve always thought of her as beautiful, ethereal, and strong. I hope she eventually sees herself the way I do.
By the second mile, Cooper, Nina, and her stepbrother join us, and she makes a silly face at me as she joins me in the middle. We’re all starting to breathe harder by the third mile, and Pablo is wheezing in pain.
“Slow it down,” Cassidy calls out, and he groans despondently. “We all need water anyway.”
“Running when no one is chasing you doesn’t seem like it should count as exercise,” he groans.
“That’ll teach the brat not to turn down cardio,” Nico teases, walking toward us with Dario and Ciro.
Those who haven’t met them yet move closer to us, and two others draw their weapons.
“They’re not dangerous,” I grumble. “At least not to us.”
“Nice save,” Ciro teases me with a wink.
“I didn’t know you three were willing to roll out of bed so early,” I say, sipping my water slowly.
“Hard to sleep when I know you’re on the move,” Nico sighs. “I rolled out of bed an hour ago because I was feeling antsy.”
