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That didn't sound so awful. "I can do one store. Maybe two..."
"That's the spirit. Let's go. We'll hold your hand." Stella gave my hand another squeeze. "Embrace the gift that's being offered to you. It's crazy and different, but it's happening, and it may be the most important time of your life, so you don't want to look back on it and say I was too scared to enjoy it, right?"
"Right."
"Remember that two opposing emotions can coexist." Fiona chimed in from the front seat. "You can be terrified and ecstatic at the same time. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Then when you tell the story, you can stay, I was scared, but it was a blast."
That was true. I'd finally have a story to tell after this. Hopefully, it was a happy one, but whatever happened, itwould be epic. "I'm so used to my life being uneventful that I don't know how to handle this, but you're right, it could be amazing and scary at the same time." When I went back to the daily grind at the bakery, I'd have this special time as a memory. Magnum sure was a huge force in my life that I would never forget. Meeting his team was like falling into an action movie.
"Exactly," Fiona continued like she was reading my thoughts. "And I totally identify with not wanting to be the center of attention. Hypnotherapy can be really great for that."
I'd heard of hypnotherapy, but I'd never known anyone who'd actually tried it. "You do that?" I asked her.
"I do, and I think it could help you, but there's time for that later. Right now we've been tasked with shopping for a red, white, or black dress that makes you look fabulous, so let's go." She winked, and it was awkwardly cute. I got the feeling she didn't really want to shop on Rodeo either, but she was playing along.
"Wait," Celeste said her first words since Stella had entered the car. She slid out like a snake and stalked like a panther around the outside of the car, her eyes scanning the entire parking garage.
She nodded slightly, and we all climbed out.
Stella linked her arm in mine and started walking toward the exit stairs. "I'm thinking red. Definitely red."
"I usually just wear black and white."
"Oh, I know you do, honey. You're about to enter your red era. Valentine's Day calls for the most epic of reds with lipstick to match."
The tingles of fear tried to creep up again again, but this time I was also aware of the joy around me. Stella and Brandy were smiling. Fiona seemed confident in my ability, and Celeste was obviously very capable of protecting us while we went about our task.
Chapter 15 The Trance
Wren
I hadn't heard from Magnum since the goodbye hug in the parking lot yesterday morning.
Somehow I'd gotten used to his little check-ins to see if I was okay, but now, nothing.
I knew he was out searching for Gavin, and that was the priority, but after what Stella said about Magnum never getting married to any girl and the way she'd assumed he'd hurt me, I felt like this was who he was.
He'd stepped in to help when the danger was high, but now that I was safe, he'd walked off, just like his brother, and I was alone again. Fine, whatever. Both Beaumont brothers hurt me, and I was back to being on my own. He was back to doing whatever he usually did.
Actually, I wasn't totally alone. I'd spent the night at Stella's place in La Jolla, which was beautiful. She'd made it very comfortable for me even though it was an upscale house in an expensive neighborhood. I was careful not to make a mess and to wipe down the bathroom counters after I'd washed my hands.
I'd even slept pretty well despite some nightmares about Tommy and haunting memories of the phantom gunshots. Today, Monday, she'd helped me put together an outfit to wear into the Knight Security office. Black jeans, a long sleeved pale pink fitted sweater, and a black leather jacket with a pair of ankle boots. It wasn't what I'd normally wear,but I felt like I would fit in better going to the office to meet more superhero commandos.
Knight Security headquarters was located downtown in a large high-rise with a view of San Diego Harbor. She showed me the front office where she worked with Brandy, who wasn't there yet. It was spacious, modern, and elegant. She then took me down a long black corridor to an office in the back. She knocked in a pattern and then swiped a card over a scanner before opening the door.
Inside were three big, rugged guys sitting at computer stations. The walls of the room were lined with monitors showing various locations, including this building outside and inside, Stella's house, and the bakery. Oh my gosh.
They glanced up from their screens but kept their bodies facing forward like they really weren't stopping work for me. "This is Locke, Shadow, and New Guy. This is Wren."
New Guy's head turned all the way toward me then. He swiveled in his chair and stood to face me. My goodness, he was tall. He looked quite a bit older than me, but it was hard to tell. An Asian guy with big shoulders, a thick brow, some pock marks on his cheeks, and really intense dark eyes. "Kanekoa Makiloku," he said with either a Hawaiian or Polynesian accent. "Kane for short," he added without the accent. Wow. He was really impressive.
"Wen Li Song. Wren for short." I also said my name with an accent at first then the more Americanized version after.
His lip twitched, and he nodded stiffly.
"Vander called him in as a contractor because he specializes in tracking gang activity on the dark web." Stella offered up his bio even though no one had asked her.
Kane squinted at her, and his brows drew together. "I've already scanned your phone and laptop, and I'm up to speed on what you've done so far." He sat back down at the station he'd been working at when I walked in.
