Page 123 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

Hudson was at his desk with a laptop open. Lincoln stood behind him, one hand braced on the chair, both of them looking at a document.

They looked up at the same time, which still did annoying things to me.

I folded my arms before either of them could notice I had come in because I was scared. “I’m going to Surrey.”

Lincoln straightened. “Now?”

“That’s how going works, yes.”

Lincoln’s expression softened too quickly.

“Of course,” he said. “We’ll take you this evening.”

“I’ll take a cab with Sienna.”

Lincoln simply stopped, every muscle in him locking down. “No.”

I blinked. “Sorry?”

“No,” he said again.

Hudson stood up, looking taller than his six-two height. “Mary, your father called you two days ago.”

“And I didn’t answer.”

“That doesn’t make him less interested.”

“I’m not helpless.”

“No,” Hudson said. “You’re not. And you’re also not getting into a random car when Callum McCarthy has just reached for you.”

I felt the old panic stir and immediately tried to smother it with irritation. “It’s a licensed cab, not a suspicious van with sweets painted on the side.”

Lincoln’s mouth didn’t move. Usually he liked me being funny.

“Sienna will be with me,” I said.

“Sienna is one person,” Lincoln said.

“A terrifying person.”

“Still one.”

Hudson stood and came around the desk. “This isn’t about controlling where you go.”

“It has the flavor.”

He sighed. “I know.”

That took some of the fight out of me.

He kept his voice calm. “If you want Surrey, you go to Surrey. We will never stop you seeing your sister. I get you’re frightened, but we can look after you.”

“I need to see her.”

He sighed again. “Wait until this evening and we’ll take you.”

“Lincoln. He only has my number, not my address.”