Page 34 of Knot Your Pawn

One of the younger guys makes a scoffing sound and Riley rumbles her happy deep laugh. She’s so easy around them, like family, which I’ve never seen Riley like before.

But, before we can do much more introductions, Derrick starts herding us in the direction of the exit and so does Erika’s security team.

Their eyes constantly shifting around, focused on each person, on every entrance and exit.

Right.

We can’t stay here too long. There’s too much danger.

Luca walks next to me, Erika on his other side, as the two talk about all sorts of things, mostly about how Luca has never flown before and Erika explains that she’s flown more than she would prefer, but that seeing other parts of the world is also special.

I’m constantly aware of the potential for danger around us, how we attract a lot of attention and that the Hearts could be on their way here right now.

While people seem to be keeping up light conversation all around me, I can’t join in, my mind too focused on our surroundings, too focused on the danger, too focused on getting home safely and in one piece.

This is weird, and scary, and I wonder how Mathew could always be so nonchalant about going out for dinner with me when he knew there was a bounty on him, how he could take it so lightly.

Because I don’t like this.

Not at all.

I don’t like being hunted.

Secure Touch

Her Vicious Pack 8

1

Riley

Getting both packs, plus two security teams, home from the airport went almost without incident. Almost.

Things got tense for a couple of moments when people couldn’t agree who got to drive in which car and with who, until Caleb stepped in and sorted everything out.

It’s good that everyone respects Caleb enough to listen to him, because it’s past midnight and most of us have had only a handful of hours of sleep, if even that, in the last two days.

Erika, her pack and her security team will be staying in the pack houses at the edge of Mathew’s grounds.

The houses are normally used by people from Mathew’s organisation, as they’re within the perimeter of the security setup and also near anything that they might need for work. They’re grouped on the other side of the training complex and pretty sizable.

Some house packs of varying sizes while others house single people or couples in sort of ‘house mate’ arrangements.

The cars come to a halt in front of two of the houses, the windows are all lit up and the front doors are open and inviting. The other houses are mostly dark, though I spot a few lights. Probably from people curious about the commotion or whose shift just ended or is about to start.

“You can leave my stuff.” I motion at Nathan, Erika’s eldest son, as he’s about to take my bags from the back of the car. “I’m in no mood to carry them all the way to the main house, not when that’s where the car will be going later anyway. I’ll grab them later.”

He smirks as he comes over, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “Wow. Are you getting used to the luxurious life already? Who would have thought that even you could get used to it.”

I side-eye him, but can’t help my grin. “I’m not sure you’re one to talk, rich boy.”

When he moved out of his parents’ place, he didn’t have to worry about where he’d live or where his money was going to come from.

They gave Logan —the only other member of Nathan’s pack at the time— and Nathan one of their apartment buildings to live in and manage, and all the money from the rent goes right into their pockets —after maintenance and other costs, of course. That way, Nathan could live independently while his parents could still keep an eye on him.

I say ‘his parents’ but for the first couple of months I kept an eye on Logan and Nathan, as I lived in one of the apartments above them. It also allowed me to get to know the area better and create a few new network connections for Erika’s organisation.

But that was only temporarily, after the months were up, I moved back into my usual apartment, nearer Erika’s pack’s place.