Page 27 of Sawyer

“My place,” Sin says, breaking the moment to pieces.

“Take me home,” I protest, though my teeth chatter, and I’m not sure he even heard me. Adjusting the vents, I aim them all at me so the hot air blows on my cold skin.

“I’m going to pull rank here.” Sin leans between the seats. “Me, big bad alpha. I am in charge.”

“You smell like garbage,” Rumor comments as he pulls out onto the street. “Have you been sleeping in a dumpster?”

“I want to go home,” I say again.

“They are warm, Rumor, and they protected me from the elements.” Ignoring me, Sin presses on. “See, I’m on a mission, and I think we could work together.” He snaps his fingers and adds, “Plus, I have this.” He pulls out the papers I found hidden near Jenny’s station.

I try to grab them from him.

“Ah, ah, ah.” He tsks. “You need protection since there’s someone out there killing gammas, so let me protect you.”

“Excuse me?” I shake a little more until heat replaces the cold.

“You need to be protected.”

“I do not. I’m not in any danger here.” Feeling warmer, I turn as far as I can to glare at him.

“He’s right, baby girl,” Rumor agrees and carries on before I can argue. “Hear me out. Someone is luring gammas out, and they are cutting them up. I haven’t heard from the mage who is checking them over yet, but I suspect they won’t be whole, and you just found a connection and whatever is in that wad of paper.”

“Yeah, the Daily also splashed your face all over the city. You’re gamma royalty.” Sin smirks. “Face it, princess, you need protection.”

“I—” I don’t know if I can argue. “Why? Why are you helping me?” I’m not used to having anyone help me, let alone an alpha and a delta. Sure, I’ve made friends in the past with others, but they’d never kill for me, and these two didn’t even bat an eyelash.

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress,” Sin purrs. “And, baby, you smell too fucking delectable not to save.”

He’s lying. I know he is. “Give me the papers.”

“Nope. We will look at them tomorrow. Over breakfast.” He smirks at me, and damn it, that smile will hurt me one day. It will destroy me, and I’ll either love it or hate it.

I should demand that they take me home and keep me out of whatever game they are playing, except they might come in handy.

I’m using them, that’s all. It’s true as long as I keep feeding myself the lie, and I’m starved for attention.

Sawyer

“Here?” Rumor stares at the small cottage in front of us, disbelief written on his face in deep lines.

It’s the same disbelief that courses through me as I look at the cottage, then back to Sin, who smiles at us from the backseat with pride and amusement.

“Yep,” he answers and slides out of the vehicle, not bothering to wait for us.

Sin directed us out of the city to the south, an hour away from where I grew up. A small forest lines the ocean, which I can almost hear in the distance, yet it’s the cottage that throws me. The white stucco stands out in stark contrast to the ivy crawling up the side of the home. Glowing windows on the second floor have a stained glass appearance to them, which I’ll have to confirm after walking up to the home.

Even more confusing are the cobblestone walkway and the gardens on either side. Small buds creep out of the ground, reaching for the sky and the warmer weather that spring heralds. An archway and a swing are off to the left, while a fountain’s peak shows just over the hedges to the right.

“What do you want to bet that he’s about to break into this house?” Rumor asks before glancing at me.

“I do not know.” With the car off, the chill of the night tries to creep in. “I won’t sit here and freeze my ass off, though, breaking and entering or not.”

I go to reach for the door handle, but Rumor stops me. “What you did…” He pauses, and I’m not sure I can look at him, so I don’t, and I stare at the dry skin on my hand. “That cost you, and I want you to know that I appreciate it.”

“I hope what he had to say was worth it.”

“It was.” I wonder if he will add that it has to be, but he doesn’t. Instead, he lets go of me.

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