Page 52 of Rugged Fox

Easton

I stuffed the last of my clothes into my duffel bag.

"Is this everything?" Lucien looked around the small place like he couldn't believe it only took me an hour and three bags to load up all my stuff.

"Sure is. I didn't come to Texas with much and I've been leaving clothes at the house for days. If it wasn't for some of my weapons, we could've made it out of here with just one bag."

"Please don't remind me just how many guns you're bringing into the house." Kati dropped onto the perfectly made bed with a sigh.

The apartment had come completely furnished. I had known even before I moved to Texas that I didn't want to be hauling stuff from place to place. I sure hadn't expected to be moving again after less than a month.

Lucien sat down on the bed next to his mother. "Don't worry, Mom. Easton agreed to teach me how to shoot them all."

I gave the boy a look that would make most men piss their pants, but Lucien just smirked at me. This had been an ongoing discussion since the accident. Lucien wanted to learn how to defend himself better, and Kati wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap. I had a feeling Lucien would win in the end. Especially with me in his corner.

"And in the meantime, they will all be locked up," I reassured Kati, then turned my attention back to Lucien. "Keep it up and I will put off teaching you."

I really wouldn't, but he didn't need to know that. I was a firm believer that everyone should know how to defend themselves and anyone who had access to guns in a house should know how to use them. I was still working on getting Kati to agree to that last one. It was a process.

"Sorry." I raised my eyebrow and Lucien turned to his mother. "Sorry, Mom. I know it worries you, but I do think it's good for me to learn."

And that was why Kati was going to cave. At the end of the day, Lucien was a great kid. He went out of his way to make his mother's life easier and to keep out of trouble.

Kati sighed. "I know it is, but maybe I'm not ready for you to grow up just yet."

Lucien and I both laughed. He was more grown up than most teenagers his age.

"Whatever, you two." Kati pushed off the bed. "Is there anything else you need to grab?"

I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist. I gave her a chaste kiss on the corner of her mouth before stepping back. "Nope. Lex is taking over the rent once he gets to town."

"Is it weird that I'm a little nervous to meet your other teammate? I mean, I get along with the rest of them but I don't know," Kati rambled. "It's weird that there's one more of you that I've never met."

I gave her my most reassuring smile. "Lex is going to love you just like the rest of my team does. He's quiet though, so the chances of him talking to you are pretty slim. He barely speaks to the rest of us.”

Lex was the original silent type. He listened and very rarely gave input, but he was the guy you wanted on your six if things ever went sideways.

"Okay." Kati was abusing her lip again, so I pulled her into my side.

"Enough about my teammates," I whispered in her ear. "The only man I ever want you thinking that hard about is holding you close. I'm the only man allowed to occupy your thoughts." I gave her a wink as she elbowed me in the side.

I did accomplish my mission though. I made her smile and saved her lip from further abuse.

"Let's get out of here. I have a much better place I would rather spend the rest of my life sleeping."

The three of us walked out of the apartment and never looked back. The place had barely been my home since moving to town, and it was a damn good thing I chose the month-to-month option. I may not have known it at the time, but my home was already somewhere else.

EPILOGUE 2

Owen

I walked through the small apartment and did my best not to step on anything. Not that it mattered. There wasn't a single piece of furniture or item in the place that wasn't destroyed. Couches, pillows, and even the bed had been shredded with a knife. Drawers from the dressers had been yanked out and the contents dumped all over the floor. Picture frames lay smashed. Hell, even the food in the fridge and cabinets was thrown around. It looked like whoever destroyed the place had been in a fit of rage. That, or they were looking for something.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed my boss.

He answered on the first ring. "Did you find her?"

"Nope, her apartment is empty." I looked around the small space. Maybe empty wasn't the right word. "Someone trashed the place good. I can't even tell if anything was taken."

I waited as Maverick let out a string of curses that could rival a sailor. It was rare for my boss to use profanity when it came to our job. Ever since becoming the boss of the company, Maverick had attempted to clean up his image. He wanted to be a good face for what we did.

"Lex isn't too far from your location. He called this morning to let me know he was ready to come down. I'll call him back and ask him to join you instead. Find out what happened and report back when you have something. I don't like that she was looking to leave her old life and now this."

I hung up the phone and put it back in my pocket. It was a good thing Maverick was okay with me following this lead because it hadn't mattered what he said. I was staying either way. Something told me our possible new receptionist was in trouble and that didn't sit well with me.

I had only spoken to her once, but that was all it had taken for me to know I would help in any way that I could.

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