Page 61 of When She Needs Them Most

I frown as he describes her attempted escape.

Dammit.

I, too, had a feeling she was going to run.

“But she stuck around.” Arden gives a pointed look. “There’s also the fact that Easton texted this morning, demanding a meeting to share all we know regarding the Manzos. I’m not sure what sparked his interest, but he was not fucking around.”

“I learned my lesson last night. I’ll keep my mouth shut from here on out, unless it’s to apologize,” Linc grinds out, massaging his lower back. “I think I need a new bed. My fucking back and neck are killing me this morning.”

“I’m not going,” I deadpan when Arden looks at me. “You two can go in and do whatever it is that Easton needs done. I’m going to see if I can find some of the smaller baby stuff and startassembling it. I won’t be in her way, but I will be around if she needs anything.”

Easton’s main tech guy is way more skilled than I am. If he needs something handled, he can ask Calder.

I don’t give a fuck if it puts me on East’s shit list.

I’m not scared of him.

It’s a little unsettling that the man just does not give a fuck about what laws he breaks, but he’s far too calculating to do such without a carefully laid-out plan.

I’d imagine you’d have to have balls of steel to employ the kinds of ruthless assholes he does. Literally, Shadow Security is a mess of the other contract workers the sane companies turned down.

I frown, realizing I’m one of those psychos who failed the mental health screening for a few different places.

Whatever, that’s neither here nor there.

I’m not fucking going into the office today, and that’s the end of it. I will stab the first one of my packmates who tries to make me.

Chelsea comes down an hour after Arden forces Lincoln out of the house. Sky circles her feet, and I push off the counter to let the furry beast out into the backyard. I leave the porch door cracked, so she can let herself back in and make my way to check on my omega.

Yeah, I decided that last night too. She’s mine. She doesn’t get to take my virginity and then be alloh, sorry, I didn’t know you guys were killers.

That’s not how this works.

“Good morning,” she says as I come back into the kitchen.

Chelsea is dressed for the day in a pretty black dress. It looks soft. I’d like to be able to run my hands over it as I give her a good morning kiss, but I keep my chill.

Instead, I head over, pulling open the oven.

“Good morning. Biscuits are in here, and the gravy is on the stove.” I try to smile, but it comes out feeling more like a grimace. “I set you out a plate on the island. I’ll be in the garage if you need anything, but otherwise, I’ll see you at lunch.”

Chelsea’s eyes widen. “Oh, okay.”

She slides her hands down her dress, nodding.

I’m not sure what I did wrong this time, and I frown. “Okay. Great.”

Turning to head to the garage, I freeze when she calls my name. I turn back just in time for her to wrap her arms around me.

“Thank you. It smells great.” She runs her hand down my back, and I exhale in pure relief.

“Anytime.”

Baby stuff takes a while to assemble, and I didn’t even attempt the crib on my own. I manage the swing, the bouncer seat that oscillates, the playard, and the bedside bassinet, but that takes until just past lunch.

I’m anxious to see what went down with Easton, but I haven’t heard from Arden or Linc, so I figure they’ll fill me in when they get home.

If it was important, they’d call.

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