Page 82 of When She Needs Them Most

I’m convinced there’s nothing he can’t do while looking devastatingly handsome.

Now, if he could just bite me sometime soon, that would be great. I’ve had so much going on that it was barely a thought in my mind, but the urge to complete my pack washes over me from out of nowhere.

Linc swipes a hand over his face and nods at me and Arden. Sky runs off toward the kitchen, like she smells the lunch Kase is busy preparing.

Easton, the guy who owns Shadow Security, comes closer. He’s clearly an alpha. It’s impossible to miss, from his height to the broad shoulders, but something about him sets me on edge.

If it wouldn’t suck to stand up right now, I’d probably bolt. Maybe relocate into the kitchen with Kase to put some distance between me and this guy. Or just run right up the stairs to my nest.

He comes to a stop in front of Arden and me, and his eyes stay on Luna as he reaches into his back pocket. He gives me an envelope that isn’t sealed and pats my hand.

“We intercepted the package from Clark Raynor as soon as it was delivered.” The man has the good sense to grimace as my jaw falls open.

Arden curses under his breath, but he keeps his tone soft, likely to avoid waking Luna.

“We swept the case and its contents,” Easton says, nodding at the envelope in my hand. “That’s to you. I didn’t read it, but my tech guy scanned it for any hidden codes or instructions. There was nothing.”

“You read my letter?” I shriek.

My body tenses as my head flies to check on my daughter, but Arden has her up on his chest. She lets out a tiny fuss, but her eyes stay closed.

“It couldn’t be avoided,” the dick says, shrugging.

I’m surprised the top of my head doesn’t pop off as my teeth grind together. “You hadno rightto do that.”

“As I said, I didn’t view the contents.” Easton swipes his dark hair back from his face. “Calder is a professional. If he hadn’t scanned it, your new pack would have. Time would have been wasted as the package sat unopened. Your alphas were unaware. I made that call. Don’t take it out on them.”

My gaze moves to the thick white envelope, and I brush my fingers over the open flap. So many thoughts cross my mind that I barely have the chance to think any of them through. I’ve been in a better headspace the last few days, and I’m worried opening Clark’s letter will bring all those emotions back in full force.

Sky makes her way back into the living room, coming to my side. She rests her head on my thigh until I set the letter down and pet her.

“You and I will discuss this later,” Arden growls, pointing at Easton.

The unfamiliar alpha snorts. “It’s not all bad news. We located the thumb drives, and he was thorough. We now have an original and a backup. It took Calder half a day to unencrypt the files, which is basically unheard of.” He stretches back, pulling something out of his other pocket.

God, I don’t want that information anywhere near us. All it will do is draw the bad guys to us. “Can’t you just turn it in to the government? Like the FBI or something?”

“Cute.” Easton chuckles, trying to hand me a baby pink envelope that’s shaped like the ones a card comes in. “Don’t worry about the Manzos or Sammy. They’re no longer under the mistaken impression that you have what they’re looking for.” He shakes the card until I take it. “They’ve been informed that I have their records and where they can retrieve them if they’re interested. You should focus on surviving the first few weeks with your daughter. I have a bone to pick with Titus Manzo, anyway.” He claps. “The trunk with everything else Clark sent is on the porch. Lincoln is going to help me carry that in, and we’ll be out of your hair. Feel free to keep the furniture or have it picked up and disposed of by the trash service. I don’t care.” He nods at the pink card in my hand. “That is from us. Congratulations on the birth of your child. We’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

“You came for an entire week to sit in Chelsea’s house?” Arden asks, sounding exasperated.

“We came to watch your back. Also, Briar was about to run, and I needed an excuse to get her out of town with me.” Easton shrugs. “Now that I have what I came for, and I’m no longer worried the Manzos will bother you, our job here is done.” He takes off toward the door, and Lincoln and Sky follow him until I can no longer see them.

“Are you okay?” Arden asks, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“I will be.” I nod, twisting to study him as he gently rocks Luna. “With that no longer looming over our heads, it feels like a weight was lifted off of my chest.”

The letter from Clark feels like another, but I’m not in the right headspace to open it right now.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chelsea

Briar, Easton, Calder, and Keir stop in before they leave the following day. I get my first and last real chance to talk to the stunning omega, but I’m still not sure if she’s joking about being kidnapped. There’s a certain energy that leads me to believe she’s romantically involved with at least Keir, if not both him and Calder.

We barely get a moment to speak without one of the guys around, but she does assure me she’s fine. She seems tough enough that she would say something if she wasn’t…I think.

The few days after that fly by in a haze of wishing my doctor would have prescribed a small burst of pain meds for me to take at home, leaking boobs, and Luna never sleeping more than two hours at a time.

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