Page 26 of The Warrior's Salvation

Lochlan grunts approval and I'm gone, out of Da's office, past my desk, snatching my phone on the way. I shoot Darren a message that I'll have five minutes, and I hit the elevator running. Fuck, I'm so angry I couldn't stay and enjoy that, but protecting my father is far more important than sexual gratification.

But this is the last time. I have to tell Connelly to fuck off now, and he has to listen. Because if this sneaking around shit keeps happening, I'm going to get caught. And right now, I have a lot to think about. I have to keep Da safe, Lochlan distracted, Mom happy, Elvin at arm's length, and my mind from panicking about missing my period. That is a lot of stress, even for me.

18

LOCHLAN

Relaxation pulses through my entire body from head to toes. I sit back at the desk and watch Evie saunter out, my cum still glistening on the back of her thigh. She has no clue how much that relaxes me and helps me settle after a stressful moment, and her allowing me to dominate her just adds to the enjoyment.

Sucking in a deep breath, I turn back to the computer and continue digging into the files I've been sorting through all morning. After seeing our gun shipment go up in literal smoke, there is no doubt in my mind that I'm right. Cormac has been making threats against us, and they're escalating.

With the striking workers getting back to work, there is no "front line" for him to attack anymore. He's focusing his efforts on our shipping routes starting here at home. So maybe he isn't planning an attack directly on the main offices, but this is close enough. He has infiltrated a carefully vetted staff member and intends to disrupt our business by chipping away at our shipments one at a time. And who knows what he'll do next if this fails.

My eyes pore over the screen as the words out of Evie's mouth slowly register. She said something about going next door to get a coffee for us, but we have a coffee machine right here in the office. I sigh and move the mouse to the next screen, trying to see who has sent this particular shipment schedule out via email, but no one has shared it at all. We weren't hacked, and if someone did anything, it was to save it to an external drive or print it—but we'd have seen it go through the printer.

Glancing at the door, I think about Evie again, so I check my watch. She's only been gone a few minutes, but something is gnawing at my conscience. There is no reason for her to go next door for coffee. Maybe she wants one of those fancy drinks with flavor syrups and foam instead. She should be safe enough, but then I thought we were safe enough at the docks as we did our last once-over the other night.

Rising, I stalk toward the door as my body starts to tense up again already. It bothers me that I feel so hypervigilant, needing to know where she is and who she's with. I'm not stupid. I realize it stems from the fact that I wasn't as cautious as I should've been with Maelyn, that she ran into that building right before it exploded. And as I make my way to the elevator, I try to remind myself that I'm not in a warzone, and Evie is just getting coffee.

The elevator ride seems too slow. The stairs would've been faster. So I suck in a deep breath and hold it, blowing it out slowly to control my breathing. The bell dings. The doors slide open, and I almost turn back. Pausing a second, I grit my teeth and remember how she hung up on me the last time I didn't know where she went. I snapped at her. I shouldn’t have. She really was sick—took a few days off work too.

But that was before Cormac lit a fire under this conflict.

I step off the elevator and move toward the front door. The staff goes about their business, not even looking up, and my eyes train on the coffee shop across the street through the windows of the storefront. Cars zip past on the street. My tension starts to dissolve, and then I see her walk out of the shop with two coffees in hand and a scowl on her face. It makes me pause just inside the door and watch.

The same man who was in the parking lot a few weeks ago follows her out of the coffee shop and she turns around on him. He's scowling, hands planted on his hips. My body reacts instantly, but I've been working on keeping my cool and not jumping to conclusions. She's safe enough for the moment, and I'm curious. That man was here before, and I need to find out why.

Is he seeing her? Or is something darker going on? And who is he?

Evie's back is to me. She doesn't see when I slip out the door and stand in the shade of a tree grown in the easement, crossing my arms over my chest. They're arguing, but I can't make out what they're saying and my blood is starting to boil. This isn't just a work-related chat. There are huge emotions at stake in the conversation and I'm starting to get the feeling this was way more than just a coffee run.

I told her the other day that I don't share, and I meant it. The way that man is leaning in, grabbing her arm possessively, I'd say this is a lovers' quarrel and I'm not supposed to be watching them.

She glances around nervously, and I can see the tears streaking her face. She's so upset that she's crying, which is another indication that man is more personal to her than he should be, and after seeing him around before, my mind has only one conclusion—she's trying to break it off. Or he is…

The man catches sight of me and backs away shaking his head. As I start to cross the street, he says something else in a low tone I can't hear and then turns and walks off. Evie, so distraught about whatever just happened, throws one of her coffees at the man, but it misses, falling to the sidewalk where the lid pops off and the hot brew spills everywhere.

She doesn't even pay attention to what she's doing, turning and walking right into the street as a car approaches. I hook my arm around her middle and pull her off the street before the car reaches us, and she swats at me angrily.

"Let go of me! You stupid—Oh, God… Loch." Her face pales, hand trembling. I set her down, and she takes a few steps backward as she swipes the tears off her cheeks.

"What the hell was that?" I ask in a low tone. I'm furious, but I don't want any more attention drawn to us. There are already people staring at her after that showdown with the dark figure.

"It's nothing," she says, stretching out her hand and offering me the coffee.

"It wasn't nothing. You're crying and he walked off when he saw me. What the feck is going on?" I resist the urge to grab her arm, but I want answers.

"I told you, it’s nothing." Evie turns to walk away, and I walk around her, stopping her from entering the office. "Move, Lochlan."

"I told you, I won't share. You are mine now. If we're doing this thing, you break it off… Unless that was a breakup?" I'm totally serious. There are so many emotions raging through me, I don't know which one to latch onto and process first. Are we doing this thing? Is she playing me? Was that something more than a bad breakup?

"I don't belong to you," Evie snips, "and even if I did, I'm not screwing him. It's not what you think and you don't own me." Her face screws up into a scowl. "Besides, you know I have to marry Elvin Murphy. Did you think this was going to last forever?"

She turns and stomps off, taking the coffee with her, and I stare after her, too angry to respond. I know she's promised to Murphy, which is something I've been meaning to speak to Draco about. I just didn't realize that it was what she wanted. It doesn’t change how I feel about her, but maybe it should. I never should have gotten attached to her. It was foolish of me to think she wanted more than a good fuck.

Turning, I look in the direction where that man vanished. My gut tells me something is off. Evie swears it wasn't what I assumed it was, but what does that mean? Who is that man and why is he verbally assaulting Draco's daughter? If I don't figure this out, what will he do next? One thing is for sure—I won't be letting her out of my sight again. It's too dangerous, even if she doesn't belong to me.

I still have to protect her.

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