Page 65 of The Monster and the Last Blood Match

“They’re still there.” Tears sprang to her eyes unbidden, and she quickly swiped them off her face. “I miss them a lot. It feels like an eternity since I left.”

“But you’ll get to go home to them soon, right? Isn’t that how the program works? One month and then you switch?”

Reyna closed her eyes and swallowed hard. “That’s how it normally works, but they rolled out a new program. Better pay, better benefits, and you live with the Sponsor permanently.”

“What?” Everett asked. “Can they do that?”

“They’re already doing it. I’ll be with Beckham until…well, I don’t know until when. Indefinitely.”

Everett was stunned into silence, which was the only reason Reyna heard her phone vibrating in her giant purse. She fished it out of the bag and sighed when she saw that Beckham was calling.

“It’s Beckham. Sorry.”

“It’s my fault, really. We shouldn’t have ditched your guard.”

“I shouldn’t have to have one,” she muttered irritably.

“Take the bedroom,” he offered, pointing behind him.

“Thanks.” She walked into the bedroom and answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Reyna,” he said, sounding out of breath. “Where are you? What happened? Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“You lost your guard.”

“I know,” she said softly. “I know it’s against the rules, but there weren’t really a lot of options.”

“God dammit. This is why I didn’t want you in places where anything could happen.” He actually sounded worried, not pissed like she thought he would be.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m fine.”

“Where are you? I’ve been trying to get ahold of you. I just got to the warehouse. The fighting bosses were not pleased to see me,” he told her.

He had driven all the way out to the warehouses for…her?

“Just tell me where the hell you are. Last time this happened, you almost died.”

“I’m at Everett’s place,” she finally admitted. She hadn’t wanted to tell him, since she was still pissed at him. He wouldn’t approve. He didn’t really approve of anything she did.

“You’re at another guy’s apartment?”

Her anger flared up all over again. “Yes,” she said defiantly. “Don’t you go toPenny’splace?” She drawled out his nickname for the woman.

“That’s none of your business.”

“And this isn’t yours.”

“Your whereabouts are my business. Send me the address so I can have a car swing by and get you.”

“What if I don’t?”

He said some choice words under his breath. “I have ways of finding out where he lives. Don’t make me use them.”

“Empty threats,” she muttered.

“Don’t test me.”

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