Page 155 of Power Shift

“You didn’t take your VIP pass off, right?”

“No.”

“Just show it and tell them who you’re here with.”

I take a deep breath. “They’ll believe me just like that?”

“Depending which guard is posted at that door, they’ll probably recognize our scents on you.”

There’s a jolt in the centre of my chest. “It’s that obvious already? Even though we aren’t bonded?”

He pauses, and my cheeks burn. “Aren’t we? A bond is more than just a bite mark, Briar.”

“You’re right,” I whisper, tapping a beat on my throat as it grows tight with emotion. “So, I tell the guard I’m with you, and then where do I go?”

“I’m going to send someone up right now to meet you at the door, and they’ll lead you to me.”

“Are you with the others?”

“Not currently. I need to get my knee looked at before we leave.”

I quicken my pace as worry settles. “Why? What happened? Did I miss you getting hurt again?”

“It’s nothing like that. I have doctor-ordered check-ins after every game until I’m back to normal. Things are nearly there already.”

“Oh.”

His chuckle is a deep rasp. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

“You were amazing out there tonight,” I blurt before we hang up.

“I had reason to be.”

“I’d have been impressed even if you didn’t score a single goal.”

“Yeah, I don’t doubt that. You’re too good to us. Too fucking good to me.”

There’s a slight curve in the walkway before I spot an Authorized Personnel Only door up ahead. The man standing in front of it is leaning against the wall, his ankles and arms crossed.

“It’s funny, I was just thinking the same about all of you,” I tell Landon.

The guard regards me with a curious lift of his brow before pushing away from the wall. He peers at the VIP badge hanging from the lanyard around my neck, reading the words there.

Landon leaves my statement alone, and I let him, knowing I’ll have the time to bring it up again later if I wanted to.

That’s maybe one of the biggest changes between me and him. He’s so much more open now.

“My guy is on his way up the stairs to you, Briar.”

I offer the guard in front of me a sweet smile while whispering into the phone, “See you soon.”

The man waits until I’ve hung up the phone and lowered it to my side before speaking for the first time.

“Family doesn’t usually use this door.”

“I’m still learning the do’s and don’ts. And I absolutely got lost up here after the game.”

He blows out a breath. “Yeah, it takes some getting used to. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. If you give me your name, I’ll call and get approval?—”

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