Page 71 of Inside the Sun

What if I’m standing face to face with the beautiful reason my brother’s days are numbered?

I start to turn away, but then I hear:

"Hey, wait."

He stands up. He’s of decent height for an alpha, but still almost a head shorter than me.

With some effort, I school my face to stay neutral as he approaches, quickly wiping away his tears.

"Besides working as a gardener… are you also one of Mr. Ferro’s sworn soldiers?"

Did not expect that. So blunt, so direct; it doesn’t fit the profile of someone sent to spy on me. Or does it?

"I’m just a gardener. I’m not connected to him in any other way," I reply, keeping my tone flat.

He hesitates, glances toward the house, then steps further back into the gazebo and gestures for me to follow.

I look around. No one can see us here. The garden’s big, and the central part around the gazebo is screened off by bushes and trees.

Somewhat reluctantly, I step inside after him. Now it’s just the two of us.

Silence falls. He stares at me for a long moment, studying me intently.

Damn, he really is stunning. I could look at him for hours. Like a piece of art: deceptive, a siren. You get dazzled by the beauty, and then you crash against the rocks.

"Nice tattoo," he says, making a small gesture toward my bicep with his chin.

"Thanks."

"Some kind of falcon?"

"Yep. Gyrfalcon. Icelandic bird of prey."

"It’s beautiful."

I don’t respond. What should I say?

"Means something personal?"

Hell no. I won’t reveal that. It’s not a secret Anzo’s husband is of Icelandic origin. It could raise some suspicion. I have already hinted too much.

So I just shrug. "Just liked the design."

The young alpha bites his lip and seems to think deeply about something. Suddenly, he blurts out,

"I’m Sun Nolan."

He says it with a peculiar tone, like he wants me to remember the name or at least notice it.

I know one Nolan, Lieutenant Hunter Nolan, but I’m almost certain this isn’t his brother. Hunter only has one sibling, Nathaniel, and I know him a bit. So the last name might just be a coincidence.

"Ragnar Lind."

I use my real first name. No idea why, especially since on my job application here, I wrote downRaghu Lind.

"I want you to remember my name," the guy says.

"Why?" I raise an eyebrow.

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