Page 64 of Pride
“You must be Alice,” Misha said, smiling. “I’m so excited—we’re—all so excited to meet you.”
Alice gave a tight smile as Misha introduced the rest, even though Alice already knew who they were. She may have avoided meeting most of them over the past two years, but she’d done her research. Bailey sized up Alice. Grace gave a kind smile, and Lilo virtually exploded with excitement. She handed baby Amari to Grace and started rapid-firing questions at Alice.
“So you’re the Sinner, right?” Lilo shook Alice’s hand. “I’m so intrigued. I’d love to write an article about the Sisterhood, but of course know that it’s secret. It is right? I mean, I can’t, can I? I still want to hear about everything. Is that bad?” Lilo darted a glance between the women. “It’s bad, right? I’m being weird. Oh gosh, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just, these hormones make me even more cotton brained. You know?”
Alice laughed stiffly, her wide eyes searching for Parker again.
Misha stepped into Alice’s vision. “Lilo’s just excited. We’re all excited. Before you came along, none of us had seen the inside of Parker’s penthouse for months!” Misha lowered her voice, side-bar style. “And Wyatt’s even easing up on my lockdown restrictions. We’re allowed to go out this week!”
“Wait. What?” Alice frowned at her. “What do you mean lockdown?”
Bailey joined them. “The Syndicate tried to kidnap Misha for the fetus stem cells. She’s not growing them anymore, so she’s not in danger.”
“Except now that’s me,” Lilo laughed, a little flustered. “But so far Griff has been pretty reasonable. He only follows me on outings every other day.”
Alice blinked. “They’re actually locking you up or stalking you?”
“Well, I can understand their concern.” Lilo glanced at her feet, her expression betraying her frustration. From what Alice knew about the woman, she was not the kind to enjoy being locked up. None of these women were. They were strong and independent, but apart from Bailey, they weren’t really fighters. Not the way Alice was. “Anyway,” Lilo continued. “I’m so happy to meet you properly. Like, not the fake you. You know what I mean. The point is, now that you’re here. Everyone seems to have relaxed a little. It’s good.”
Lilo’s cheeks went bright red, and then she rushed over to Griffin. “I can’t stop talking. What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing.” He pulled her under his arm and kissed the top of her head, then went back to listening to whatever Parker was saying.
“And by everyone,” Sloan piped up from her spot on the couch, finishing Lilo’s thoughts. “She means the men.”
“Really?” Alice said, thinking the opposite. Since she’d arrived, she’d caused nothing but uncertainty and an increasing possessiveness in Parker she hadn’t known existed. Probably because he’d never dated anyone.
Parker barked from the kitchen, “Get in here, Sloan. Alice, you too.”
She rolled her eyes and reluctantly stood.
“That’s probably our cue to leave,” Misha said, taking the baby from Grace. “I don’t want to know about any of this Syndicate talk. It’s too stressful.”
Misha, Grace and Lilo said goodbye to their mates and then left. Alice walked alongside Bailey to the kitchen, sensing a kindred spirit. The strong woman carried herself with confidence and aplomb. Her Nightingale Securities bomber jacket looked good on her, adding to the badass vibe. But then the obscenely handsome Tony waggled his brows at her approach and blew a raspberry on her neck, to which she giggled and melted into his side. So maybe she was a softie. Tony stood behind Bailey and wrapped his arms around her front before dropping his chin on her shoulder. All eyes settled on Alice as she took up a position next to Parker at the island counter.
She stiffened. Everyone was so lovey-dovey. Was this really her future? She screwed up her face. Sure, she wanted compassion. Last night, falling asleep to the sound of Parker’s purring had lulled her into contentment. Suddenly, surprisingly, she couldn’t think of anything she’d rather do than elicit that sound in him again. Even if that meant going all lovey-dovey with him.
Parker shifted, so he was between Alice and Tony. Then he glared at the other males. Alice could have sworn she heard a low, breathy growl in the base of his throat, and she looked around the group, worried. What was going on?
Liza scowled at her brother. “Don’t be a dick, Parker. They’re all mated. No one is going to beat his chest and Tarzan-steal your lady.”
Steal?
“I know that,” Parker snapped. “I can’t help it.”
Sloan snorted. “Always knew you were an animal, bras.”
He pointed at her. “I’m warning you.”
“Suck it. You called me a monkey when my powers came in.”
“I did not. I said your powers were based in mirror neurons and monkeys had been studied—”
“Can we get to the reason we’re here?” Griffin interrupted, pursing his lips.
Parker’s jaw snapped shut, but he remained tense, nostrils flared. Alice tried something. She placed her palm on his arm. He visibly relaxed but refused to look at her. She would take it.
“We’ve isolated locations around the world,” Parker told her, eyes still on the papers and laptop. “We suspect they’re all Syndicate bases.”
