Page 19 of How to Hack a Hellhound
“But I wasn’t alone, was I?” he asked.
“Well, no, but you didn’t know that,” I added.
“Yes, exactly,” he said, sipping his coffee and glaring at me. It didn’t feel as dangerous as earlier, but he was obviously not pleased.
Hmm, maybe Toby was right. Could he be a wee bit upset about the cameras? It wasn’t like I had watched him pleasure himself or anything. Ok, so yes, that was mainly because he hadn’t done that while his computer camera was facing him.
Would I have watched if he had? I would have liked to—I found the idea extremely arousing—but that was something that probably wasn’t polite. But he knew about the cameras now, so if he decided to pleasure himself, I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about watching. Toby was worried about consent, so maybe that meant I needed to tell Quinton where all the cameras were?
I shook that fantasy out of my head, though, and got back to business. First things first, and that was convincing him to move in here permanently.
“I don’t think it’s safe for either of you to go back to the apartment across from the coffee shop,” I stated. “This apartment is fully secured, including alarms on the doors and windows—which are a weak point in your apartment. Plus, it has the benefit of being within hearing distance of Dexter, Jude,Corbin, and I. We’d know if there were any intruders or if something was amiss. One of us is always around.”
“And it has cameras everywhere inside, too,” he mumbled, sipping his coffee again.
“Well, yes, but we could negotiate their use,” I hedged. “I could point out where they are, and I suppose I could remove the one in the bathroom, as Toby suggested. Not that it aims at the commode,” I added to set his mind at ease.
“Hmmm,” Quinton murmured, and I wasn’t sure if we were back in danger mode. He really was like a cat—graceful, fascinating, and ready to attack.
“I look into all of Dexter’s strays,” I answered, hoping to calm him down, but that only made his eyes flash in anger.
“I see. So I’m simply a stray of Dexter’s. You watch Aiden just as closely, then,” he said.
I fidgeted again under his stare. “Well, not exactly,” I murmured.
“You don’t watch Aiden?” he clarified, and he seemed a little less angry at that.
I was so confused. I had no idea what he was looking for, so I figured honesty was the easiest course of action. “I look into everyone, and I’ve watched Aiden because he lives with you and to make sure he stays safe, but I can admit that I’ve, perhaps, watched you a little more closely than anyone else. Toby told me that people found that sort of thing an invasion of privacy, but I certainly didn’t mean it to be. And now that you know about the cameras, it isn’t without your consent, so that makes it ok.”
Quinton just stared at me.
“Plus, people are looking for you. You were taken once before, but you won’t be taken again. If you are, I’ll know, and I’ll find you. Always. So really, it’s much better to stay here, where there are reliable cameras, as opposed to going back to your apartment, which is not secure.”
“And where you can only watch me through my computer camera,” he added.
“Well, I could install cameras there, if you insist on going back, but I don’t think it’s safe even with cameras.” I really did want him closer to the pack.
“Hmm,” he murmured, sipping his coffee again.
He set his coffee down, then looked at me. I braced myself. He seemed on the verge of something. I had a moment of panic. What if Tobywasright? What if he requested that I not watch him? I couldn’t very well continue to do so if he specifically asked me not to. That would not be polite at all. I gripped my coffee cup so tightly that I heard a slight cracking sound.
He didn’t seem to notice, and he stared into my eyes. He was captivating in person—even more so than on the computer. If I wasn’t allowed to watch him, perhaps I could just move in. Surely that would be acceptable. Or he and Aiden could move into the main house. Yes, that would be even better.
Before I could suggest it, however, Quinton spoke. “We’ll think about moving into this place, butonlyif I tell Aiden about the cameras and he’s comfortable with them. Are there two bedrooms? I haven’t even had time to explore.”
“Yes, there are, and there are no cameras in the second bedroom,” I added helpfully. With the windows and doors alarmed and a camera pointed at the bedroom door, I hadn’t seen any need for one in what would be Aiden’s room.
“But there are in my room?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, bracing myself for him to ask to have them removed.
“Toby was right. The camera has to come out of the bathroom. Aiden uses it too. I suppose they’re ok in common living areas, but not in the bathroom. People expect privacy there,” he explained.
I nodded my head. He hadn’t mentioned removing them from his bedroom, and I certainly wasn’t going to remind him.
He glared at me then, resting both hands on the kitchen island and leaning forward slightly. I was unsure what had caused the change in his attitude, but he looked ready to hiss at me.
“I’m going to look for the men who work with Marcus, and I’m going to bring them down,” he insisted. “I’m going to do this with or without your help. You’re right that going to the club was stupid of me. It hadn’t occurred to me that they thought I was dead. I guess it should’ve. You’re also right that I’m probably on their radar now, and I won’t risk Aiden. I’m an idiot for putting him in this position.”
