Page 11 of Softer Than Stone
“I’ll be fine. I don’t need to?—”
I cut him off, not wanting to call bullshit, but I figured he hadn’t noticed the trembling in his hands. “I know you’ll be fine.” He pursed his lips. “We’ll just follow the process, okay?”
A sigh escaped his parted lips, followed by a nod.
“Let’s get this done.” Reluctantly, I released his hand before getting out of his car. I’d already clocked Michaels’s SUV and the van we used for tech support that Smythe must have driven back. There was only one Eclipse vehicle in sight.
I led the way and typed in the code when I reached the door, then placed my thumb against the reader. The door unlocked, and we stepped into a small holding area. Once I closed the door behind us, I reached the retina scanner, passed, then typed in a secondary code via the security app Lucas had designed.
The final door opened, the quiet grinding highlighting just how thick the steel door was. Yeah, Callen was not going to be a happy bunny about giving up this safe house.
Once inside, I took a moment to gauge Waru’s reaction to the space.
The main room stretched before us, open and inviting despite its purpose. Warm wood tones and soft lighting made the sitting area feel almost cosy, with a pair of plush couches positioned around a low coffee table. The dining area flowed seamlessly into a sleek, modern kitchen. The counter was quartz, polished to a high sheen, and every appliance looked like it belonged in a high-end showroom.
“Wow,” Waru muttered, his eyes darting around the space. “This is not what I expected.”
“Yeah?” I asked, amused.
He nodded, gesturing vaguely at the room. “It’s… homey. Not what I’d picture for a safe house.”
I chuckled. “Lucas likes his comforts, and Callen believes in good morale. Happy team, effective team, or something like that.” Which was all bullshit. The truth was that after a major criminal takedown we were involved in a couple of years back, a whole lot of shit happened, and damage had been done. Our budget since then had been super healthy.
Waru’s lips twitched, a spark of levity in his expression. “Still feels weird.”
Before I could answer, the sound of the entryway door cycling through the locks preceded Michaels’s arrival. He strode in with his usual casual confidence, a grin plastered on his face as he caught sight of us.
“Chris,” Michaels greeted, giving me a firm handshake before pulling me into a brief hug. His tone was all professional, but his smile turned downright mischievous as he turned to Waru.
“And you must be Waru.” Michaels extended his hand. “Michaels. It’s nice to meet you properly. We didn’t really have time for introductions earlier.”
Waru hesitated for a fraction of a second before taking Michaels’s hand.
“Likewise,” Waru said, though his eyes darted nervously towards me.
Michaels’s grin widened. “Don’t worry. We’re just going to get you checked out real quick. Standard protocol.” He gestured towards the room off to the side of the pantry.
Waru glanced at me again, clearly searching for reassurance. “I’ll be right here,” I said, giving him a slight nod. “You’re in good hands.”
Michaels clapped him on the shoulder lightly, guiding him towards the medical room.
Once they disappeared through the door, I exhaled and headed towards the back. The hallway led to the more secure parts of the safe house. Three bedrooms, each behind reinforced doors with their own keypads, lined one side. On the other were doors leading to the holding cells and the interview room.
Lucas was waiting for me near the farthest door.
The vampire looked as unflappable as ever, his sharp features softened slightly by the calm confidence he radiated. A faint smirk curved his lips as he spotted me.
“Chris,” he greeted, his voice smooth.
“Boss man.” I returned the nod before stepping closer, sure in his head he was rolling his eyes at me. He wasn’t a fan of being called boss man.
“How’s our guest?”
“Shaken but holding up,” I said. “Michaels is with him now, running through the protocol.”
Lucas nodded, then gestured for me to follow him into the back office. Once the door clicked shut behind us, he leaned against the desk.
“Updates?” I asked.
