Page 39 of Targeted By Temptation
“I thought he was going to kill you.” He peppered my bloodied face with kisses.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Boaz and Riggs barged in, and my older brother surveyed the room.
“Calloway can’t hurt anyone anymore.” Boaz kicked what remained of the guy, telling me I could fill them in later.
“Can someone find me a pair of pants?”
20
REIGN
After Calloway died, there was a whole lot to clean up. There was not only the death scene to figure out, but there was dealing with the security guard who we all feared would identify me. That was, until we discovered that he was a shifter, one that didn’t need bribing to keep quiet. He was a crow shifter that had his job because Calloway held something over him. He was glad to be rid of the man.
We all were.
I assumed that after all of that mess was cleaned up, my life was going to become normal and boring. I quickly discovered that life with Ezra was neither normal nor boring. It was so much better.
When the dust setted we spent some time, just the two of us, no interruptions. There was a lot that happened in our lives in a very short period of time, and it needed some unpacking. Never was our relationship in doubt. He loved me, and I loved him. But we needed to lay everything out on the table.
“Do you want to go back to school?”
We were in bed and I was snuggled into his side. And wasn’t that the question? I’d been using school as a way to avoid my father’s bullshit. I’d never done it out of a need to get more education. Even so, it was hard letting go so close to the finish line.
“I’d rather be here with you.” It was the truth. My current plans for life revolved around being with my mate. It was a recipe for a toxic relationship in humans, but with my mate? Yeah, it felt right.
“That’s not an answer. It’s not one or the other. You can be with me, and I can be anywhere.”
“That’s not how jobs work.”
And honestly, I wasn’t exactly sure what his job was, and I planned to keep it that way. Having a vague idea was good enough for me. My mate was a good guy, a great mate, and a fabulous brother and son. That was what mattered, not the family business.
“Mine does.” He kissed the top of my head. “If you could do anything you want what would it be?”
I wasn’t going to rush the answer. “Let me get back to you on that.”
There was an idea brewing in the back of my mind, one that had flitted in and out over the years. I’d always assumed it was impossible. That was no longer the case. Did I really want to open up my own archery training center? Teach the next generation to use both the new advanced bow and more traditional varieties? That was something I needed to figure out before broaching it with my mate, because I knew that the second those words left my lips, he’d make it happen, and his family would be there to help.
“As long as you promise not to keep it from me, like you are keeping your current burdens.”
That one sentence opened up the conversation we both needed.
I’d been holding on to and hiding my residual guilt over not accomplishing my goal and putting everyone in danger. Ezra had been doing the same over putting me in that position in the first place. And once we realized that, we both allowed our guilt to flutter away. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it was good… for both of us and this family.
It was weird to think about. We got rid of the “bad guy” together. Only wasn’t I part of a family of bad guys? At least most people would consider us that.
There was still a lot of shit to figure out with Viktor. He appreciated Calloway’s demise, and by appreciate, I meant he was thrilled. His existence had been hanging over the Alpha so heavily that now that he no longer was, Viktor looked younger. Best of all, Viktor considered my debt paid, not that it should ever have been mine to begin with.
I was free and clear.
My mate had met me while trying to get Viktor to sign a treaty. He’d been reluctant then, or rather adamantly against it. But now, he signed it without conditions. It was a fair treaty after we’d worked through the warehouse access. It wasn’t as if anyone was attempting to take advantage of him or his pack.
We had a meeting with him today about what to do with my father, and I was dreading it. And looking forward to it. My feelings were all over the place. As long as I could completely put that chapter of my life behind me, I was happy.
I had news I needed to share with my mate. Amazing, wonderful, fabulous news that I didn’t want to throw at him right before we went into what I knew was going to be a stressful meeting.
The past couple mornings, I’d woken up not feeling myself. I wouldn’t say I was nauseous but my stomach wasn’t right either. I was tired… more than I should be for what I’d been doing. But what really had me thinking there was more to it was that not one but two people on my trip through the grocery store told me I was glowing.
