Page 17 of The Goblin in the Sink Drain
“Sounds like you’ve got everything covered.” I curled my fingers to hold in Rían’s warmth. “I’ll touch base as soon as I’m able. I left my phone in Brentwood, but I keep burners hidden around the property. As long as water hasn’t gotten to them, or the caches haven’t been discovered, I should be good.”
For a second, I thought Rían would ask why I had taken such precautions, such drastic measures, but he clenched his jaw against the impulse. I was grateful he didn’t press. I hadn’t spent time around any other clan or pack or pride as a whole, and even a couple of days with the Walshes had turned everything I grew up believing as gospel, especially about alphas, on its head.
“Ready?” Sloane flashed a folded sheet of paper. “We need to get this show on the road.”
“Your number,” I blurted, recalling my earlier concerns about contacting him. “I don’t have it.”
“Here.” He withdrew a pen from his pocket and bit his lip. “I’ll write it on your bra strap, if that’s okay.”
The fire of a thousand suns exploded in my cheeks. “Do what now?”
“Fayne taught us it’s a safe place to hide information in a pinch. They might strip search you or force you to change clothes, but typically women get their underwear back.” He clicked the cap a few times. “I had planned on giving you my number after the blackout ended, but I doubt the Sartoris would have let you keep your phone anyway to prevent us from tracking your location.” He hesitated. “If you have a better idea…”
“Are you sure you’re not just trying to sneak a peek?”
“Sloane.”I swatted her, but it only made her smirk wider. “This is awkward enough without your running commentary.” I tugged the neckline of my scrub top aside. “Have at it.”
A faint hitch in his movements betrayed his nerves as he slid a finger under the strap, sweeping chills down my arms, and used his thumb to part a section of elastic overlapping the plastic length adjuster. He wrote a string of numbers without spaces to further muddle their meaning then set the strap back in place, concealing the digits between the layers.
“There you go,” he said, his voice husky. “That should do it.”
“Bye for now.” I straightened my neckline to give my hands something to do. “See you soon.”
Halfway to the parking lot, I glanced over my shoulder to find Rían chasing after me.
Lips tingling with the certainty he was going to kiss me for luck, or maybe goodbye, I smothered my disappointment when he pulled up short.
“Here.” He tossed something at me that glinted silver. “In case you need it.”
“Oh crap.” I fumbled before slapping it between my hands. “I’m terrible at catch.”
“Cue the dog jokes.” Liam caught Sloane’s eye and withered on the spot. “Just kidding.” He cleared his throat when Rían’s head swung his way. “I meant no disrespect to wargs.”
“Turnabout is fair play.” She flashed her teeth as we left him behind. “Remember that, Lizard Lips.”
Once we were locked safely inside the SUV, her shoulders began shaking as she threw it in reverse.
“You know what they say about playing with fire.” I snatched the list from between her fingers. “Something about getting burned. To a crisp. Because Liam is an actual fire-breathing dragon.”
“I know, I know.” She wiped a tear off her cheek. “He’s such an ass, though.” She rolled her eyes at him in the rearview mirror. “He either drank the Kool-Aid while he was infiltrating the Sartoris, or he truly believes setting you on a high shelf like a doll no one is allowed to play with is your rightful place.”
Not for me. He didn’t care about me. No. His worry was all for Rían. I was just stuck in the middle.
“Let’s hope it’s the first. Then he can be deprogrammed over time.”
“Nah. I vote we tattle to Fayne. She doesn’t strike me as the kind of woman who puts up with disrespect and male shenanigans. She’s a badass. Just like you. I think she ought to be our secret weapon.”
“Spoken like someone who fully intends to return to Brentwood.”
“I thought that was our plan.”
Ourplan. Hers and mine. Was this how it felt to belong? To truly be part of a pack?
“You don’t have to stick it out with me if you would rather stay with the Sartoris.”
“You’re worried what Mercer will do to me.”
“I’m worried what Mercer will do tous. It’s not like you acted alone. I’m willing to take responsibility for my actions, but I don’t want you hurt on my account.” I leaned my head against the cool window. “You wouldn’t have been in this mess if not for me.”
