Page 133 of Nest of Thieves
“I suppose not,” Lark says with a heavy sigh. “It’s gone, babe. We don’t even know where it went after we turned it over to Damien.”
Damien.
Damien Chadworth.
“He’s your boss?”
They nod.
“Why are you telling me now?”
“Because there’s no reason to keep it a secret. If your boss won’t let up, we’ll go to Damien, but you have to be sure it’s what you want, Kitten. The price of his help is steep, and you might lose a part of yourself in the process.”
Better than losing my sister and niece. Besides, I’ve already lost a few pieces of myself this month. What’s one more? This offering is what I’ve been waiting for. They’re handing me Damien. Appreciation swells in my chest. These guys are nothing like I first thought. They’ve given me more protection than my family ever has. They’ve helped me through the aftermath of the attack and shooting without judging me. They accept me for who I am. They’ve never asked me to be someone I’m not.
My body heats and my mind races with worries that make no sense.
Did I make my bed?
Do we have snacks?
Are there blankets?
Towels?
A dark, comfortable room?
What the hell?
“Oh ,shit.” I know what this is.My heat. My body is suddenly on high alert. It’s then I realize what brought it on, what my body was waiting for. Protection. They’re protecting me. I never expected for things to end up this way. I never expected to feel safe with them. I never expected to like them.
But I do. Goddammit, I do.
“Jo?” Lark asks. “Tell me what you need.”
Sometimes the best things aren’t what we expect.
“I need blankets,” I blurt out suddenly.
“Blankets?” Vette asks.
Nodding, I start toward the house. “And snacks. Water. Towels. A cozy room. God, there’s so much to do.”
“What’s happening right now?” Lark asks the other two.
“She’s going into heat, you dumbasses.” Mac jogs to catch up to me. “Forgive them, Kitten. They’re a little slow on the uptake. What do you need?”
I glance at him. “I bought some things, but I don’t know if it’s enough.”
His smile is full of promise. “We’ll get you whatever you need, but first, we need to hear you say it.”
“Say what?” I stop walking, but my mind is still racing.
“Do you want to be our mate?” Lark asks.
“Do you want to be ours, forever?” Vette asks.
“Can I bite you?” Mac’s grin turns devilish. “Can I sink my teeth into that delicate flesh and mark you?”
