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“Perfect. Thank you for all your hard work.” We’d installed a new enhancement to the system, ensuring we’d be alerted at the house the second Tomas arrived. I clenched my fists at the thought of the rogue alpha, my rage simmering beneath the surface. He’d caused so much devastation, and I was ready to end it once and for all.
Kyle arrived not long after with a crew in tow. “You ready to get this thing wrapped up?”
“Yep, let’s finish up the bunker. I’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing it’s ready.”
“Sure thing.”
We got to work, pushing ourselves to the limit throughout the morning while making even more progress than I’d hoped we would. I worked right alongside Kyle and his crew.
“You remind me so much of your father,” Kyle said when we got ready to break for lunch. “He was always right in the thick of things too. Sebastian Carey was never one to sit back and let other people do all the work. You’re a good man, Evan. Sebastian would be proud.”
“Thanks, Kyle. That means a lot coming from you.” And I meant that as well. Kyle had known Sebastian for decades. I could only hope I was honoring his memory by being the best alpha I could be. “Hey, you want to come up to the main house with me and have some lunch?”
“I’d love that.”
Leaving the crew to finish up some tasks, knowing we’d come back to double check later, Kyle rode with me in my car back to the house. When we arrived, Mariah was already in the kitchen.
“Perfect timing,” she said, her honey blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight currently filtering in through the wall of windows on the other side of the room. “I just made some barbecue sandwiches.”
Mariah had been cooking more in the past couple months, and I had to admit she might be giving Abi a run for her money soon. Her food was amazing.
“How’s the work coming along?” she asked.
“Really well,” he said. “In no small part due to your mate here. He’s a hard worker, this one.”
“That he is.” She smiled, turning her gaze to me. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I shook my head when she brought us each a plate piled high with barbecue, baked beans, and coleslaw. “Honestly, I think we’re about finished. Just a few more things and I think the job will be complete. You already have enough on your plate with Sofia and school.”
“This looks delicious. Thank you,” Kyle said. “Evan’s right. We should be done by the end of the day.”
“Of course,” she said, her hand resting protectively on her belly where our child grew. She was doing that all the time, and I wondered if she even realized it. We’d be going to the doctor again soon for a checkup. I couldn’t wait to hear the baby’s heartbeat again.
I bit into the sandwich she’d made, groaning at the delicious taste. “These taste just as good as they look.”
“He’s right, Mariah. These sandwiches are amazing,” Kyle remarked between mouthfuls. He gave me a wink. “I can see why you're so taken with her.”
A low growl rumbled in my chest at his comment—an instinctive response that I hadn’t been able to tamp down, but I knew he meant no harm. He was right. Mariah was an amazing woman, and it was no wonder I had fallen for her.
“She's pretty damn incredible,” I said, my heart full as I looked at her. “An amazing mate and mother.”
She beamed at me, and in that moment I would’ve done anything to keep that smile on her face. There'd been too much sadness and sorrow in our lives lately. I was ready to move on and spend the rest of my life making sure she never had a reason to feel hurt again.
I kept the conversation light while we finished our meal, and soon it was time to get back to work on the bunker. Tomas could strike at any time, and I wanted to be ready.
As the hours passed, we labored tirelessly over every last detail, ensuring that the security measures were top-tier and utterly impenetrable. We worked all afternoon, and I was determined to finish things up today.
When the final security measures were put into place, an intense feeling of satisfaction washed over me. We’d done everything we could to keep my family and clan safe. I could rest easy, knowing this refuge was waiting for us should we need it.
“Kyle,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder as he got ready to leave. “I can’t thank you enough for your help. Honestly, I don’t know where we’d be without you.”
“It’s the least I can do, Evan. I considered your father to be like a brother, so I guess that makes you family now.”
With a nod, I stepped back and surveyed our work. The bunker was top-tier, and it would stand the test of time. By the time Kyle and I emerged, all light had faded from the sky. It seemed particularly dark now after working for hours in artificial light.
“Damn,” I muttered, glancing at my watch. “I didn't realize it was so late.”
Kyle nodded. “Time flies when you're working hard.”
