I groaned and started the car, backing out of the garage. “Fine, but you guys loiter out of the way. I don’t need my boss knowing you guys are stalking me, and then getting it in her head to call the cops or something. Even better, pretend you’re florists or some shit.”
Seven snorted but no one argued. I looked at them in their jeans and tees, and I had to agree with him. No one was going to believe that they were florists.
We drove up to Missoula, and the early morning traffic was non-existent. I sipped my coffee, feeling less murderous by the second. But with the caffeination came the scent of the guys, and by the time we pulled up to the markets, I was actually sweating.
Grabbing my tote bag and the baby carrier, I reached into the back of the car for Luisa who had been wooing the gruff Manix the whole way here. Knowing the drill, she moved with me as I slipped the harness around from the front to the back. I reached into the bag and gave her a yogurt pouch, and looked up to see both men staring at me.
“It's time for you two to make yourself scarce,” I pointed out. Gatlin looked between me and the baby carrier on my back.
“We can watch your cub for you, if you’d like?”
I scoffed, picking up my tote and swinging it over my shoulder. “Gee, should I leave my toddler with two strange men? That's a tough one. Uh, no.” I walked toward the market’s rear entrance. “I finish at eleven, then I intend to go home and nap on the couch until the sitter gets there at nine tonight. Then I’ve gotta go to the club. So you guys can, I don’t know, clock out or something. I promise no one’s going to steal me from the middle of the flower market.”
Gatlin narrowed his eyes at me. “To insinuate we would do anything to your child is abhorrent. A child’s life is worth more than ten adult lives in our society. They are the future. Years of potential. We would lay down our lives for her protection.”
My heart thudded in my chest. “Luisa isn’t Manix, remember?”
Gatlin shook his head once, viciously. “Doesn’t matter.”
I paused at the doorway. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
He waved a hand. “You didn't know. Not just humans have innate cruelty to their young. Even shifters can be vicious with children.”
I swallowed hard, pushing back memories. “You have no idea.”
I disappeared inside the doorway, closing it softly and taking a breath. Walking quickly to Tasmin’s stand, I saw she was already busy unloading her trolley of flowers from the back of her truck.
She smiled when she saw me. “Hey, girl. Hey, cutie,” she cooed at Luisa. “Big delivery today. Some high society wedding up in the mountains. Their florist is coming to pick us over so I brought the best blooms I could find. I want to beat out that dickhole Henry’s peonies. We both know mine are better than those sickly little plops.” She waved a few of the aforementioned blooms like a scepter.
I grabbed them and put them in a bucket. “Well, we better get the rest of this unloaded then,” I prompted before she could start a rant about Henry the flower farmer. Or as Tamsin liked to call him, Henry the flower fucker. Which was good alliteration but not exactly anatomically possible.
We worked for the next hour, loading up Tamsin’s stall and making it perfect. She’d gotten the inside scoop that the bride wanted pink and white blooms, so that’s exactly what we were, a sea of taffy-colored confection.
Then the doors opened and there was no more time to think as I got to work, taking money, talking to customers, and feeding Luisa. I was so lucky that she was happy to just watch the bustle of the morning market with its bright colors and noises. Eventually, she fell asleep against my back, exhausted from the early morning and the constant activity. It wasn’t the first time I’d brought her, but I preferred not to drag her around if I could help it. Once again, I was so fucking grateful for her. She made it hard, but she also made life worth something. I’d be lost if I didn’t have her, or if we were still stuck in Mexico withhim.
It was about nine a.m. when I felt eyes on me. I searched the market, but it was bustling, just like Tamsin promised. I tilted my nose to the air and I could smell them. Manix.
As if the action was an invitation, Raiden appeared in front of me. His pouty lips were turned up in a smile, and even his eyes were smiling. He was happy to see me, and though I would never admit it, I was kind of happy to see him too. “Naja.”
Tamsin stopped, whistling through her teeth. “Are you here to check out the flowers or the girl?” she asked, but there was no accusation in her tone.
Raiden grinned, and even I could admit it was enough to make any red-blooded woman swoon. “The girl. I’m trying to convince her to come on a date with me.”
Tamsin fanned herself, but I noticed Raiden left out that the date would probably turn into an orgy. Actually, no. That would only encourage Tamsin more.
My boss just nodded. “Fair enough. She could use some fun.” Then she walked away to serve another customer, the traitor.
I rolled my shoulders, the weight of Luisa on my back starting to make my muscles ache. Raiden’s blue eyes watched the movement carefully, his brows drawn together in a frown. “I can hold her. I promise I’ll stand just there where you can see me, and it will give you both a break.” He pointed to the little stool where we normally sat and had a rest in the mornings if things slowed down. I hesitated, but he was right.
A part of me inherently trusted Raiden—hell, trusted them all. And that was part of the reason I was so hesitant. Youcouldn’ttrust people, no matter what your gut said. Prepare for betrayal and hope for the best.
Luisa squirmed, and I knew she wanted out. A two-year-old wasn’t meant to stay still for so long, and her legs needed a break. I chewed my lip a little more, weighing up whether it was worth the risk. In the end, Luisa made the decision for me, squirming and reaching out to Raiden, this perfect freaking stranger to her.
He grinned at me, shrugging. “It’s an Omega thing,” he said, and I sighed in defeat.
“Fine. But just there. You don’t move anywhere else with her. Got it?”
He crossed his heart and held out his hands. As I unclipped her, Luisa launched herself into Raiden’s arms. He laughed and tossed her in the air, catching her easily but still making me want to scream. She giggled too, and something in my heart shattered. I didn’t play with her enough. It was all work to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. Paying the sitter. Keeping the heat and electricity on. There was never enough time to just play.
