”So, what? You decide to stow away in my fucking RV for two-hundred miles before scaring the shit out of me?”
“Essentially, yes. Though, scaring you wasn’t an intended part of the plan.”
“Good to know,” I grumble.
He did scare the hell out of me and I’m annoyed at him for that, but I’m more annoyed over how stupidly happy I am to see him. I know it can’t all be because I wasn't really ready to leave the shelter, that I’m glad he’s here just because I was nervous to go out on my own. Not when having him here makes me feel one-thousand times better, can it? I’m never really happy to see anyone, and I don’t exactly care about having company. If I’d wanted it, I would have invited him along in the first place, but I didn’t, so I’m going to ignore how having Niko here does actually make me feel better. How it makes me happy. Howhemakes me happy. I’m going to ignore all of that and focus on the fact that I’m probably just relieved he’s not some serial killer lurking in my RV. That’s it. I’m just happy he’s not going to murder me.
God, I sound so stupid. Even to myself.
I hate to admit it, like most things related to this man, but I’m happy Niko’s here because it means I’m not alone, and I thought I was going to miss him. Once I was done being mad at him, anyway. But that still doesn’t explain why my stomach is full of butterflies right now. Or why my heart is pounding so hard I’m worried he might hear it. No, that’s something else entirely, something that is fueling this ridiculously elated feeling I have,and I’d much rather all of it stop so I can go back to interrogating him.
Unfortunately, I can tell it’s not going to. Not when this asshat smiles at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
Why does he have this effect on me?
My pack is dead and I’m not allowed to be affected by anyone else. Especially when I’m on a mission looking for who killed the alphas I loved. I made that rule two years ago and if this idiot hadn’t shown up shortly after that, I’d have a much easier time adhering to it.
Ugh.
That’s something else I’m going to have to explain now. While I told him I had to leave, thatit was time, I kept the details very vague.
Niko hijacked my trip but he doesn’t know why I’m taking it in the first place, and the last thing I want to do is explain it to him. I’m going to have to, though. I have no idea how dangerous things could get, and the last thing I want to do is have this stupid, sensitive, beautiful man get hurt because of me. All denial aside, I really, genuinely care about him, probably too much, and it’s not fair to keep him in the dark if it puts him at risk.
Three is enough bodies on my conscience, I don’t need a fourth.
CHAPTER 3
NIKO
I’M GONNA BE (500 MILES) - THE PROCLAIMERS
Ithink Liv was going to die if I didn’t hitch a ride in her RV.
With a grin, I move the bacon around the pan a little, watching the grease bubble and pop while the meat continues to cook.
Sure, I think there’s a lot more to this trip thandeciding it’s timefor her to see what the world is like after being at the shelter as long as she has. A lot more than she’s saying with her words as well as her expressions and body language. It’s that thought that had me inspecting her RV while she was meeting with Aisling.
It’s nice, in very good shape. It seemed safe, and I now know that it is after getting jostled around in it for a few hours while Liv drove like a maniac on the highway. But it’s what I found while I was snooping around that leads me to believe there’s more going on, and death might have been imminent.
The outside storage compartments, the ones most people would put lawn furniture or some shit in, are all full of weapons. Pistols, handguns, semiautomatic rifles. Hunting knives, pocket knives, butcher knives, basically anything with a blade and handle. Her collection rivals that of a few of the guys I knew at home and when I found what I’m assuming is a makeshiftkidnapping kit, I had to question if she was part of some Bratva here in Minnesota I’m not familiar with. Ropes, handcuffs, zip ties, chains, and duct tape. Gloves and splatter guards, full body aprons and tarps. I have no idea what this girl is planning but it was the biggest red flag she’s thrown at me yet.
Well, the biggest red flag I’ve seen even if it wasn’t one I was supposed to find.
Oddly enough, I don’t think that’s why she would have died without me. The girl’s life skills seem to be severely lacking. Her knowledge of weapons isn’t going to keep her fed, which is why I’m cooking for her now.
Liv is clearly preparing for some kind of war no one else knows about. Once I broke into the RV, I knew she wouldn’t make it all the way to the other side of Minneapolis.
She cannot grocery shop for shit. Which leads me to believe she can’t cook, either.
So, after we had our brief exchange outside her room, I waited for Liv to go say her goodbye to Benji, knowing damn well that adorable little boy was going to occupy her for hours. That gave me enough time to meet with Wren and Aisling to get my shit from them.
The first time Liv said she might leave, I put in for my papers.
New identity, meds, the works, just like she did.
Something in my gut was telling me I should, that I was going to need them way before I was ready to leave the safety of the shelter, but I’m glad as fuck I had the foresight.
It wasn’t my original plan to literally hide out so I could leave with her. I know Liv would have fought me on it, but I figured I could follow her maybe a day or two after. Then I saw her mobile armory and made the split second decision tostow awayas she put it.
