It took about twenty seconds, which was nineteen too long for Xan to lift his head from Breezy’s face. His blue eyes glowed. “What’s up, Alpha?”
“I need you to step up in my place, while I take care of a couple of wayward she-wolves who thought it was a good idea to run off to middle fucking America alone.” By the time I finished, all eyes had turned to the trio in the corner. I turned andgrowled, making everyone lower their heads. “Damn, I am going to paddle Laikyn O’Neil’s ass when I get her home. And don’t get me started on Karsyn Styles. That girl needs a damn keeper.” I shook my head.
Xan looked behind him. “You taking Bodhi with you?”
The big blond walked up with an empty beer bottle in his hand. “We road tripping?”
“If you can be ready to roll in ten, then you can come. Otherwise, no.” I spun on my heel.
Heading into my office, I pulled a duffel filled with a couple of changes of clothes out of the closet, grabbed my keys to my XV Urban Assault, and walked out without a backward glance. The all-black beast was gassed up and ready at all times. I noticed Rowan’s big ass truck wasn’t in the lot. Knowing the other man would be pissed if I left without him, I shrugged my shoulders as I disengaged the locks. I tossed the bag in the back, unsurprised to see Bodhi walking out of the apartments with his own gear gripped in his big fist.
The other wolf had been human once, but as a child, he and his parents had been camping when they had been attacked by a pack of wolves. His parents had been killed, but Bodhi, a mere child, had survived, and my parents had taken him in and raised him as one of their own. Bodhi had always been able to hear and read others’ thoughts, which set him apart from other kids. It had taken him some time to get over his parents’ loss, but when he did, he’d embraced his shifter side like a duck to water. He and Syn always butted heads, yet I trusted her with the other man as much as I trusted Xan. When Bodhi had gone off to find his extended family, it had about killed Syn and broken my mother’s heart, but I’d understood. The years he’d been gone had taken a toll on my sister and their relationship, but I still loved Bodhi like a brother.
I saw the need in Bodhi’s eyes each time Syn was near. I liked watching him squirm as he tried to hide his feelings, and my baby sister ignoring the wolf was icing on the cake most days. Of course, I knew it was only a matter of time before they both gave up fighting fate and did what their wolves wanted.
“You ready, or we waiting on Ro?” Bodhi’s unusual green eyes searched the parking lot, his voice urgent.
“Rowan can play catch-up. We’re outta here,” I growled.
My phone buzzed as I prepared to pull onto the street. “You on your way or what?”
A deep laugh came through the sound system. “I’m no dumbass. I’m just down the road. Figured you wouldn’t be wanting to wait for me. You got someone with you?”
“Bodhi’s coming along for the ride. You got your mate with you?” After getting confirmation that he did indeed, I rolled my eyes. “You should learn to wear the pants, Ro.”
“It’s so much more fun when he doesn’t, Alpha,” Lyric teased.
“And on that note, I’m off here. I’ve got the address in my GPS. Get your ass here, or I’m leaving without you. When we get to Kansas City, I’ll drop you off at the apartment, then I’m going to the hotel. I want to make sure the girls are safe. You scan for any surveillance cameras and all that shit. I figure you’re much more up to that task than me.”
“Got it. We stopping to eat, or driving straight through?” Rowan asked.
I looked at Bodhi, who shook his head. “You two need to stop, let me know, and we’ll drive separately. Bodhi and I are driving until we reach the girls.”
“Nah, we’re good. Lyric packed me some snacks.” Rowan’s satisfied voice had me looking at Bodhi sideways.
I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turned white. With monumental effort, one by one, I released my fingers, stretching them to relax the tension. If I kept it up, I’dbend the damn thing, and I’d had the vehicle built to survive the apocalypse.
Hours later, after dropping Rowan and Lyric off at the apartment building, we pulled up to a high-priced hotel. Bodhi laughed at the two valets who jockeyed for the keys to my rig, while I glared at them both.
“Enough. I won’t be here long enough to need to park it. Leave it right where it is, and watch it like it’s priceless,” I said, leaning close to one of them. “Newsflash, boy, it is totally priceless in your eyes.” I was sure the half a million it would cost to replace my rig was more than either of them would make in their lifetime.
The well-dressed young man nodded but didn’t ask for my keys again. I handed him a hundred-dollar bill. “Good. We’ll be back shortly. There’ll be a nice tip for both of you if I come back to find all is as it should be.” I pointed at the XV. Hearing the beep, I kept walking.
“You realize it’s probably against policy to allow a vehicle the size of yours to sit out front, right?” Bodhi’s head looked left and right as we entered.
Bodhi and I drew stares as we entered, the concierge emerging from behind the desk as if we were going to rob the place. With my dark hair messed up from the long drive, my tattoos on both arms, and Bodhi with his bleached-blond spiked mohawk, we probably looked more like convicts.
“Excuse me, gentlemen, can I help you?” The man asked in a high-pitched squeak.
Bodhi was busy on his phone, a slight laugh muffled behind his hand.
“We are here to get our sisters.” A slight lie, but I was not above them.
“What are their names?”
Knowing what their room number was, I thought of pushing past the ass, but didn’t want to have to explain myself to the cops. I had no doubt they already had the nine and one dialed, just waiting to hit the last number. I gave the man Karsyn’s name and showed him my own driver’s license. While the man verified the girls were expecting us, Bodhi tucked his phone in his back pocket.
A few minutes later, my sister came down the elevator with a wry grin. “Hey, big bro, I’m so glad you came.” She grabbed my hand, skirting Bodhi.
