Page 31 of Tiger Betrayal

“Thanks, boss,” she said, giving him a little wave.

“Laramie?”

“Yeah?” she asked at the door.

“I like your work. I didn’t want to let you go, just so you know. You’re not expendable. It’s just office politics. I don’t want you resenting me or letting the office culture get poisoned because of our discussion in here.”

“I figured you were in a tough spot. I’m the newest hire. It’s okay. I am really glad I’m not fired though. I like this job. I like working with you guys.”

“And I also don’t hate the two of you together.” He rolled his eyes. “Stellan is less monstrous when you are on the same shift as him. You’re like a shock collar for an aggressive dog.”

She hid another smile and nodded. “Thanks. I think.”

“Just…be cool when you two are on the same shift. Don’t let it affect your work.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. See you tomorrow.”

She let the door close after her and mouthed, Oh my gosh, as the shock of what had just happened hit her. She was just almost fired, but Stellan had all the answers and hadn’t negotiated an inch. He wasn’t going to let her get fired. He’d been willing to walk away from this job if Murph let her go.

She couldn’t recall a single time a man had ever gone to bat for her like that.

Craig was headed this way, clutching his hand to his chest, glaring at her. “Move,” he gritted out, shoving the office door open.

Stellan trailed behind, his eyes glowing as he stared at the door as it slammed closed. “He’s not allowed to talk to you like that,” Stellan told her in a voice she didn’t recognize. It was gritty, and snarly. “No one is.”

The promise of retaliation was etched into every sharp angle of his face, and there was a snarl in his throat that didn’t sound human.

Oh crap. She needed to distract him. “I’m hungry.”

His gold eyes glanced at her and back to the door.

“I’m really hungry, Stellan. And Murph said we can take the rest of the day off.” She approached him slowly. “Hey,” she said, cupping his cheeks. “I need food.”

He forced his attention to her and nodded. “I’ll get it.”

She shook her head. “I want to go out. Let’s leave right now and get a breather, you and me.”

Jerkily, he nodded. His pupils were tiny little pinpoints right now, and he looked like an animal.

“Follow me,” she said, hoping it would work if she just gave him simple instructions. Maybe it would pull him off his hunt.

She grabbed her purse on the way out and walked straight to the door, hoping to God he would just follow. What they didn’t need was for Craig to come out of that office full of fury right now.

Stellan was dangerous, but he had control over the Cat side of him. To an extent. Craig was pushing it.

Stellan reached in front of her and pushed open the door for her, then waited for her to go outside before he followed.

They were both still in their work coveralls, but that was okay. They could bring them back tomorrow. Right now, she just needed to get him out of here.

Laramie scrambled up into his truck and he shut the door, then strode around the front of it and got behind the wheel.

Her heart raced faster as she watched the front door, sure at any moment Craig would burst out of there yelling and Stellan would react.

He was stalling. Putting on his seatbelt too slow, eyes on the door.

“Hey,” she gritted out. “Leave right now, and I’ll blow you.”

And his pupils normalized in the three seconds he stared at her, and then he hit the gas and left the shop behind.