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“We’re good,” Ghost said.
“Ghost, Blade, Phoenix, and Chains, get to bed at a decent time. I want you on your A-game when Laila meets with her case agent in the morning,” he said as he stood. They all nodded.
The guys dispersed, and Chains went out the front door with Venom, followed by Voodoo and Angel. They all lived outside of the compound with their families. I glanced at Ghost as we made our way back to his room. That would be us one day, I thought with a smile.
Ghost hadn’t waited a minute after I agreed to move my meager belongings over to his room. Hand in hand, we went in, and he closed and locked the door.
“You sure you’re going to be okay meeting with Ryan tomorrow?” he asked me as he turned to pull me into his arms.
With a roll of my eyes, I pressed my palms to his firm chest. It wasn’t like I was going alone. My car was parked at one of their shops, but we discussed it and decided they would drive in case things went unexpectedly.
I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his perfect lips. His facial hair tickled, and I caressed the side of his nose with mine. “I’ll be fine, and you and the boys will be right there. Now what do you say we go to bed?”
A sly grin lifted his lips. “That sounds absolutely amazing.”
“Don’t pull your disappearing act on me though. It was hot, but I want to be able to see you,” I said as I wagged a finger at him.
He barked out a laugh, and we went to bed. Of course, there was no sleeping for some time.
When I arrived at the designated location, I’d gone to the counter and ordered a chocolate donut with coconut flakes on it and a black coffee. God knew after my lack of sleep the night before, I needed the caffeine.
“Ryan?” I asked as I stepped up to the corner table in the donut shop where we’d agreed to meet. He was nothing like I’d expected, but he was wearing a red collared shirt and a black ball cap like he’d said. He sipped from his cup as he watched me over the rim.
“I told you not to bring anyone,” he said.
Startled, I did my best to hide it. Nervously, I glanced to my side where I assumed Ghost was standing. No way could he see him.
“I didn’t,” I said cautiously with a narrowed gaze.
He snorted. “Okay, and the guy watching us from the bookstore across the street?”
Refusing to look, I shrugged. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.” Though we both knew Phoenix was over there and Chains was right outside the front door, out of sight and reading a newspaper.
He shook his head. “Sit down.”
As I did as he said, I studied him. He was younger than I thought—probably not much older than me. He had a close-cropped goatee, and his dark hair seemed short and neat. He was rugged but seemed out of place in the preppy red polo shirt.
“What did you find out that was so important I meet with you in person? Do you know how expensive last-minute flights are?” With a cocked brow, he took another sip of his coffee, then picked up the glazed donut and took a bite. As he chewed, he patiently waited for me to talk.
A quick glance around showed no one was close by or paying us any attention. I took the lid off my cup and added a generous amount of sugar and creamer to it. “The two men who killed my parents are dead,” I softly announced as I stirred my coffee and watched for his reaction.
He didn’t so much as bat an eye.
“Are you surprised?” I asked. “Because you don’t seem like you are.”
“Maybe I am surprised but know better than to let anyone read my thoughts through my expression.”
I snorted in disbelief, and he calmly watched me as he took another sip of his coffee.
“So are you going to tell me why I’m still in witness protection?” Anger simmered in my blood as I stared him down, waiting for his reply. “Or do I need to have my friends look into you and what the fuck you’ve been pulling.”
Briefly he closed his eyes before he opened them and damn near stared into my soul with his hazel gaze.
“We might need to go somewhere else for this conversation,” he said softly as he leaned slightly across the table. There was a subtle squeeze on the back of my neck.
“No, I think I like where we are just fine, thank you,” I said, letting my South Carolina accent slip through.
His knee bounced under the table, and his fingers tapped on the surface as he debated what his next move would be. For someone who said he didn’t like to let people read him, his agitation was hitting me in waves.
