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“But it will take some time. Give me a few days, and I’ll get back to everyone personally with the details of their reassigned office. Feel free to reach out to Violet or me with any questions. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work and dedication. I am so sorry this happened. Everyone go home for the day.”
When the group dispersed, Opal had to talk with the cops. She gave them her statement about the attempted kidnapping and briefly told them about her history with the Jacobs’s streak and could feel Benton’s eyes boring into her as he listened.
Her next conversation would be with Benton.
When the cars left, Opal sagged against him.
He looked down at her face. “Long day already?”
“It feels like I’ve been working on this for four hundred hours.”
“You kind of have been.” Benton chuckled. “Come on, let’s get into the car, at least.”
“What about your bike?”
“I’m not worried about it. I’m going to postpone the trip.”
“Benton, you shouldn’t…”
He shook his head, his eyes flashing, and her tiger commanded her to back down to her alpha.
Benton helped situate Opal in the passenger seat, and he slid into the driver’s side. “Geez. You sit so close to the steering wheel,” he grunted and pushed the seat back.
Opal smiled and rested her forehead against the cool glass of her window. She closed her eyes while Benton fiddled with the mirrors.
When she sensed he was done, she opened her eyes to look at him. He sat and waited, but history poured out of Opal's mouth like a faucet.
“Troy and Reba Jacobs are bad guys. They’re the leaders of my old streak.”
Benton reached over and took Opal’s hand. It seemed he could sense she was in pain.
“This wasn’t their first time trying to stop me from getting information on them.” She looked at her building and down at her bloody knuckles. “It was their most serious attempt, though.
“They kicked me out of the streak a few years ago because they abused elder shifters, and I called them out on it.”
“Oh,” Benton said, his features settled in shock.
“Yeah. They abused, neglected, overworked, stole, and did many other horrible things to the seniors of our community.” Opal’s free hand balled with anger. “These are the people who have the most wisdom. They are the ones who need the most support as they age.”
Opal waved the memory away.
“Anyway, Troy and Reba didn’t like that I was questioning their methods. And when they couldn’t get me to submit to them, they kicked me out. They’ve been after me ever since.” Benton’s mouth was set in a straight line, but she could tell he wasn’t happy. “Thank you for coming for me today.”
Benton grunted. “Not a problem. I’m just glad you’re all right.” He leaned over to kiss her.
“You know I would have gotten myself out of the situation, right?” she whispered over his lips. “I couldn’t shift until I was certain they weren’t human. With the bag over my head, I couldn’t smell them. When I got the hood off, I was going to shift, but I smelled you and knew you would take care of them. I would’ve shifted, but then I would’ve been naked and would still have had to deal with the police and everyone inside.”
Benton pulled away a little with a growl. “No one sees my mate naked except me.”
She grinned. She’d thought the same thing when he shifted back to his human form. Yup, they were mates.
Then, he finished the kiss.
“Do you want to go see the work I do?” she asked.
“Yes, very much.”
Opal gave Benton the address to one of the senior centers. He started the car, and they headed out.
