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I don’t want Wren to have to get used to violence in preparation for some unknown event in the future. That’s a horrible way to live, and she deserves so much better.
I watch silently as Wren practices cracking the safe again and again. I’m so focused on her that I almost don’t notice the sound of the garage door opening.
Oliver must be home.
Knowing that eases some of the tightness in my chest. Normally, we don’t go places alone—safety in numbers and all that. But today, we decided we could make an exception.
Ludo’s reputation and his strong list of allies keep him safe. We’ve used a similar strategy to ensure that when we make enemies, they don’t come after us. People in our circles know how skilled we are, and they’re only becoming more aware of just how ruthless we can be.
Currently, rumors are getting out that Holloway—along with us—is behind the fall of the Williams family. I’m not sure who discovered the brutal scene we left at Jordan’s property, but it sent the message we hoped it would. Hurt one of us, and you won’t live to tell the tale.
Still, I didn’t realize just how worried I was about Oliver until now. He’s humming, and the closer he gets, the more I find myself relaxing.
When Oliver steps into the room, he spots Wren immediately, and a smile forms on his face. Relief shines in his eyes as he sweeps Wren into his arms and spins her around without warning. She lets out a delighted laugh, grabbing on to his shoulders. She doesn’t let go, even after he’s set her down.
“Hi, princess.”
“Hi—”
“Oliver,” Finn snaps. “We’re in the middle of something here.”
Ignoring him, Oliver says to Wren, “You’re perfect. Fucking perfect, you know that?”
“What—” She’s cut off by Oliver pressing his lips to hers. When he dips her backward, she moans and wraps her arms around his neck.
“Seriously?” Finn grumbles. “How do you idiots get any work done around here with all this kissing?”
Elliot and I exchange an amused yet relieved glance. I’m not sure what has Oliver in a better mood, but I hope it lasts. I like it when he’s happy.
“What’s this about?” Elliot asks when Oliver finally straightens.
“Wren.” Oliver brushes his nose against hers, still smiling. “I ran into Ludo at the Garden Grille. He owns the place now.”
Just like that, my hopeful mood dissipates, and dread creeps through my veins. “What did he say?”
“I only spoke to him briefly. It’s what I overheard a couple minutes later that matters. I saw him and Axel head out to the garden, so I followed to see if I could listen in on their conversation.”
“You didwhat?”I snap.
“Ol,” Elliot says, and the hurt in his voice makes me pause. “You know our rules.”
“I couldn’t help myself,” Oliver says, finally tearing his gaze from Wren but not letting her go. “And I was perfectly safe.”
Elliot throws his hands up. “Perfectly safe? There was no one to watch your back and no one to help you if something went wrong. What if—”
“You know,” Finn says as he slips his hands into his pockets, “working alone is a perfectly viable option.”
“Not for us,” Elliot snaps back with a fierce glare. “Not when we agreed to take the cautious route whenever possible. Ol, after Jordan, what the hell were you thinking? If someone saw you, it could’ve derailed our whole operation.”
Oliver sighs. “It sounds more dangerous than it actually was, okay? It looked like I was hanging out in the garden, and I just happened to be within earshot of Ludo and Axel. I saw the opportunity, and I couldn’t pass it up. Not when we’re so close.”
Elliot doesn’t look convinced, but I don’t want this to blow up into a big fight. Whatever Oliver overheard seems to have given him some hope, and I don’t want to change that. We can deal with what he did later.
“What did you overhear?” I ask.
“Stuff that looks good for us,” Oliver replies. “It sounds like they still haven’t found their rat, and Axel suggested us.”
Elliot frowns. “That doesn’t look good for us at all.”
