AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I just want to keep you safe, little lamb.” He pressed a soft kiss against her mouth. “Let me keep you safe.”
His tiger purred to her, and she couldn’t deny that a small part of her wanted to accept his protection, but she shoved it deep. She’d hurt Mateo enough in this life. She wouldn’t be the cause of more pain for him. She pulled away from Boone and stood. “No, Boone. I’m perfectly safe, and there’s no need for you to look into Mateo’s life.”
“Hedra -”
“You have to get to work, and I want to wash Althea’s bedding and vacuum her room before she returns from breakfast.” Hedra squeezed Boone’s shoulder. “Everything will be fine, Boone. I promise.”
CHAPTER 12
“Hey, Chase, you got a minute?” Boone leaned against Chase’s cubicle wall.
“Hey. I thought you were at the celebrity’s house this afternoon,” Chase said.
“I’m heading there soon.”
“Cool. You going for drinks tonight with Wes and the other guys?” Chase asked.
“I am. You?”
“I’ll be there. Wes stopped in earlier today. He’s fucking tanned and looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. He even said more than a few words to me. Eleanor must be a good influence on him,” Chase grinned.
“She definitely is,” Boone said. “Listen, I wanted to talk with you about Hedra.”
“Is that right?”
Boone didn’t like the cautious look Chase gave him.
“Yeah.” He decided to just go for it. Maybe the element of surprise would trick Chase into telling him. “Can you tell me Mateo’s last name?
“Fuck, no,” Chase said.
Boone’s tiger growled. Let me free. I’ll teach the little shit a lesson.
“Chase,” Boone said, trying not to give into his frustration, “give me his last name.”
“No,” Chase said.
This time, he let his tiger’s growl slip out. Chase, the impudent little shit, just gave him a cool look. “You think threatening me with your tiger will convince me to tell you?”
“It’s not a threat if he teaches you a life lesson about respecting your elders,” Boone said.
Chase rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay, Dad. Give it up, buddy. You’re not that much older than me. Besides, Hedra texted me earlier and specifically told me not to tell you his name.”
“Chase, I will kick your ass,” Boone said.
He shrugged. “Hedra is family, and I won’t betray her trust. Besides, I’m way more afraid of Hedra than I am of you. She’s fucking tough as nails. When we were teens, I told some guy she had a crush on that she wrote poems about him. She shoved my fingers into the garbage disposal and threatened to turn it on while I sobbed like a baby.”
Despite his worry, Boone couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s my girl.”
Chase studied him, and Boone cleared his throat. “Look, you know this guy texted her, don’t you?”
“Yeah, she told me,” Chase said.
“Then help me help her,” Boone said.
“I won’t betray her trust,” Chase repeated. “Besides, she’s right. He won’t escalate beyond this.”
“Do you know him?”
