Page 17 of Seeking Salvation

Jesus fucking hell, that man was lethal seductive hotness and she’d better get her shit together and remember why she was here or she’d be a puddle at his huge feet.

Chapter 5

Maya was sitting across the room in his favourite chair, picking at her fingernails, tearing the skin around the cuticles as her inner turmoil reached for the surface. She was surrounded by members of Shadow, and Titan fought the urge to go to her and run his fingers over her delicate neck to soothe her.

What the hell had he been thinking, saying those things to her? Yes, she was attractive. More than that, she was fucking beautiful and alluring in a way that seemed to scramble his brain, but she was also his son’s aunt and she needed his help. What sort of shit heel went after a woman when her defences were down? Oh, yeah, a shit heel that had no clue he was a father and allowed the mother of his son to be murdered.

“So, let me be the first to say that, while you don’t know us, Maya, we’re on your side.”

Titan watched Maya’s eyes widen slightly at Bás’ announcement before her shoulders relaxed a little. Pushing off the wall where he had taken up sentry, he moved so that he could sit on the arm of the chair she was occupying. Her head tilted up to him as he took her hands and stopped the self-mutilation. She stilled instantly and offered him the smallest smile before turning her attention to Bás and withdrawing her hands.

“Thank you for saying that, and for being so kind, but I really don’t want to endanger anyone here. These people…”

“These people are low-level thugs with a combined IQ of a turnip. They are, however, the scum of the earth and need destroying immediately.” All eyes turned to Watchdog in the corner, who’d slipped in beside Reaper.

Maya stiffened and he placed a hand on her shoulder in support. “How about we introduce ourselves first so that Maya doesn’t feel quite so intimidated when you make announcements like that?”

Watchdog shrugged, and Titan felt a ripple of loss for the friend who hadn’t been the same since he’d been kidnapped and tortured in Africa.

Nudging Maya so she looked at him, he went around the room and introduced the team members that had showed up at his house uninvited.

“Bás is in charge. Then we have his better half, Valentina.”

Bás winked at Val. “Won’t get any arguments from me there.”

“Oh, will you please stop with the mushy stuff?” Reaper groaned.

Titan laughed. “That grump is Reaper. His fiancée is away and it’s making him more of an asshole than usual.”

“Fuck off, Titan.” He flashed the middle finger and then turned an easy smile on Maya. “Maya, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Please don’t listen to a word these assholes say.”

“You’re engaged to Princess Lucía, right?”

Reaper grinned wide, a silly look passing over his face. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“How on earth did an Australian soldier end up with a Spanish Princess?”

“Oh, that’s a whole other story that I’ll be happy to tell you another time, Maya.”

Titan rolled his eyes and carried on with the introductions. “Snow you’ve met, and beside her is Bishop.”

Maya blinked and blew out a breath. “Do any of you have normal names?”

Titan huffed a laugh. “We do, but I guess we use the nicknames for work so often it sticks in real life too.”

“Makes sense when you’re off saving people from the side of a mountain to use call signs like the military, I guess.”

“Exactly, and some of us are ex-military.”

Maya looked up at him, leaning her body closer, her scent invading his nose, something sweet and summery.

“Are you ex-military? You have that vibe.”

“No, my background is a little more complicated.”

“So, how can you help me?”

“Why don’t you start by telling us everything you know. Starting from Rose’s involvement and why you don’t think you can just run.”

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