Page 98 of All In

I’m unsure if I’m able to truly love someone. I feel affection for Sparrow and even little Aurora, my goddaughter. That’s more of a fondness, though.

Romantic love seems like an entirely different animal, but I’m interested to see if I’m capable of it. I know I’m capable of possessiveness and protectiveness. I won’t stand for someone hurting what’s mine. I also feel a fair amount of obsession when I find something that interests me, which Laken most certainly does.

Oh well, if Locke becomes a problem, I can dispatch him easily enough. And until Laken either gets over her interest in him, or he decides he doesn’t want to be part of a pack, that will have to do.

“Make sure you stop in the sanitation room,” I growl as he makes it to the top of the stairs. “It’s the one on the right. Your jumpsuit and booties need to be disposed of in the mini-incinerator.”

“You’re fully prepared.” Locke chuckles. “No problem. I’m not trying to track biological evidence all over your home.”

I’m running out of available rooms, but I show Locke to the bedroom Kate and her pack occupied. They spilled over to using two rooms when Ramirez joined them, but Locke only needs one.

“The fridge should be stocked, but don’t touch the takeout,” I mumble.

Hopefully, Tanner had the presence of mind to encourage Laken to eat something.

It might be time to look into a full-time chef. Cooper Garza’s mother cooks over at the Assurance compound, but even if my mother were alive, that’s something she wouldn’t have been caught dead doing.

I make a brief call to Cooper, asking that he gently pressure his brother into finding room for Laken on his schedule tomorrow.

This leads to a three-and-a-half-minute lecture from Vale about whether I’ve let Laken talk to her sister.

Reiterating the tidbit of information that Lyra is in rehab, and that they don’t allow conversations with family members for thirty days, does not stop Vale’s two-hundred-and-ten seconds of chastisement that I could make it happen if I tried.

“...you call and explain the circumstances, anyway,” Vale huffs in my ear. “It will be good for Laken and likely do Lyra some good to hear from her sister firsthand?—”

“Vale?”

“Yes?”

“I’m hanging up now. Ensure Dr. Garza finds time on his schedule for Laken tomorrow.”

“I’ll put Marina on the job.” Vale laughs. “No man wants to tell his mother no.”

I pull the phone away to hang up and frown.

“Thank you,” I add before disconnecting.

My next call is to Merrick, the tech guy for Assurance. He seems preoccupied, but I know he’s expecting twin daughters sometime this month.

“How is Keeley?” I ask, trying to mimic actually caring.

I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but the first question Cooper asked when I called him was about how Laken is doing, so I believe it might be socially acceptable to ask about a loved one when calling a coworker.

I lose just shy of four minutes, listening to him ramble about her swollen face and lower extremities, but he doesn’t seem as angry with me as he normally is when I politely veer the conversation to my needs.

“I need you to overnight me a phone that I can give Laken. She’s been severely isolated, and I need to make an effort to fix that,” I say, taking the stairs to the second floor. “Maybe one with child settings? I’m not sure. She should be able to call me and a select few other numbers?—”

“She’s a grown-ass woman, Ranger,” Merrick says with what I believe is disdain lining his tone.

“Yes, but she’s also hormonal and making choices that could put her in danger. I’m trying to compromise here,” I snarl, suddenly irrationally angry. Even when I make an effort, others still make it seem like I’m in the wrong. It’s maddening. “I’ve already had one unexpected love interest of hers show up at my doorstep. I’m not about to risk a second or third.”

“Wait, what?” Merrick snorts.

“Overnight a smartphone. She can have access to most websites, outside of her previous social media—for obvious reasons—but I’ll explain that myself.” I move to hang up and mutter another quick, “Thank you. You’re welcome for saying thank you and asking about your omega. Goodbye.”

Jesus Christ.

Being cordial is exhausting.

---