Page 71 of Run From Me

“Thanks for keeping her safe.”

They nodded and I nodded, and that was all that we needed to say.

“Wait, are these the two that killed some of the Vipers trying to use me for bait?” She tried to pull away from me, and I just yanked her into my body.

“Sparky, you look, but they can’t touch. Yes. These two here were on call tonight. For you.” I squeezed her tighter, wondering what might have happened had they not been there at all.

“Thank you, both. I, well, I don’t know what might have happened had the Vipers not realized they were being followed. That and, well…”

She didn’t have to say it. My boys had shot the second they had a clear opportunity. I’d get all the deets later. For now, they had extra cash to do what they wanted.

“My pleasure, Miss Calliope. You’re family if the boss says you are. Our apologies for not being there quicker.”

I could feel her every breath as her chest rose and fell under my hold.

“I… he… well, thank you,” she said, and I could hear the confusion in every word.

I nodded to them and pulled her away.

“Let’s go check in with Cas. They don’t need any more of your thanks, Sparky.”

She let me push her along as we walked back to Cas and Zeid.

“I just don’t get it,” she started.

“Get what? That we’ve gotten smarter about hiding crimes over the years? Shh, don’t let anyone know we can evolve.”

At least that made her giggle as we stopped by my brothers.

“Hey, Cas, any more reports? You think our boys in blue finally mitigated the shit?”

I was certain there would be a large donation made to the local police this week, and fuck if we didn’t need to grease some wheels with the rich pricks, meaning we would need to get another art show up. I nodded to Zeid and Cas while we waited for word. We had cameras where there were none to hack and had several of the best hackers on our payroll.

I needed to get her home.

Standing here realizing what I’d just said, well the spit I tried to swallow nearly choked me.

Home. It was my home. Cas and Zeid’s home. Even Rylee’s now. And the idea of falling into my bed alone? No. The idea offalling asleep without Calliope next to me where I knew she was safe?

Shit.

I cut the engine of the borrowed bike now that we were safely at our own little compound. I’d let Cali go but only because it was to the bathroom and Rylee was with her giving me a moment to form the next plan. I had a cat to get and some Viper bodies to bury, once I killed them.

The boys I needed were headed my way.

“Thanks for the bike,” I said and handed over the keys of my borrowed ride. “Are you up for one more little adventure?” I asked them.

I looked at my guy, Tank. He was fucking huge and loyal as hell. One thing we’d figured out long ago is that you got loyalty by being loyal.

His visor was still up.

“Say the word, boss.”

His palm met mine, and I took a second to step outside my own problems. We took care of our own and that meant caring for all of our problems.

“Your mom and sister are good?”

He nodded. “Yeah. They’re settled, and my sister starts classes next week.”

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