Page 17 of Retribution

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes, but I had a feeling this conversation wasn’t over. She turned to Justice and said to Lenin, “Please control your mate.”

Ellis did a half-laugh. “Seems like no one can control theirs today.”

She pointed at him, fighting a smirk. “You’re not funny.”

“I’m hilarious.” He gave her a wide smile that even she couldn’t reject.

She leaned in, kissed his nose before tapping her finger on the tip of it. “Fine, you’re a little funny. But, hilarious is a stretch.”

His smile widened. “You’re no good for my ego.”

She latched onto his hand and pulled. “But, you will keep me anyways.”

Ellis’ hand wrapped around her waist, a kiss fell to the crown of her head. “Always. Every day I breathe.”

I made a gagging sound, and Ellis looked at me challengingly. But, fuck. I was jealous. Her gaze followed Ellis’ before she said, “Mr. Albright, would you care to guide me to the location in question?”

I blinked a few times before I realized she was referring to me, the name she only used when she promises me fun and excitement when I have her alone. I jumped forward, taking her hand as I stepped out of the elevator. She trailed behind me, letting me lead her through the open space to our destination.

“This whole floor is dedicated to holistic medicine,” I informed her.

“Which is code for witch doctor?”

“No.” I sighed. “It’s code for healer.”

“We’ve gone over the situation with the healer,” Maggie informed, and I had forgotten she trailed alone, though I was thankful she had. “She will be waiting for you and is excited to meet you. There are rumors about you. About the prophecy, about fate.”

Liberty looked nervous. “I hope they don’t expect much.”

“You give them hope, something to latch on to. A chance to fight their way from oppression and be stronger, united.” Maggie held open the door for Liberty as she waddled through it.

“I – I don’t want to disappoint them.” I felt her admission to my core, knew the truth of it.

“I don’t think you realize that you couldn’t disappoint them. The hope that you have offered them, just by doing what you have, has fueled them to want to do more, to be proactive in taking control of their own lives.”

“What if I fail?” Liberty’s words were faint.

“You’ve already won even with a fail.” Well, damn, females and their inspirational words had more of a power than I could ever offer her.

We approached the reception desk, and I gave her name while the receptionist looked on, wide-eyed. I got it, there were a lot of us, and we weren’t small men. Hell, Lenin stood well over all of us, and his shoulders were probably double our width, though I doubted he would ever look as good as I did in a suit.

“You won’t all fit back in the room.” Excuse me, what? What did the receptionist say? The damn audacity. “She is well protected past that door.”

“But?” I began, and the receptionist cut me off.

“Two people. That’s all.”

“We need to all be-”

“I understand you are used to getting your way by asserting your power, Mr. Albright.” Not sexy at all when this lady said it. “But you cannot change the fact that you will not physically fit. Now, if you would like to watch what’s happening during the appropriate times, we can stream it onto that screen there.”

“What do you deem appropriate?” I questioned.

Michelle cleared her throat. “She means when the doctor isn’t wrist deep in your girl's vag, you can watch.”

“They don’t do –” Justice began but quieted with wide eyes as all the females nodded their heads, his expression horrified.

“I’ll take Maggie and Michelle.”

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