Page 139 of The Alpha

The young man smiled. “Seriously? Sweet!” He grabbed the money and scooted past Melvale and Pari.

“Melvale, move,” Zara said. “You are blocking the door.”

He sidestepped once, his eyes glued to Pari’s. She could faintly see them through the dark glasses as she shook, unable to help it. “Doctor?”

He cocked his head, and she saw his face soften before he bent to her and lifted his glasses. Though his eyes glowed a bright blue, she saw the tenderness in them. “You are safe, precious one. You have nothing to fear.” His eyes darted to the street and took on a hard look. “You will never fear these men again.”

She shook some more. Good grief, did she have PTSD from their time in the doctor’s clutches? A small whimper escaped her unbidden, and why could she not stop shaking?

He looked at her again. “It is all right, Kitten. You are safe. No one is going to hurt you, do you understand?”

Pari stared at him. It was Melvale’s voice, not Bondrah’s. Yet his eyes…

She nodded even as her breathing picked up.

He kissed her hair, held her close, then passed her off to Kwaku and Zara. “Take care of her.”

Then he was gone, moving so fast, Pari didn’t even see him go out the door. “What is he doing? Where is he going?”

Zara put an arm around her. “All will be well, child. Drink your coffee, eat your treat. We will wait for his return.” She started to steer Pari toward a table.

“But… what is he going to do?” she asked, voice shaking.

Kwaku gave her a gentle smile. “You need not worry, little treasure. Do not trouble yourself.”

“But…”

“Hush now, child,” Zara said and pulled a chair out for her. “Sit, eat.”

Pari sat, clutching her latte to her chest with one hand, her Rice Krispie treat with the other. She would have to trust them. What choice did she have? “Will he be safe? They won’t hurt him, will they? What if they capture him?” Tears stung the backs of her eyes. Oh good grief, she wasn’t going to cry, was she?

A tear cut a path down her cheek. Doggone it, she was! Her trauma was worse than she thought. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Kwaku smiled. “He will not be.” He exchanged a look with Zara. “Melvale will be fine.”

Pari caught the look. It saidsomeonewasn’t going to be fine. “Can you promise me?”

Kwaku’s eyebrows shot up. “Yes, little treasure. We promise he will return to you unscathed.”

She relaxed a little and let her goodie drop onto the table. Pari forced herself to take a sip of her latte and let it warm her. She was chilled, not only from the air conditioning, but from fear. She didn’t mean to freak out but couldn’t help it.

Zara and Kwaku kept exchanging little looks but said nothing. Instead, they sipped their drinks and picked at the cookies they bought. No one paid them any mind, and she hoped Melvale was okay.

She closed her eyes and realized she had feelings for him. How stupid! If she wasn’t careful, they’d grow, and then when the inevitable happened, she’d be left with a broken heart.

Zara reached over, put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle pat. “Relax, child. He will return soon.”

Pari looked at her and nodded when her cell phone buzzed in her back pocket. She pulled it out. “Uncle Al?”

“Um, Pari? Where are you?”

“Starbucks on Franklin.”

“Ah, okay. Well, um… there are some men here…”

She gasped. “Uncle Al, are you alright?”

“Y-yes, but there’s more than a few and they’re poking through all my things. One of them thinks he’s a king!”

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