Page 21 of Enzo

"Why are you on Earth?" she asked, since none of the voices in her head had anything practical to add.

"It was an accident. We are at war with the people you met last night. Our battalions fought and the Thalians did serious damage to each of our ships. We miscalculated, got caught in your gravitational pull, and crash-landed. At first, we thought our people would come for us or theirs would come for them. After close to several hundred years, we know we are stuck here."

Did he say several hundred years?

How old is he?

Mmm and yum. Alien, hot, shifter. Can we do Enzo now?

What did it say about her that she was on board with her libido?

"Why did you hire me?" She needed a little more than alien and hot before she dropped her pants. Wait... she meant trusted him.

"You're the first human to get inside our shield. I thought it was worth trying to figure out."

"Oh, did you figure out why?"

"I think so, but we'll talk about it later. Let's make some food. How do you like the apartment?"

"I like it enough. I wish I could stay." She stood and followed him to the kitchen to find Ven seated at the table.

"Why can't you stay?"

"I'm sure I can't afford the rent even with what you're paying me."

"That's where you are wrong. I was hoping you would stay because I need someone to keep an eye on Ven. Help keep him out of trouble. Maybe help him now since someone lifted the ban on him seeing young Earth females. There's a second room that can be his if you're willing?" He went to the fridge and pulled out the makings for hamburgers and fries.

"I understand if he's too much for you to handle. No reason to feel shame."

He's trying psychology on us.

Does he think we will fall for that?

No, he doesn't. But he does know that we have adopted Ven, and he's close to our heart. So, he's dangling a carrot I can't pass up. We all get what we want. I have a place to live. Enzo has peace of mind. And Ven has a female who cares about him. All growing boys need that.

The voices in her head went silent, and she took a seat as she watched Enzo cook.

"You can cook?"

"Either I learned to cook or starve. I'm not a chef, mind you, but I can get it done."

"I like a man that can cook."

He smiled and winked at her, his green eyes glowing. "That's good to know, camire."

He placed the food in front of them. They ate in silence, but she kept glancing up, not liking the tension in the room.

"Ven," Enzo said once the kitchen was clean. "Why don't you go check out your room."

Ven stood up and looked angry. She hadn't known him long, but she knew that wasn't how he normally was.

"What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know." He pulled her from her chair to his. His hand came up to caress her cheek. "We're going to find out, aren't we?"

She gave him a big smile and pulled him to his feet. Deja knocked at Ven's door and waited until she heard a mumbled come in. The room was perfect for a boy around twenty. Enzo had put some thought into this.

Ven was lying on the bed with his face buried in the pillow.

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