Page 32 of Run Free

“You gave my workload to your boyfriend here, and you’ve run a shitty mission. Don’t blame me,” he sneered.

I took a deep breath. My hands were shaking in fury, but I tried not to show it. “Wrong answer. You’re fired. Please gather up your personal things and leave immediately.”

“You’re nothing but a filthy animal, Clara. They only keep you around to observe you. You can’t fire me.”

I gave him a deadpan look, showing no emotions. “I can, and I just did. Now get the hell out of here, Rick, or I’ll have security physically remove you.” I turned my back on him, which normally I would never have done, but I knew that Gage had my back. “Chelsea,” I called.

She came running over, trying to hide her amusement. “Yes, ma’am?”

“I want you to head up the rest of this project. Work with Gage, your team, and whoever remains after I finish cleaning house here. The two of you will need to do a perimeter check and come up with a new list. I wouldn’t trust anything he gives you. I want this project completed within forty-eight hours. Are we clear?”

“Absolutely,” she said, openly grinning. “Come on, Gage. One last hoorah before we move out.”

I realized Gage was still there, grinning with pride at my audacity. I gave him a nod towards Chelsea, but he hesitated before leaving me, and he didn’t move until he saw Dave headed in our direction.

“If that asshole lays so much as a finger on my girl, I’ll kill him, Dave.”

I shivered at his tone but relished in hearing the possessiveness in his voice. He had my back and that meant a lot.

“Rick,” Dave warned. “It’s time to go.”

“This bitch can’t just fire me,” he argued.

“This bitch is your project leader. It’s her mission, and if she says you’re dead weight and need to go, then pack it up and get out of here.”

“We wouldn’t have this problem if Jacob hadn’t entrusted her with the position to begin with,” Rick argued, as if I wasn’t standing right there.

“I’d say get used to it, since Clara will be leading a lot more missions in the future, but you won’t need to worry about this, because you’re on your last with us. Since you’ve basically threatened a shifter, you can’t be trusted to go of your own accord. Security will escort you back to your room where you’ll stay until Jacob arrives tomorrow to handle the situation. I’m truly sorry it came to this, Rick, but you are well aware of the Verndari stance on the protection of shifters.”

Rick blanched as security arrived and Dave escorted me away from the scene.

“What will happen to him?” I asked.

“That’s not for you to worry about,” Dave said sadly. “You did great back there. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks.” I had an uneasy feeling about the situation, but I had learned from the start not to ask too many questions when it came to the Verndari.

Chelsea and Gage had their new reports ready within the hour and I was relieved to find it wasn’t nearly as bad as Rick had been making it out to be. As the sun was setting low in the sky we agreed to reconvene at first light and finish the assignment.

Gage

Chapter 19

That douchebag had been playing Clara, and I didn’t like it. The habitat for the elephants was in solid condition. The majority of what remained was strictly cosmetic, not crumbling to pieces as he’d portrayed.

Between the vulnerability I’d felt sharing the story about my mother’s infidelity to the aggression that had flared in my need to protect Clara from Rick, I was an emotional wreck. I needed an outlet for my frustrations. Normally I’d go for a run, but I didn’t want to leave her behind knowing Rick was still on the premises.

After dinner, we retired to her room. Our room, as she insisted on calling it. I was about to ask her to go for a run with me, but the second the door closed behind her, I had a much better plan to work off my frustrations.

I was still upset with myself for not realizing I’d taken her virginity. What kind of asshole did that make me? I had been so caught up in the moment I hadn’t even been careful with her. I hadn’t even used a condom and that was something I never ever did. I was always careful, but the need to mark her as mine had been too powerful and all-consuming to think straight.

Tonight, we had all the time in the world. I wouldn’t make those same mistakes again. This time I would slowly and passionately shower her with my full attention. Tonight would be all about her needs as I planned to mark and memorize every inch of her beautiful body.

Mine, my wolf growled in the back of my mind. Mine, I thought.

Recognition flashed in Clara’s eyes as I stalked towards her. Sniffing the air around me, I caught her arousal and grinned. I closed the gap between us quickly, but stalled my excitement to kiss her leisurely, swirling my tongue with hers until she was breathless and panting for me. I hadn’t even touched her yet, and I loved how responsive she was already.

I left her lips and trailed light kisses across her cheek to nibble on her earlobe before following the slender column of her neck, pausing at my mating mark. I blew my scent on it and watched her shiver in my arms.

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