Page 29 of Echoes of Danger

“Speaking of.”

“Papa,” Knox yells as he slams open the door and rushes into Taylor’s arms.

“Oh, my poor little Pup,” he soothes. “Everything is going to be alright.”

“What’s going on?” Eli asks. “Knox said something about us having to go into hiding?”

“Where’s your Ma and sister?” I ask, not bothering to correct myself. This is my fucking kid. My boy. Freckles belongs to me. I feel it down to my very soul, and I know she does, too. I shouldn’t have hired her. I should have kidnapped her instead.

“Oh, she said she’s never walking through these doors again,” he smirks. “Something about men and our audacity.”

“I don’t count asmenin this scenario,” Knox chuckles from Taylor’s chest. “My audacity is fully intact.”

“She may have also mentioned how bosses can’t fire someone and then threaten to kiss them,” Eli continues. “Then repeated how said bosses are full of themselves and need to go to therapy to work on their inflated ego.”

“She said all that, huh?” I chuckle.

“And a bit more, but you get the gist of it. So, since Ma no longer works for you, how long do we have before we’re kicked out?”

I would have lost my mind if it weren’t for the smirk still at the corner of his mouth.

“Get your ass to your room and pack your shit,” I chuckle. “You’re staying with the women and children.”

“Sure thing, Pa,” he says.

Not bothering to second guess it, I walk over and pull Eli into my arms. “Fucking love you, kid,” I admit. “You’re a strong man, Elijah. You protect our girls while I’m away.”

“I will, Pa. You have my word.”

My eyes water at him calling me Pa but I don’t dare hide that emotion from him as I look into his eyes.

“Someone is going to take you someplace safe,” I tell him. “I’m not going to say more in case this place is bugged but know that I’m going to work very hard to get shit done and come back home. Until then, do what you can to keep the women and children calm. There will be Obsidian’s with you, but I don’t know how long this is going to take.”

“Don’t worry about us,” he says. “You focus on your task and let me worry about mine.”

With that, he turns and heads towards the door leading to his room.

“Wait, Pa, is there going to be food? Should I also pack food? Maybe we should place a grocery order.”

Laughing, Taylor nods for me to go get my woman before he and Knox turn to help Eli.

“I’m going to go kiss your Ma,” I call out.

“Bout time, old man,” he calls back. “But if you hurt her, I’ll beat the shit out of you.”

“If he hurts her, we’ll all beat the shit out of him,” I hear Taylor say. “Now, pack snacks. There will be plenty of meal food, but there’s never enough snacks.”

“Since chocolate-hating Mitchell will be there with us, let’s pack extra chocolate so we can force him to change his mind.”

“Pup, you can’t force chocolate down his throat.”

“Watch me.”

Shaking my head at their antics, I leave the house. It doesn’t take but a few seconds to find my woman leaning against a tree near the footpath leading to Taylor and Knox’s place.

“You really shouldn’t be out here by yourself, Freckles,” I say softly.

“It really is beautiful out here,” she says just as softly. “Even with the road nearby, it’s so quiet. It’s peaceful.”

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