Page 78 of His Reluctant Savior

When he put the car in Park, he made no move to get out, still gripping the steering wheel, staring at the elevator in front of us as if half expecting the doors to open up to a barrage of bullets.

“You ready, Sid?” I asked him.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s too late to back out now. They already know we’re here.”

He glanced back in the rearview mirror at Easton. “Be ready for anything. When we go in, I want you behind Dalton and Owen. I’ll take the lead.”

Easton gave him a quick nod.

“Our main concern is Sully. Everyone else will wait for Malik’s orders.” Sid glanced at me with a tentative smile on his face. “Everyone but Luca. He may hug you to death.”

That made me smile and feel better about all this. If they could take care of an innocent young man in need like Luca, they could eventually accept us.

I made the first move by unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out of the car, since Sid wasn’t moving, and Easton was waiting on Sid.

By the time I opened the backseat door to get Owen out of his car seat, Sid and Easton finally got out.

“Do you want me to carry him?” Sid asked.

“I’ve got him.” He was worried about my concussion, but I needed to hold Owen and keep reassuring him that all was okay and I was fine. My face had scared him when he finally saw me.

A little disappointment and jealousy clawed at me as Owen clung to Sid yesterday. I understood why, but it hurt all the same.

“Oof, I think you’ve grown two feet and fifty pounds since I saw you last,” I said as I picked him up.

That finally brought out a smile and a giggle from him. “I didn’t getthatbig, Daddy.”

“Well, you’re definitely growing. I’ll miss these days when I won’t be able to carry you anymore.”

“I can’t be small forever, silly.”

“You can’t? Too bad!”

Fuck, I loved how Owen could still smile and giggle, even after everything he’d gone through. It was reassuring.

I caught Easton watching our interaction carefully. I tried not to be wary of him, but he didn’t make it easy. Sociopaths are impulsive and reactionary, but he seemed quite taken with Sid and would probably follow his lead—hopefully.

“Let’s go,” Sid said, leading the way toward the elevator.

We traveled up a couple of flights, and I instinctively held Owen tighter as the elevator doors slid open to a massive area filled with wood and books flanking on either side. The bookcases stood on ornate wooden platforms, along with tables and chairs. In the middle was a hardwood pathway leading further back into the offices. There were enormous windows that looked out at our nation’s capital with a clear view of the Capitol building and the Washington Monument.

“Follow me,” Sid said as he strode forward with me close behind.

I looked up to see a Vietnamese man sitting in a chair, honing the blade of his sword, watching our every movement without an expression on his face, his black bangs falling in his face. Next to him was another gentleman, who was larger and had long, wavy hair. He sat in a chair with his feet resting on another chair infront of him. He appeared calm and relaxed, but I was sure he was anything but.

As we walked forward, a tall, red-headed man in a full three-piece suit in charcoal gray stopped in front of us. He wore a smirk, and his copper-colored eyes looked as sharp as the small blade he twirled in between his fingers. This must have been Sully.

“Oh, you’re such a fucking dead man,” he said much too calmly to Sid, his eyes twinkling in humor.

“Back off, Sully. I’m here to see Malik.”

Sully suddenly frowned and stood toe to toe with Sid. “You’ve upset Mal. You need to be punished.”

I pressed Owen’s head down on my shoulder to make sure he didn’t see Sully putting his blade to Sid’s throat.

Easton rushed by me and stood in front of Sid. “He’s mine!” he snarled. “Touch him, and we’ll see who’s better with knives.”

Sully threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, Easton… you’re a toy poodle in a den of wolves. You were family until you betrayed us, too, little pup.”

---