Page 104 of Chasing Savannah
Chapter 33
Life as Fela was proving to be different than what Savannah expected. It was nowhere near as harrowing as she’d built it up to be. Her grandmother was easing her into the role, and last month’s prowl meeting hadn’t erupted into spontaneous challenges. She would count it as a success. Brielle had come to her and suggested she work with Simon, her bodyguard on new techniques, so she spent a lot of time doing that.
Most weekends she trained with him and the rest of the enforcers, learning all they did to keep the prowl safe. It was eye-opening and gave her a new respect for her cousins. All of the enforcers were going through retraining, each learning from one another. It had been fascinating to witness.
She took a relieved breath as she stepped outside into the cold December air. A puff of smoke left her mouth at her irritated exhale. While life with her mates was settling into a pleasant rhythm, she was trying to adjust her work life to make room for a six foot four, redheaded Adonis who followed her everywhere.
Simon had been assigned as her personal security, and no amount of fussing with her mates was changing it. While Simon wasn’t generally intrusive, he brought attention to him everywhere they went. She’d just come from a meeting with a building company and had to deal with half the women there drooling over him and the men pretending as though Simon was now in charge of her firm. Simon, as usual, uttered barely two words and yet every man in the room turned to him when it was time for a decision to be made.
She growled, the sound actually sounding animal since she was now mated. Though she was still latent, her powers had grown with the mating, and more traits of her non-existent panther manifested.
Simon sighed. “Fela. Are we going to have this argument again?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“But you’re agitated.”
“Well, I just spent two hours having to pry professionals off your ass. ‘Oh you were an Army Ranger.’” She mocked in a sing song voice.
He chuckled. “It’s pretty cool, you have to admit.”
She would not admit it, no matter how true it was. “Next time I have a meeting, I’m putting you in a sack.”
He outright howled. “Now I’m too good looking?”
She eyed his tall frame next to her. His red hair was short on the sides, the shaggy top pushed back neatly from his forehead to reveal his angelic face. It was deceiving, she’d seen the way he fought at the prowl tournament. Nothing about the man was as innocent as his heavily lashed eyes and pale skin made him look.
He wore a pair of slim gray slacks, the material clinging to his muscular legs and a simple black sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His Rangers’ tattoo was displayed on his forearm. His whole look was understated, luxe and perfect for someone who was supposed to blend into the background. And yet…on Simon the whole thing projected power.
“Seriously Simon, you have hazel eyes, freckles and a sick body, the whole prowl ought to have to walk around in monks’ robes. Not to mention all the…alpha-ness that enters a room with you. I’m surprised the builder didn’t lay on the ground and expose his belly.”
He snickered. “I’m going to tell your mates you find me hot.”
She had to smile at that. They were nearing the parking garage when he stiffened and pulled her behind him. His demeanor changed within seconds. It wasn’t hard to see the Army training in his body’s alert posture. He pulled his phone from his pocket and lifted his head scenting the air. He tapped out a quick message before putting it away and signaling for her to follow him. They skirted the elevator they had taken to reach the ground floor and took the stairs.
“Unknown shifters, Fela, I need you to follow my instructions. Remember, we trained for this type of scenario.”
“I remember.” She took her keys and threaded them through her fingers like he’d taught her, and took the cap off her mace. She’d laughed and scoffed when Simon kept giving her kidnapping scenarios. Now?
Now she was making him a giant fucking chocolate cake when they got home.
“When we get to our floor, head down, fast track it to the truck, understood?” Simon ordered.
She bobbed her head and breathed deep to calm her racing heart. They walked the stairs until they reached the third floor where they were parked. He paused at the door, and turned back to look at her.
She held up her mace with shaky hands. “Ready.”
He counted down from three on his fingers, and kicked open the door. A loud snarl sounded before a thud. She followed him through the door. There were three very large males waiting for them and they charged her and Simon simultaneously. A fourth one came up behind them, pulling at her briefcase. She shook out of it, dropping her keys in the process and kicked out at the male. Her forearm was on fire as she blocked a punched aimed at her face. She kicked out with her feet, hitting him in the midsection, and scraped her nails across his arms as he reached for her again.
He moved quickly, grabbing her hair and slinging her across the garage. Her heart thudded, fear stealing her breath as she landed hard, wrenching her knee. Another spike of adrenaline helped her force her body up. She swung on him, hitting him in the face. He staggered back a step, but recovered, and swung at her. She ducked and punched him twice in the kidney. He grunted and brought his elbow down on her shoulder.
“Fuck!” She hissed at the pain and stood, swinging.
He caught one fist and then the other as she swung again. “The stories are true then. You’re strong for a latent.”
She ignored his taunting, her only thought to leave the garage alive. She growled and kicked out at his stomach, he jumped back and tightened his grip on her fists. She clenched her teeth at the pain. She kicked again, this time aiming for his knee. He cursed and buckled, releasing her arms. Her elation was short lived as he swept her legs from under her.
She hit the concrete hard.
