Page 12 of Get Kraken

“Olivia, these things aren't like what we’re used to seeing in the movies. They take time.”

“I know that, but we've been going out every day so far.”

She knew it sounded so incredibly whiny, but she couldn't help it.

She wanted this done. She wanted to know if it was another kraken shifter out there and put him away.

Mike took in a deep breath. “Sometimes, these things can take years. You being here does help a great deal, but there's no guarantee we'll slam dunk this in a couple of days.”

“I know.” It wasn't just that, and she was pretty sure both men knew it.

It was a multitude of things. The curious glances she got from employees around the building didn't help. Everyone from the woman who answered phones, to the kid who worked the printers, glanced in her direction whenever they passed by.

Sitting in the tiny room designated for breaks was no different, and she could see those glances whenever they walked by.

Chase also noticed. He got up, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he grabbed the door and slammed it hard enough that Olivia was surprised the glass didn't shatter.

A conflicted part of her enjoyed that Chase and Mike were looking out for her, but another part of her didn't want to come off as though she needed the protection.

She said nothing when he sat back down.

She felt his irritation. She knew it was genuine.

A mate was always looking out for the best interests of his partner.

In this case, she had two mates, and both men were not only protective of her, but because of the mission at hand, they had yet to touch her in ways that didn't involve the innocent hand-holding Mike was doing now.

“You don't have to worry about them,” Mike said, his tone gentle. “They're just curious.”

She nodded. “I know. They're waiting to see if I'll turn into the killer.”

“That's not what they're doing,” Chase insisted, crossing his arms over his wide chest. The shirt he wore seemed to struggle to not have its buttons popped. “If they were, we’d put a stop to that fast.”

Again, she was conflicted. “I don't mind it if people are suspicious of me. That's normal.” It was only a small lie, but that wasn't what had her attention. What she did like was the way Chase had said the wordwe.

As though he and Mike were finally starting to see eye to eye on the whole sharing a mate thing.

“They shouldn't be looking at you like anything,” Mike said, nodding to Chase. “Your story and alibi checked out. There's nothing for them to see.”

“Exactly.” Chase lifted his arm over the back of his chair, leaning back a little. “If they need a reminder of that, we'll give it to them.”

“No, you won't.” She was letting them take command because of the situation because they were agents who had years of experience, and she had only just arrived, but in this, she would be firm.

“Neither if you are going to confront anyone else on the team over this.” She made sure to look at both of them, one then the other, when she spoke. Making sure they got the message loud and clear.

“I'm new here, it's a risk to even have me, you're not going to jeopardize this by getting all alpha on me now.”

“We’re your mates,” Mike said. “It’s kind of our thing to getall alphaon you.”

“I don't care, cut it out. I'm a volunteer here. I want to keep doing this. I want to find who's doing this and put him away, and I can't do that if I'm seen as someone who needs defending from every little thing. You're trusting me to go into the water and find a bad guy. Trust me to be able to handle a little staring.”

She didn't think she would get through to them that easily, but it seemed to be enough.

Both men said nothing to her. Chase pressed his lips together and seemed as though he was trying his damndest to keep himself from saying something he would regret.

Mike snarled at the drink machine in the corner of the break room. It looked almost as though his shark teeth were starting to make an appearance.

“This isn't the only thing that's bothering you,” she said.

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