Page 66 of Haze

I turn around to see the doctor locking the door to a supply closet and flagging me down at the same time. I wait for him to catch up.

“With Lena’s release back home, I would appreciate it if you were to return to work. I understand that until she’s back to herself, you may want to spend more time with her. If you could balance perhaps a three-day-a-week schedule, as it is of the utmost importance we secure the grants and programming we’ve applied for.” Doctor Thorpe doesn’t appear to be asking.

Begrudgingly I nod. I want to be angry with his nerve to ask this so early. But I put myself in his shoes. It’s been a week since I last worked, and the minimal work I’ve done hardly counts for anything.

I answer, “Yes, is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday acceptable for this schedule?”

“I would rather you keep Lena’s schedule of Monday through Wednesday,” Doctor Thorpe states firmly.

Why does it matter that I’m on her schedule if she isn’t here? Four days with Lena is still four days; it doesn’t matter which ones.

I nod. “Very well. I’ll be here first thing in the morning.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” Doctor Thorpe turns and walks away.

I don’t like him, my wolf comments.

I concur.

I’m almost out to the parking lot when Cade’s voice calls me back. Instantly my body goes on high alert. He wouldn’t call me back if everything was fine. I turn, looking at him and examining him from head to toe.

“Shit. Sorry.” Cade raises his hands. “I wasn’t thinking.”

I walk back toward Cade. I made Doctor Thorpe come to me, asserting dominance. It’s not something I can assert over Cade.

He meets me halfway. “I need the key to your rental.”

I don’t move for the keys in my pocket, but Cade reaches into his. He fishes out a black key fob.

Offering it out to me, he nods toward the rows of vehicles. “Before you say it’s too much, I got it for Lena’s benefit. Despite knowing she’ll hate that it’s not red, I was willing to argue with her on color for its added anonymity and safety features.”

Cade leads me toward a large black Yukon, which seems far too impractical for Lena. When Cade presses the button on the fob, headlights flicker and the sound of doors unlocking comes from a smaller vehicle tucked behind it. The next vehicle in the row, with its lights on, is a black Chevrolet version, and it’s much more Lena sized. Cade waits for me to get closer and opens the driver’s side door.

He starts walking through it. “Bullet-resistant glass, slightly below legal tint limit, steel-plated doors with padding for bullet resistance. All the bells and whistles of the highest-end SUVs, from remote start to heated seats and lane assist. The GPS links back to Corinth Security and me directly.”

The black-on-black interior is punctuated with bright red accents. I draw a breath and blow it out in a long, even exhale. Cade pops the lid and shows me the engine. It’s significantly more than standard. It’s a beautiful machine.

He says, “I wanted it to be able to get out of dodge if needed.”

“Cade, this is.” I shake my head and fight back the smile. “I can’t.”

“Well, that’s too bad because your name is already on the title.” Cade picks up my hand and puts the keys in it. “She’s your mate, but she’s my baby sister. In addition to my house being overrun by a small Romanian dictator, there’s a new potential threat. And I’m not leaving my baby sister exposed. I’m betting you won’t let her out of your sight. This is a good compromise.”

“So, you want my rental car?” I, for no apparent reason, choose now to obediently fish my keys from my pocket.

I shake my head, thinking how funny it is that he chose dictator for Revecca. She does seem to dominate wherever she goes. Though, the title of queen implies monarchy.

“I’ll get it returned for you.” Cade sighs, and I see a crack in his always calm exterior. “You know how it goes. You get to be Pack Alpha, and suddenly, you’ve a hundred people who all work directly for you.”

“I want to be let in on whatever the potential threat is.” I probably should have asked sooner, but I’m in such an odd position.

The mate of the Alpha Female is never a position I’ve had to work with or consult before. We didn’t keep one in Ireland. For all intents and purposes, we’re a monarchy. I don’t know what I’m entitled to or what’s expected of me.

Cade doesn’t miss a beat talking through the threat. “There’s an issue with the press. It seems the magazines are starting to circle in on our family. Thalia’s dad had a run-in with them in DC. They were asking questions about us. My publicist’s phone has been ringing off the hook for the last four days. Her name is Henri, you’ll be introduced later.” Cade nods, closing the bonnet. “I have no choice but to believe there is some form of paparazzi here at some point. With attention comes risks, and I’m not willing to take any.” Cade opens up the driver’s door again. “Oh, I forgot the fun part.”

I get an in-depth interior tour of the SUV. It’s completely ready for tactile combat. From a place for my handgun alongside the driver’s seat to a full-on rifle in the back and ammunition storage.

He buttons up the back of the vehicle and turns to look at me, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “How are you holding up?”

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