Page 83 of Savage Hunter

She pulls back. “Nova has been calling every hour to make sure you arrived okay.”

“She’s going to make a wonderful mom,” I say.

“Tell me about it.” Polaris links her arm through mine and leans her head on my shoulder.

The men step around us and leave us alone. I lower my voice anyway. “Are you doing okay?”

She knows what I’m asking. I don’t want to pry, but it’s good to check in.

“Yeah, it’s just a lot some days, ya know.” I track the trajectory of her gaze to find Santi at the end of the trail.

I lean my head against hers wishing she would have had the chance to visit the compound more often. I missed her company. “I do.” And I leave it at that.

It’s a big tangled mess. I know the smile she has on tonight is forced as much as mine is. No one walks away from being beaten and used daily without physical and mental scars. If there is someone who wants to see Society 69 fall as much as I do, that would be Polaris.

After Ares pulled her out of the Society’s cages, she came here to Club Genesis. I still don’t know the entire story behind why she didn’t stay with Nova. That is something she has shared only with her sister. But if the stolen glances are clues, I would say the three men I just met are part of the reason she stays.

“Where are we anyway?” I turn to find Wolfe talking with Reaper who holds a book of maps. Polaris brushes her long raven hair over her delicate shoulder. The small movement catches Cassius’ eye.

Interesting.

I pretend to take in my new surroundings and give them a moment. The large office is a man cave if there ever was one—brown leathers, a bar and a large desk are the highlights. There are other furnishings like a couple of lamps and chairs. There are minimal decorations and it smells of cigar smoke and whiskey. It has subtle elegance. Large monitors mounted on the back wall show different parts of the club. I’m not entirely sure what goes on here but it looks important. And from the guns tucked under everyone’s arms, I am going to say dangerous.

A quick peek out of the large window opposite the elevators reveals we are five or six stories up.

“Top floor of Club Genesis. Fair warning, before you arrived, Harlon and Ares were in a furious debate about you going with Wolfe to thehacienda.”

That doesn’t bode well. “Ares told them everything?”

Polaris rolls a slender shoulder. “From what I can tell, yes. I’m sorry about the fire.”

I suck air through my teeth in a hiss. “They have little say in what I do. I need to see this through and help.”

Her arm comes around my shoulder. I keep close to the elevators and talk in a low voice.

“I get it. For what it is worth, Harlon thinks you would be an asset.”

I search Wolfe’s face as he talks with Harlon. I can’t read lips but I can make out a few words—fire, bodies, ash. I get the gist. He’s telling him about the men he killed, the fire, and how the bodies will be ash by the time they put the fire out. But I know Wolfe is leaving out other important information.

He catches me looking and the wink Wolfe gives me nearly turns me to butter.

I guess that is what they meant when they said they had heard a lot about me. They were measuring me up to see if I could do the job.

“Not that it matters, but what was their verdict?”

She rolls a shoulder. “I don’t know. You guys arrived, and they went down to greet you.”

I see. I consider the men as they hunch over something sprawled out on the large desk. A map most likely.

“I can see the fight rising in you. They aren’t going anywhere for a couple of hours at least. The place is booby trapped with all the worst-case scenarios you can think of. It is going to take them a while to work up a plan.”

I run my palms over my dirty shirt and cutoffs. “I’m that transparent?”

Her smile is soft, but filled with honesty. “Err…sorry, but yeah. Like a book. Why don’t you come with me? I have fresh clothes and I’m sure you could use a shower.”

She has no idea. I am sure I smell of Wolfe and everything we did in that hotel room.

“God, yes. Please! I would literally do just about anything for a bar of soap and clean clothes.”

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