Page 71 of North Bound

Still doesn’t know who sent the Púca after him.

And that’s why he can’t keep Scarlett. Not that she’s a possession. But that’s how he feels about her. She is his. End of story.

The thought of anyone else touching her, or being with her, is enough to have him reaching for his sword and drawing blood.

But he has to let her go.

He meant what he said. He doesn't want to risk her life by keeping her close to him. The bastard got into the workshop. They breached the one place on the planet where he should be safe. Unless he’s planning on having a member of his team here all the time, it’s just not feasible.

If he can’t keep her safe here...

Putting distance between them will take her off their radar - whoever they happen to be. When he finds them and kills them, he might change his mind about having her in his life.

‘Are you okay?’

He smiles at her, so unbelievably grateful she can’t get into his head. ‘Just thinking.’

‘About what?’

‘What’s going on. Who’s behind this.’ Seriously regretting the fact I have to let you go. ‘You ready?’

She takes his hand which feels so right. His magic must be messing with him. He’s not usually so sentimental. Scarlett’s hand tightens in his, as he guides her through the workshop. Nick glares at a few of the workers, as they give Scarlett a little too much attention. This over-protective streak is throwing him off balance.

Everyone is already seated when they get to the meeting room. Just the way he likes it. Eve has moved down a seat, leaving the one next to him for Scarlett.

‘Everyone good?’ Nick asks, as he settles into his seat at the head of the table. One by one, his team nod. ‘Good. I’m sure you’ve already made your introductions, but this is Scarlett. She found me unconscious in the snow. Saved my ass. Scarlett, this is Eve, Damon, Reve, Flint, Jok, Cobh, and Hunter.’

She nods at them and Hunter opens his mouth to speak, but Nick holds up his hand, silencing him. ‘Don’t even go there.’

Hunter grins and winks at Scarlett, before smiling at Nick. Hunter’s dick tended to control his mouth. Even the way he’s looking at Scarlett is grating on Nick’s nerves.

‘Do you know what happened to you?’ Jok asks, getting the meeting back on track.

‘No. Whatever happened knocked me out. One minute I was in the sleigh, and the next in Scarlett’s house. Nothing in between.’

‘Did you see anything?’ Flint asks Scarlett.

‘Just Nick and some of the sleigh. I mean I didn’t know it was a sleigh at the time. But I looked around really well in case there was someone else with him. I didn’t see anything. There was a big bang and then there he was.’

‘Not many can control the Púca,’ Damon says. ‘And those bastards rarely act alone.’

Nick agrees. ‘They’re not ones for following orders. Anything out of the ordinary here? Any of the workers acting weird?’

‘No one was skipping around the joint all happy that you were missing,’ Cobh says. ‘No one who works here would be so stupid. You don’t take on someone like you, with the backing you have from us. It would be the last stupid thing they do.’

‘So do we have any ideas? Cause I’ve been thinking non stop since I woke up, and I’m hitting a brick wall.’

Flint taps on the table. ‘I examined the wreckage we brought back. Nothing to trace the explosives back to whoever tried to kill you. It wasn’t magic.’

‘Can we stop saying that someone is trying to kill me. We don’t know the motives.’ He wants Scarlett to know what’s going on, but would prefer the word kill wasn’t mentioned in relation to him.

‘Someone attached explosives to your sleigh. What the fuck do you think they wanted to do to you? Give you a hug or something?’

‘Thank you, Damon. I kind of got that part.’

Eve clears her throat and points to the clock on the wall. ‘Time, Boss.’

‘Damn it! Okay, so I have to do the Christmas run. I want you all to contact everyone you know. We need to find out who is after my neck. I’d like to twist theirs, before they get another go at mine.’

---