the family, not to mention here I was, asking for another favor from the Weston pack and depleting his resources.
“What makes you think they’ll come back for you?” he asked in a raspy voice.
When a muffled sound came from outside the door, I paused and waited for silence. “They weren’t trying to rob me. I woke up and all my money was still on the lawn—a lot of money. I’m a last-resort kind of girl, Austin, and you’re my last resort. Money is no object. Just for a few days; I wouldn’t ask any more of your time.”
He sighed through his nose and leaned back. “I’ll have Reno—”
“Not him,” I quickly said, then masked it with a smile. “Nothing personal, but he’s… with April.” I gracefully waved my hand. “I… I would feel terrible if something happened to someone in your pack who was mated. April’s a sweet girl, and I wouldn’t dream of putting her mate in danger. You don’t have to tell me his name or what pack he’s from. All I need is a man to watch over me while I look into a few things.”
Austin brushed back his messy hair and stood up. “How much can you afford?”
“Two hundred a night is the most I can pay. What’s the going rate? Is that too little?”
He walked around the desk to my left, a few pieces of dirt crumbling off his shoes. “Two hundred is fine. I’ll keep this between us, and I won’t assign anyone who’s mated. Now that you mention it, I’d prefer it that way.”
I would have felt terrible if anyone in Lexi’s pack got hurt. Aside from that, Reno couldn’t watch me. I’d already asked him to investigate the kidnapping.
“Let’s keep this between us. If you have to tell Lexi anything in the throes of passion, just say I’m having issues with my manager and I asked for your advice. She already knows there’s some drama going on at work. And I don’t care who you hire or where he comes from; just make sure it’s someone you trust. I’ll pay extra.”
“Are you working tonight?”
“No, it’s my night off.” I cupped my elbows and stood up, sitting on the edge of his desk as he lingered by the door. A silly part of me didn’t want to leave. I felt protected in this house and understood the power of a pack, something my kind didn’t have. I thought about asking to stay over, but aside from imposing on his kindness, I’d never bring my Misha into a house full of wolves. Just the idea of them chasing her around made my panther want to scratch someone on the ass.
“Will you be home?” he asked. “I’ll put someone on you today, but I need to know where you’ll be.”
“I have to go back to my apartment and take a shower. I feel like a walking hairball, and I shudder to think about the pedicure I’m going to need after running around without shoes like a hillbilly.” I pursed my lips while staring at my feet. “It shouldn’t take long. After that, I’m heading back to Club Sin to speak with some of the girls. It’s a slow period at the club, so I’ll hang around until your man shows up.”
Austin raked his fingers through his sweaty hair a few times. “He’ll be there no later than noon, and you won’t even know he’s watching. After twelve, you can go wherever you need to. Maybe you should pack up a few things and stay at a hotel.”
“Waste of money, not to mention false security,” I said, tugging a leaf stem from my hair. “I’m already paying you, and no one drives me out of my home like a rodent. Hopefully those men were nothing but a bunch of pranksters in the middle of a juvenile initiation or dare.” I reached out and clasped Austin’s wrist. “I know we’re not the same, but thank you for not turning me away.”
His eyebrow arched with a curious expression, but I knew nothing about his history with panthers. Prejudices existed among the Breeds and weren’t easy to eliminate. It’s why I enjoyed working in the club; everyone who entered put those divisions aside.
“I don’t turn anyone away
“What makes you think they’ll come back for you?” he asked in a raspy voice.
When a muffled sound came from outside the door, I paused and waited for silence. “They weren’t trying to rob me. I woke up and all my money was still on the lawn—a lot of money. I’m a last-resort kind of girl, Austin, and you’re my last resort. Money is no object. Just for a few days; I wouldn’t ask any more of your time.”
He sighed through his nose and leaned back. “I’ll have Reno—”
“Not him,” I quickly said, then masked it with a smile. “Nothing personal, but he’s… with April.” I gracefully waved my hand. “I… I would feel terrible if something happened to someone in your pack who was mated. April’s a sweet girl, and I wouldn’t dream of putting her mate in danger. You don’t have to tell me his name or what pack he’s from. All I need is a man to watch over me while I look into a few things.”
Austin brushed back his messy hair and stood up. “How much can you afford?”
“Two hundred a night is the most I can pay. What’s the going rate? Is that too little?”
He walked around the desk to my left, a few pieces of dirt crumbling off his shoes. “Two hundred is fine. I’ll keep this between us, and I won’t assign anyone who’s mated. Now that you mention it, I’d prefer it that way.”
I would have felt terrible if anyone in Lexi’s pack got hurt. Aside from that, Reno couldn’t watch me. I’d already asked him to investigate the kidnapping.
“Let’s keep this between us. If you have to tell Lexi anything in the throes of passion, just say I’m having issues with my manager and I asked for your advice. She already knows there’s some drama going on at work. And I don’t care who you hire or where he comes from; just make sure it’s someone you trust. I’ll pay extra.”
“Are you working tonight?”
“No, it’s my night off.” I cupped my elbows and stood up, sitting on the edge of his desk as he lingered by the door. A silly part of me didn’t want to leave. I felt protected in this house and understood the power of a pack, something my kind didn’t have. I thought about asking to stay over, but aside from imposing on his kindness, I’d never bring my Misha into a house full of wolves. Just the idea of them chasing her around made my panther want to scratch someone on the ass.
“Will you be home?” he asked. “I’ll put someone on you today, but I need to know where you’ll be.”
“I have to go back to my apartment and take a shower. I feel like a walking hairball, and I shudder to think about the pedicure I’m going to need after running around without shoes like a hillbilly.” I pursed my lips while staring at my feet. “It shouldn’t take long. After that, I’m heading back to Club Sin to speak with some of the girls. It’s a slow period at the club, so I’ll hang around until your man shows up.”
Austin raked his fingers through his sweaty hair a few times. “He’ll be there no later than noon, and you won’t even know he’s watching. After twelve, you can go wherever you need to. Maybe you should pack up a few things and stay at a hotel.”
“Waste of money, not to mention false security,” I said, tugging a leaf stem from my hair. “I’m already paying you, and no one drives me out of my home like a rodent. Hopefully those men were nothing but a bunch of pranksters in the middle of a juvenile initiation or dare.” I reached out and clasped Austin’s wrist. “I know we’re not the same, but thank you for not turning me away.”
His eyebrow arched with a curious expression, but I knew nothing about his history with panthers. Prejudices existed among the Breeds and weren’t easy to eliminate. It’s why I enjoyed working in the club; everyone who entered put those divisions aside.
“I don’t turn anyone away
Similar Books
