Chapter 247

I sit holding Mia for a time, as the brothers continue to check on things from the safety of the panic room. Steven continues to type away at his computer. Neil is on the phone. He called the electric company first, and now he’s speaking with someone at city hall.

Archer and Beau are arguing about who should secure the perimeter.

Neil pulls the phone away from his mouth to tell them, “Why don’t you both just go?”

That resolves the argument. They unlock the panic room long enough for them to slip outside. Neil makes certain that the door is closed again behind them.

I play with Mia for a while. Her giggling takes away some of the tension in the room, for which I am exceedingly grateful. I still feel like I’m wound up too tightly though. The slightest surprise might make me jump out of my skin.

Even Neil and Steven seem to relax somewhat from the sound, their shoulders loosening slightly, though they continue to work diligently.

When Neil finishes his phone call, having voiced his displeasure with the city hall clerk, he turns to Steven for an update.

“The security system is running at full capacity,” Steven says. “I have the entire Pyramid on full lockdown. Tracking Archer and Beau, it seems as if they are almost done with their perimeter check.”

“So we’re positive no one got inside?” Neil asks.

“As positive as we can be,” Steven says. It’s not as confident an affirmation as I would have liked to hear, but it’s better than nothing. Though, that coupled with Archer and Beau’s werewolf sense of smell out there in the perimeter, I suppose it could be taken as fact.

I exhale and let myself relax more fully. This truly was just a show of power from the Alpha King then, and while it certainly was an intimidating, I’m relieved to know none of us are in immediate danger.

I’m no coward. I would fight to the death to protect Mia, and maybe even the brothers. I’m not afraid of that. But even I can admit that this whole thing has me shaken up.

The Alpha King could have just as easily sent assassins in to kill one or all of us. Instead, he’s playing some kind of mind game, trying to bend us to his will. I’m equal parts intimidated and infuriated.

But mostly, I’m tired.

Beau returns to the panic room first. Steven spots him on the camera and unlocks the door. Neil pushes it open and Beau comes inside.

“I didn’t sense anyone,” Beau says. “Archer wants to do another few rounds outside the house.”

Neil nods and pulls out his phone again.

Steven’s typing has slowed. He seems satisfied with whatever it is he has done to protect us.

Mia’s starting to doze off in my arms. Admittedly my eyes feel a bit droopy too, now that the adrenaline is wearing off.

Beau notices. “Steven, if you are wrapped up there, can you watch Mia while I take Chloe home?”

I would have preferred if he asked me if I was ready to go home, but he is being thoughtful in noticing how tired I am. I decide not to argue tonight.

Steven agrees and takes Mia from me. Beau dips his head and leads me out of the panic room.

We don’t say much on the walk to the garage. Beau still seems on alert as we walk through the hallways, as if he expects someone to jump out at any moment, even after he and Archer checked everywhere.

When we reach the garage, I expect him to head to his usual mode of transportation, his motorcycle. Instead, he leads me to one of the black, inconspicuous sedans. The windows are tinted. Inside, we’re safely anonymous.

“In my mind, I know we’re safe,” Beau admits when he’s behind the wheel. “What I don’t like is that something could have happened, and we’d have been mostly helpless to stop it.”

“You’ll always have your claws and teeth,” I remind him.

Beau shakes his head. “That’s a last resort. And I sure as hell don’t want to have a bloody werewolf fight with you and Mia in the room.”

I concur wholeheartedly about not wanting Mia in that situation, but I’m perfectly capable of enduring it. I hold my tongue again though, not seeing the point in arguing tonight. Everyone’s nerves are shot. I just want to go home.

Beau parks the sedan in a shady spot behind the building away from the road. It’s mostly deserted as we hop out and he escorts me upstairs via the elevator.

“Stay here,” Beau says once we are in the penthouse, and he goes to inspect every room. I impatiently wait, thinking I should just follow him, but he returns before I can make up my mind. “Everything looks okay.”

I nod. “Thanks.”

“Sure,” he says and starts to sidestep me toward the door. Is he leaving? Just like that?

I have no idea what actually compels me to stop him, but without even realizing it, I reach out and snatch his wrist in my hand. He pauses, first looking down at my hold on his wrist, and then up to me.

I don’t really have an explanation, so I don’t have an answer to the question in his gaze.

Yet when I open my mouth, what comes out is, “Stay.” Immediately, I realize what I said and what it sounds like, and I course-correct. “Not for sex, but just to… I don’t know, make sure things are okay.”

Beau’s features even out, even as my cheeks burn in embarrassment. I hope I didn’t lead him on or anything.

But he doesn’t seem angry or annoyed or even put off. Instead he steps closer to me, away from the door, and says, “Okay.”

We go about a usual routine to get ready for bed. I have some spare toiletries so I dig out a toothbrush for Beau to use. We brush our teeth side by side in the little bathroom. He borrows my mouthwash and my facewash.

I change into my pajamas while he’s busy in the bathroom. I don’t have any spare ones that would fit him, so he strips down to his boxer briefs. I avert my gaze from his bare skin as he climbs into bed beside me.

We don’t say much. We don’t need to. Beau seems to know just what I need. He snuggles close to me and wraps me up in the safety of his arms. He’s warm and strong, and though I’m capable and don’t need protection, it still helps ease me some to know I have someone watching my back.

It doesn’t take me long at all that night to doze off.

I wake up in the morning to the sound of my alarm. I reach over behind me, expecting to feel a warm body, but instead my bed is empty. I lean up on my elbows and look around. There’s no sound or hint of movement in the penthouse.

Beau isn’t here anymore.

With a sigh, I flop back onto the bed.

My feelings for Beau have always been somewhat complicated. Our friends with benefits thing we have going on never seemed particularly deep. We’re hot for each other, and that’s usually that.

But last night definitely proved the friends side of our relationship is alive and well. He could have seduced me last night. I probably would have fallen into it easily enough. Yet that wasn’t what I needed, and he knew that. He respected it.

I always thought this was just sex for him, but now I’m not so sure that’s all there is. And that uncertainty is doing funny things to my heart.