Page 38 of Taken In Trade
Shit.
I’m probably going to start acting more like an omega, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Dinner is awkward.
Not as bad as back home, but no one makes a point of talking, so I don’t either.
I almost asked where Angel was when we first sat down. I may have only met her once, but a friendly face never hurts. She carried our conversation earlier, and the silence is starting to get to me. I could listen to her chatter about her baby… If someone would just talk.
Hawk pushes away his plate, and an uncomfortable pang hits my stomach. He’s not going to leave, right?
I don’t know why I even care.
I’m not afraid to be alone with Moretti.
His scent is another story.
I’ve been getting hints of it all night.
I’m not entirely sure I won’t pounce on him once my heat gets closer. Having someone else around should help. Except, I’m realizing I have a tiny, little, baby crush on Hawk.
He’s quiet when Moretti is around, but he was downright chatty with me today while we were out and about.
Is the stoic, grunty attitude just a persona? The brooding bodyguard might just be his professional face that he has to put on for work.
“While I have you here, we should discuss a few things,” Moretti says, drawing my attention. He’s at the end of the long formal dining table with me and Hawk on either side of him. It puts Hawk directly in front of me, but I purposely twist toward my husband.
“My father wants my keys back. He also asked about my phone,” I tell him before I forget. “I’m sorry you paid for the car repairs, only for him to reap the benefits.”
“That cost was negligible,” my husband says, offering what I think is meant to be a reassuring smile. “Calderon’s unplanned day off was eight times the cost of the repairs for your car.”
My head tilts, and my heartbeat picks up.
I forgot all about the doctor going MIA. I wondered if he might have had something to do with it, but bigger things came up, and it slipped my mind.
“Thank you for that too.” I hope the sincerity comes through in my tone.
I would have worried a lot less if he could have warned me that it was coming, but I’m sure my reaction with my father was more authentic because I had no forewarning.
“One of Grigoryan’s stash houses burned down yesterday evening.” Moretti keeps my gaze as he speaks, and his eyes sparkle, like he’s really enjoying whatever he’s going to say next. “Well, technically it was a building, but either way, it’s gone.”
I gasp, leaning toward him. “That’s why he didn’t show up last night?”
“Indeed,” he says. “He needed to speak to the police, and I’m sure he’ll be tied up for at least a day or two with the fire investigators. However, once things settle down, he will be on the warpath. You’re safe here, but it’s important that you listen to Hawk and never leave the house without a team.”
My pride prickles, and I almost snap that I’m not stupid.
Only, I was kidnapped by the Jacksonville Demons because I purposely went out without my security team.
I roll my shoulders back, pasting on a plastic smile. “I get it.”
“Patrick O’Connor stopped by with Charlotte earlier,” Moretti says out of nowhere. “Perhaps they wanted to verify that we haven’t snapped and killed one another. I have no idea. It was an unexpected visit.”
My forehead wrinkles.
That’s kinda random.
I didn’t think they’d give me another thought now that they know I’m not stuck with Grigoryan. It was probably Charlotte who spearheaded that campaign, because I know Patrick and his brothers were happy to wash their hands of me.
