Her eyes drifted around the lobby, her lips grimacing. “Sorry about the mess,” she said, waving a hand at the blood spatters on the floor. “Judge’s people will clean it up after they deal with Gwen.”
“Um, how exactly are they going to deal with her?” Not that I really cared what they did to her, but I didn’t want to have the cops suddenly show up at my door asking awkward questions if Gwen’s body washed up in some river.
Her lips twitched for a second before she shook her head. “Sweet, innocent little Mia. Don’t worry. They just took her to the hospital and will cover the bill.”
“Aren’t you worried she will call the cops?”
“Nope.”
“But—”
“Mia,” she said with a heavy exhale. “There is a reason my brother’s cage name is Judge. Just take it at that and let this go. Gwen won’t ever show her face around here again. Because if she does, I’ll fucking kill her.”
I couldn’t help shivering, because I believed her. If Gwen were smart, she would pack up and leave.
Howler came out of the classroom down the hall with Josie in his arms, her sleeping head on his shoulder. As he walked up to me, his free arm shot out, and he pulled me against him in a tight hug.
“Thank you,” he said gruffly.
A growl-like noise came from directly behind me, and I knew without looking it was Barrick. Howler dropped his arm, and I stepped back, my concerned eyes on Josie. “How is she?”
“She’s scared. Thought I would be mad at her. Like any of this is her fault.” Shaking his head in disgust, he readjusted his daughter so she was more comfortable. “Out of everyone in this shitshow, she’s the only innocent one.”
“Truth,” Lyla muttered half under her breath.
“We will drop your things off to you,” Barrick told his cousin, grasping my hand.
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll make sure this place is locked up and taken care of.”
“You need any help?” Braxton asked her, but she shook her head.
“Thanks. I’ll call you.” She hugged him, then me. “I probably won’t go with you to New York Friday night. I’m sorry.”
“No, no. It’s fine. I completely understand. Josie is much more important.” I hugged her tightly then let Barrick pull me out the door.
“You’re not going to New York alone,” my boyfriend informed me as he opened the passenger-side door for me.
“Don’t start,” I told him as I got in.
His possessive alpha-ness was sexy most of the time. It made me feel like maybe he cared more than either of us had said yet. But sometimes it got out of hand and he started bossing me around like he had the right. Or worse, like he was my dad. And that was when we argued.
“I mean it, Mia.” He stood there with the door open, his eyes narrowed on me.
“So just come with me,” I said exasperatedly. It’s not like I wanted to go without him anyway.
When we were apart, even for a few hours, I felt off. I craved him beside me, which scared the hell out of me. I didn’t want to feel like that with anyone. It gave them too much power over me, and I wanted to be the only one who wielded it.
Yet, at the same time, I liked it. Maybe even loved it.
Just like I was sure I was in love with him.
“I can’t,” he muttered. Jaw clenching, he glared off into the night.
“You don’t have a fight, so what’s the problem?” I asked, miffed. I knew he had plans for Friday night, because I’d asked him to come with me more than once already. But he hadn’t told me what they were.
r /> “I have a meeting,” he said evasively.
“With the CIA?” I snarked, and his lips twitched.