The stranger raised one hand. Her other arm was in a sling. “I’m unarmed.”
Reese’s heartbeat fell to his ankles.
“All of you stay here.” Seung stepped off the porch. She paused beside Nash and spoke, but it was too low for Reese to hear.
Luca leaned closer. “Is that the military woman you talked about?”
“I don’t think she’s military.” Reese shook his head. “No, no, I know she’s not military.”
“Then who is she with?”
Reese stifled a laugh. “That information isabove my paygrade.”
Luca furrowed his brow.
Seung directed Phillips to walk in front. She still had one hand raised when Seung returned to the porch.
“What do you want?” Johnathan met her on the bottom step.
She looked at each of them. “If you’ll give me a few minutes, I’ll explain.”
“You mean distract us until more of you show up.” The seams along Johnathan’s shoulders threatened to pop.
“Seeing how I killed three fellow Wardens and the first seat Senator, if the Wardens show up, I’m more of a target than you are.”
Seung and Johnathan exchanged confused expressions.
“Why would you kill your own people?” Seung said.
“My duty is to protect human life.” Her gaze met Reese’s, and something like an apology shadowed her eyes. “I take that job very seriously. And right now, there are members of the Senate who are a threat to all I stand for. And they plan on framing the Mah for the death toll they’re going to rack up.”
* * *
“We’ll talk about this inside.” Johnathan jerked his chin at Dalton. “Go get a couple of zip ties.”
“Is that necessary?” Dr. Dante squeezed from between two betas.
Johnathan couldn’t stop himself from leaning to the right, making a wall between Dr. Dante and Phillips. “Yeah, it’s necessary.”
“She’s unarmed. And she’s wearing a sling.”
“She’s a Warden. They don’t have to have a weapon to be deadly.” Even with only one good arm, Johnathan knew better than to let down his guard.
“And you’re not?” The challenge in Dr. Dante’s tone stirred Johnathan’s insides.
His teeth sharpened, but not because of Phillips.
Dalton returned with long plastic ribbons in hand.
“Tie her hands behind her back.” Johnathan held Dr. Dante’s gaze when he said it. The flare of anger in his expression almost dragged a purr from Johnathan’s chest.
“No.” Dr. Dante stood taller. Not that he needed to. At the edge of the porch, he had over a foot on Johnathan, giving an illusion of dominance.
The promise of a fight.
Johnathan’s cock threatened to harden.
“She goes in restrained or she doesn’t go in at all.” He left no doubt in his voice what he meant. Johnathan would cut Phillips’ throat before he put her anywhere in range to damage the people he was entrusted to watch over.