Dodge
Dodge grew more agitated the more Smith shared with Persephone. Dodge didn’t want her to know about all the shitty things that went on in the city. It wasn’t something for her to worry about.Hewould deal with it all so she didn’t have to see the ugliness and hate and violence that had made up such a large part of his life.
Although every time his thoughts strayed towardwhyhe would be the one to protect her, Dodge crammed the feelings down and tried to revise his instincts. Someone else in the pack could protect her. It was up to the pack. She wasn’t Dodge’s sole responsibility.
Even if his wolf seriously disagreed.
Dodge hadn’t expected Smith to share quite so much about the fae and witches and other supernatural creatures running around the city, nor for him to ask Persephone’s assistance in tending to some kind of forest that Smith went riding through on occasion. Something about the way he described the forest and riding through it raised the hairs on the back of Dodge’s neck, and his wolf growled in warning. The old man glanced at him more than once and finally seemed to get the message, though Persephone remained rapt and leaning forward in her chair.
Smith smiled placidly and folded his hands on his middle. “But I’ve taken too much of your time. We can perhaps discuss a commission and specialty input to my habitat at a later date.”
“Of course,” the architect said. She still looked mesmerized, gazing at Smith as though he was the center of the fucking universe.
Dodge’s eyes narrowed. He knew the old man was some kind of weirdo magical fae and could do things that even overpowered Deirdre, but he’d never imagined Smith would deliberately dazzle a human into obeying him. The wolf tensed, ready to set some boundaries, and Dodge sat forward. “We have to go to lunch.”
Smith got to his feet, perfectly pleasant, and came around the desk to offer Persephone a hand up. “Of course, I wouldn’t want you to be late. Give my best to Deirdre and Miles.”
Dodge retrieved Persephone’s hand from the old man, giving him a hard look. “I’ll let Evershaw know you’re interested in the outcome with Bridger. You’ll reach out to the detective and figure out when she can take the girl’s statement. Thanks for your help.”
Persephone gave him a sideways look, since there was nothing in Dodge’s tone that even hinted at him being grateful.
Dodge clenched his jaw and struggled to control the wolf. It wasn’t entirely Smith’s fault. The guy wanted to help, to some extent, but he was always in it for his own benefit. He hadn’t survived as long as he had – which, according to Deirdre, was a long fucking time – by being soft-hearted and generous. Dodge took a deep breath and tried again. “I appreciate your assistance.”
“Of course,” Smith said. He showed them to the door. As Persephone stepped into the hall and eyed one of the super fancy conference rooms with giant computer screens that seemed to float on the walls, Smith cleared his throat and fixed Dodge with an enigmatic look. “You’ve spent most of your life fighting, have you not, Mr. Dodge?”
Dodge tensed. “Yes.”
Smith nodded, dark eyes flashing silver with elongated pupils for just a heartbeat – so fast, Dodge doubted he’d even seen it. The old man lowered his voice. “Have you stopped to consider when you should stop fighting? That there are things that may be... frightening but are worth embracing, despite that they may threaten to upend our lives?”
Dodge didn’t move, though his heart beat faster against his ribs. What the fuck was the old man talking about? “I don’t follow.”
“Hmm.” Smith’s gaze deliberately went to Persephone wandering through the conference room, absently touching the sleek table and examining a 3D model hologram type thing that rotated above it. The old man cleared his throat but didn’t speak any louder. “Young man, there is a time when you must accept that the world has changed. It has happened to me many times. I still struggle against it, and occasionally back-slide into the old ways. Just because your life has been a certain way up to now does not mean it will always be that way. Be open to change, Mr. Dodge.”
The wolf didn’t like it. Not a bit. Dodge held himself stiffly and kept his attention on Persephone. She looked like she belonged in a fancy high-rise building with all the high-powered people in suits, even if her clothes were more appropriate for running around an animal sanctuary. Dodge didn’t look at Smith. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Of course. My mistake.” Smith kept on smiling, a hint of narrow sharp teeth peeking out, before returning to his office.
Dodge growled, louder than he intended, and Persephone looked back at him with wide eyes. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head and gestured toward the reception area. “We gotta go.”
“This is a very... interesting place,” she said under her breath, nodding to Smith as they passed the office. She waved to the still-beaming receptionist, and frowned as they got into the elevator. “I’m still not really sure what he does? I mean, he said he’s a private investigator, but...”
“It’s a mystery,” Dodge said under his breath. He tensed as the elevator descended and they grew closer to having to go outside. Bridger’s goons no doubt waited to see what Persephone would do next. He held the wolf back with a bare thread of control, agitated by the way Smith had watched her and talked about his weird ass mystical forest. “We’re going to the restaurant, but you have to remember Bridger’s people are following us. Act like this is any other client lunch meeting. I’m your assistant, I’ll drive you there.”
“Hmm, so it would be unprofessional for me to grab your ass, right?” She blinked at him with a completely blank expression.
It threw him off balance for far too long. His brain still clicked through all the awful things that could happen the moment they stepped outside, and for her to make a joke... Dodge shook himself as the elevator door opened, glancing into the lobby for threats, then led the way out of the building. He was still figuring out what to say, since most of his attention went into “bodyguard mode,” when she sighed.
“I was joking. It was a joke. So you wouldn’t be so damn awkward.”
“Awkward?” He frowned as he glanced over at her. “What do you mean?”
Persephone snorted and ducked into the car before he could open the door for her. “Since last night when you lost your nerve. Figured your feelings could use a little shoring up.”
Dodge scanned the street for threats while trying to be subtle, tracking the four bruisers from before as well as three of their new friends lurking in an alley a block down. He only half-heard what Persephone said. “Lost my nerve?”
She didn’t respond as he started the car and pulled out, headed for the restaurant. When Dodge looked over at her, Persephone stared out the window and faced away. He frowned more, trying to sense her mood and still navigate the city without crashing into other cars. “What are you talking about?”
