There’s no denying the relief on Nina’s face, but Kennedy frowns at me. “Things still aren’t really settled, Ro…”
“And we’ll deal with them, but not right now. It’ll be a few hours before we can leave the suite, and if Diana’s not ready, I’ll just extend the booking for another night.”
Her frown deepens, since we both know it’s an expense I can’t really afford. But I’d prefer to eat away at my nest egg than put Diana through the trauma of finishing her heat in my trailer.
When we’ve said our goodbyes to Nina and Danny, Kennedy starts cleaning up the kitchen, but I snatch the dishcloth out of her hand. “Jeez, sis. What part oftwo days offdon’t you get? I can wipe down a few benchtops, you know.”
“You’re sure?” She clicks her tongue when I demonstrate on the patch of gleaming counter in front of me. “Not cleanup.Security. Lewis is outside, but someone needs to be in here in case things go sideways.”
I look pointedly at the gun under her jacket. I vaguely remember Dex giving it back to her, but I was too fucked out at the time to care. “I think we’re past shooting Kane, unfortunately.”
“He’s pretty rough around the edges.” Her eyes narrow as she looks me over more closely. “Has he hurt you in any way?”
“No,” I admit, sensing how close she is to losing her legendary cool. She might be my level-headed sister, but she’s also an alpha, and having someone like Kane crash into the suite can’t have been easy. Combined with the tension at home, it wouldn’t surprise if she’s feeling a little trigger-happy. “He’s fine, actually. Hasn’t touched me or Dex, and Diana is floating high on a claiming cloud right now.”
“So they did it? I thought I heard…” She flushes, shaking her head at whatever she gleaned through the bedroom door. “That’s good, I guess. Diana’s devoted to you, which means he’ll protect you like his own. And as hard as it is to admit it, Kane is the best at what he does. Stick close to Diana, and he’ll keep you both safe.”
I nod, since I’m not ready to repeat the pack talk that went on in the nest. Until I know it’s more than just heat hormones at work, I’m keeping an open mind as to what happens next. “No sign of Governor Moore?” I ask, following Kennedy around the suite as she gathers up her things.
“Not since right after he left. Lewis said he spun out in the lobby bar for a while, but when the press approached him, he took off.”
I shake my head, marveling at the willpower it must have taken for Moore to leave a clingy omega in heat. Especially if she’s his scent match, like Kane obviously believes she is. “Sounds like he’s in denial.”
“And a bit of shock, probably.”
I shrug, but turn as Dex walks into the room, looking about as beat up as I feel. “So, you think he didn’t know about the slick trade?”
“I guess we have to wait and see.” Kennedy’s eyes meet mine. “He probably went straight to talk to Luscious.”
“But Diana’s his scent mate.” Dex falls onto a stool, and grabbing the coffee pot, almost inhales a cup. “He has to know that, right? All the criminal shit aside, going back to Lily Luscious must be like… deciding to drink decaf for the rest of your life.” I smile at the coffee analogy, but he’s frowning into his cup, clearly disturbed. “Even if he doesn’t officially mate her, he will always have a claim. And now that Kane’s bonded her, she’s legally theirs, right? I mean, they could take her from us and no court would stop them…”
“You lot gossip worse than a knitting circle,” Kane huffs, sauntering into the room like a sex-mellowed lion. He’s shirtless, all that ridiculous muscle on display, while his grimy jeans hang off an over-developed Adonis belt. If a producer could knock some of the road dust off him, he’d make a fortune in porn, not that I’ll ever admit it to his face. “I can see she’s into you,” he says, reaching over Dex to snag a fistful of bacon. “And I’m done having her choices taken away from her.”
Dex scowls at him over his cup. “And your buddy, the governor? Can you promise he’s not going to come after her?”
Kane scratches his chest as he munches away. “Like you said, Jake’s her scent match. He just needs a kick to the head to accept it and then he’ll do what’s right.”
I exchange a quick glance with Kennedy, who looks understandably concerned. Ambushing and threatening the governor is one thing, but causing him bodily harm would see us all tossed into a jail cell until the end of time. “So, what’s your plan?” she asks him, hands on hips. “Since you’ve claimedDiana, you’ve become responsible for these guys as well, and I’m not leaving them in your care until you prove you’re up to it.”
“Not that I’m looking for an alpha daddy,” I add quickly, just in case Kane gets any ideas.
“Me neither,” Dex grumbles, biting into a piece of toast. “I’mnotinto knots, in case it needs spelling out.”
“I’m crushed,” Kane deadpans, grabbing Dex’s coffee cup and draining it. He ignores the beta’s death glare as he refills it from the pot. “Your skinny little asses are safe from me, but Idohave a hard-on for giving my mate whatever she wants. And if that includes you two, you’re gonna make this work, got it?”
I’m tempted to roll my eyes at his high-handed attitude, but at that moment Diana walks out of the bedroom, freshly showered and so beautiful I can feel my mouth water. Dex looks equally spellbound, while the barbarian in the room just strides right over to her and mauls her mouth. When Kane finally comes up for air, Diana’s cheeks are pink, and she looks adorably flustered as she peeks around him at my sister. “Hi, Kennedy. I just wanted to say thanks for looking after us all. And I’m sorry if we… made a mess.”
“You’re welcome,” my sister says easily, none of her earlier concerns showing on her face. “And congratulations. Your first mating is a big deal.”
Kane shoots her a cocked brow, but Diana is almost bouncing on her toes. “Thanks. I’m really happy to have everyone here.” Like always, she includes all of us in her sweeping smile, the epitome of the inclusive omega. She wouldn’t be the first omega to take off once she mated a powerful alpha, but I don’t think it’s ever even occurred to Diana. In fact, she’s more committed to forming a pack than any alpha I’ve ever met.
“Want some breakfast?” Kennedy asks, gesturing at the stove. “I can cook you whatever you want.”
“I’m happy with this if the guys don’t mind sharing,” she says, kissing my cheek before climbing onto Dex’s lap. As his arms wrap around her, it looks so natural, I can only assume that he’s shared more meals with her than anyone else in her life. “Feed me?” she asks, looking up at him through her lashes. “Just… no more of those nasty granola bars, okay?”
Dex grins at her gentle flirting, his whole demeanor changing as he feeds her some of his eggs. I leave them to their breakfast, nudging Kane’s arm as I follow Kennedy to the door. He gives me a slight sneer but doesn’t argue, and I wait until my sister has left before I turn to him and ask, “Do you think her heat is over, or do we need to book this place for another night?”
He plants his feet, head titled as he considers it. “She’s good to go. If she spikes, I’ve got a place we can bunker down.”
