“Can we go through some more options?” I asked awkwardly. “In case breathing doesn’t work all the time.”
“Definitely.”
She launched into a simple explanation of common techniques people used, and I listened intently.
With Benjamin in my head, I would never have the peace I had before, but if I worked on it, I could have something close. Something tolerable. Something that would keep me going if I had to step out on my own, away from my supportive pack.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
TALIA
“Welcome home, Miss Talia.”
The cul-de-sac in front of our mansion appeared just as James spoke. I was snuggled in the middle of the back bench seat, so I had a clear view out the front window of the town car.
Conrad, who’d drawn the short straw to take the front seat, was the first of my mates to react. “Holy shit. This place is a fucking mansion.”
“Did you think the Alfieris lived in a single story rancher?” West asked dryly.
He was peering out the side window with a hint of awe in his expression. I pushed my thigh against his, and he rested his hand on my leg without hesitation.
Mercer looked impressed by the estate, but had managed to keep his cool the best out of the three of them. “Place is well-guarded, too. Didn’t expect to be asked to get out of the car by the gate.”
I grinned. They’d all been checked over when we arrived, same as Benjamin had been back when we’d been dating.Unlike my scent match, all three of them had complied without complaint.
Yet another green flag to contrast the red flags I’d missed in Benjamin.
“She’s safe here,” West agreed. “Lots of security. I’m a little worried about how big the property is, though. There’s no way they can patrol it all often enough.”
“Yeah,” Mercer mused. “But anyone who sneaks in is going to be caught way before they reach the house.”
James laughed, getting out of the car and opening the back door for us. “If you’re interested in the patrol schedule, you’ll have to talk to Mr. Penn. He created a grid system for maximum security coverage that was checked over and implemented by Mr. Nico.”
Mercer slid out first and offered me a hand. The entryway looming ahead while my sneaker-clad feet landed on the concrete immediately brought me comfort. I couldn’t wait to get inside. The Residence had been detached from reality, an ideal place to sort through what happened to me.
Being home was a step toward normalcy, as intimidating as that was.
“I doubt he’ll share confidential security details with me.” Mercer pulled me to his side with a sigh. “We’ll have to trust there aren’t any flaws. Have there been issues with security before?”
These overprotective men.
I rolled my eyes. “Not since I was a child. When Lavinia and Odetta first revealed as omegas and people heard about it, there were some attempts to get near them. None successful. Mira and I never had any trouble like that when we revealed.”
By then, every criminal in Banfield knew that messing with the Alfieri daughters had dire consequences. No one else had dared.
Until Benjamin, anyway.
“Good. James, have you heard of any incidents?”
James and I exchanged a look as Mercer pressed him for information. “The only security incidents in recent years were ones caused by Miss Odetta, Miss Mira, or Miss Emilia.”
Mainly Odetta, with a side of Mira and a sprinkle of Emilia’s rebellious phase.
Everyone else had gotten out of the car by now. Conrad had his head tilted back, staring up at the roof of the house. West stood in a wide stance, glaring around as if one of the bodyguards was going to come up and try to stab me right here in the driveway.
“Can you give me details?—”
