Because I knew what being alone was like.
“Okay.” Locke sighed. “I trust you, Grim. Please call me if it gets to be too much, and I can take her to Delilah’s.”
The apartments were a few blocks from the bar. It was basically a large dormitory with human employees, more of those we’d saved who had nowhere else to go.
The humans were grateful and had been honest in their work. With Switch’s background checks and their oath of secrecy about what happened in the club, they’d made our lives a bit more bearable.
They were still blissfully unaware of what we all were, though. And it would have to remain that way to keep them safe.
Journey would be okay to live among the humans. It was fully guarded by cameras and other security measures, but I didn’t like the idea of her being far from me.
If she went to that apartment building, I would end up climbing the fire escape to make sure she was sleeping. And I was fucking tired; I didn’t need the extra work.
If she came home with me, I’d rest easier and keep my damn wolf in check. Yeah, that was it. Keeping her close to me would be better…for my wolf.
Locke was still talking, but it all sounded like whiny pussy whispers compared to the growls I heard inside my head. I stepped over to Journey and grabbed her arm and began leading her down the street.
“W-wait.” She tried to pull back, but I continued to walk.
Locke laughed in the background and slapped someone on the back.
“Where am I going?” she yelled and tried to pull away from me. My wolf, dissatisfied with her reluctance, turned her around and threw her over our shoulder. She squealed.
Sizzle shook his head as he ran beside us and slapped me on the arm. “Dude, man, you can’t do this.” He looked around, waiting for one of the brothers to come out and argue.
Journey continued to wiggle, but her screams stopped when we reached the back side of the tattoo shop.
Fumbling with the keys, I set her down. Her face was red, and her hair was tousled from hanging over my shoulder. She grunted, pushing her hair away, and gave me a scowl. No one had scowled at me before, but hers was fucking adorable—an angry little kitten with claws.
“You can’t do that, and why am I here? I thought I was going to stay with some other women,” she asked worriedly. Her fierceness died, and the scared undertone in her voice caused my wolf to pace.
She shouldn’t be scared, not with us.
But what do I expect after throwing her over my shoulder?
“You’ll be safer here,” Sizzle said off-handedly. “Think about it. You were the last one alive from that warehouse, and there were cameras. They are going to know you’re still alive. Setting you up with a bunch of women is going to put them in danger, too.”
Fuck, I didn’t think about that.
“So Grim and I, I’m Sizzle by the way.” He winked. “Are gonna watch you until we can ask you more questions tomorrow.” Sizzle pushed the heavy metal door in. It groaned as she looked into the darkness. Biting her lip, she stood behind me. She at least considered me as a shield despite the fear radiating from her.
Once we climbed the worn, wooden stairs up to the apartments, Sizzle unlocked his door. “Well, night. Let me know if you need anything.”
Journey’s eyes widened. “Wait! Where do I stay?” I pulled on her arm and led her to my door, pushing it open with my shoulder.
“Oh, um.” She stumbled until I trapped her with my arms. Those caramel eyes caught mine again, and we stood holding each other until Sizzle screamed out profanities as he cursed his toe for finding the corner of a table.
Journey jumped, breaking the eye contact I was enjoying far too much. I wanted to fucking kill Sizzle right now, but since he’d vouched for me to get Journey over here, I owed him. I hated owing people.
“Well.” She pulled at the hem of the black shirt. She jumped as someone pounded on the door, falling back into my arms.
Maybe it wasn’t so bad she was jumpy.
Fuck, what am I doing?
“It’s Hawke. Brought the clothes.” I heard the thump when he dropped a bag on the other side of the door and his footsteps retreated. He was probably pissed he couldn’t hang out with his girl. Fuck him then.
Opening the door, I picked up the bag and locked the door promptly. Journey had stepped further into the empty studio apartment to look around. It wasn’t much, a couch, a bed, a place to eat, and one bathroom, but it would do. Stripping off my jacket and vest, I stood there with a bare chest, showing the scars and tattoos I used to cover them. Throwing the dirty clothes on the kitchen table, I turned to see Journey’s mouth hanging open.
