Gigi and I both shook our heads.
“Has he been sleeping?”
I shrugged. How would I know?
“Jax said not really.” Gigi twisted a curl around her index finger.
“You need an emergency plan, you know that, right?” Chessie asked.
“Mira and I kind of came up with one. We have a blanket that suppresses power. We were thinking one of us could throw it on him so I could ’port him somewhere.”
“Where? You’d have to have a destination in a thirty-mile radius, right? Isn’t that your range? What if you’re in Times Square? You going to drop the two of you in the bay?”
“Or Rome could knock him out,” I offered, only half joking.
“That might be the better option,” Chessie muttered. “If Kerry’s erupting, he won’t be happy with you ambushing him with a blanket and teleporting him. He might hurt you, and you wouldn’t have anyone nearby to help.”
“I’d drop him off and go back for Jax. So long as Kerry doesn’t have his shield up, Jax can hold him.”
Poor Gigi’s face was so earnest, I didn’t want to disillusion her, but Chessie was right. Kerrywouldhurt her. When he calmed down, he’d regret it, and Jax would never forgive him, but Gigi would still be hurt.
Or worse.
“I’ll talk to Rome,” I promised. “He’s full of good ideas when it comes to strategy and stuff. Does he know about the blanket?”
“I don’t know.” Gigi turned wide blue eyes to me. “Kerry found it in the field after the ambush. Things were chaotic, and I don’t remember much. Rome was unconscious when I ’ported back with Travis, but he woke up at some point. I remember him walking to the motel, anyway.”
“Well, I’ll make him aware that you have it.” I smiled at both of them. “Most likely, we’re worrying about nothing. I bet he already has a plan.”
#
Rome
When the ladies came back to the living room, Gigi introduced us to the new girl. Well, tried to.
“So, guys, this is Chessie. Chessie, this is Rome.” Gigi waved her hand at me. “He’s a warrior, which I think is rather obvious.”
I stayed seated so my size didn’t intimidate her.
“Hello,” I offered.
Instant wall. I could almostseeit. She gave me a tiny nod and moved a half step closer to Mira.
I get that sort of response from about half the people I meet, so I’m used to it and let it roll off me.
When she reacted the same way to Chance, though, I paid more attention.
“And this is Chance.” Gigi pointed to him. “He’s the one you’ll be working with. He’s a healer.”
“Nice to meet you.” Chance smiled.
And Chessie disappeared behind Mira.
My eyebrows flew up.
I’d been best friends with Chance since ninth grade and, let me tell you, everywhere we went, girls tripped over themselves trying to get him to notice them. How odd that this one would hide from him.
Maybe she was a haughty princess who thought no one was worthy of her. Or maybe she was a quiet mouse with a crippling degree of shyness.
