“Because, Trouble, I love you.” I huggedhim tight as he pressed even closer. “I’ve loved you since the first time youknelt for me and looked up at me with that tender, open expression that saidyou were giving me everything you had.”
How could I not love him?
“I love you too.” Austin hugged me eventighter and pressed his face into my neck. “You saw me from the very beginningand that was always enough for you. You never made me feel like I had to beanyone else to matter to you.”
“You are perfect, Austin Johnson. I don’twant you to ever change.” I kissed his head and chuckled as he started nibblingon my neck. “I will always want to be the alpha following the crazy trail ofchaos you leave in your wake and to be the one to wrap you in my arms at theend of the day to keep it all away when you need a break from the insanity.”
His life would never be simple or boring,but that was never what I’d wanted.
“I love you, Master.” Austin pulled backenough to kiss me gently. “I want to take you inside and show you exactly howmuch I love you, but we have a war council to attend.”
And my crazy nut was back.
“I’m sure you can make it up to me later.”I gave him a wicked smile. “I also gave you a sexy driver to flirt with too, soI expect a big thank you.”
He grinned and gave me a smacky kiss.“You’re the best Master ever.”
I would always try to do my best to give myboy everything he needed. “Come on, pet. Let’s go figure the problem out.”
I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the lasttime I said something like that. Life with Trouble would never be boring.
Chapter 21
Austin
“I think it’s a good start. What do youthink?” Looking around the room, I saw a mix of grins and shrugs. “Soenthusiastic.”
“I’m just not sure I like Bertie’sresponse. It was basically the cop version of ‘trust me.’” Bradley looked downat the coffee table where my phone was lying and shrugged. “I still think weshould get a lawyer involved.”
I couldn’t decide how I was feeling aboutthat. “Even if he wasn’t specific about how he was going to get to the bottomof it, he sounded genuinely frustrated.” I shifted to look at Silas who wassitting beside me. “What do you think? You’ve got a say in this too because itwas you they were going to arrest.”
“Their arrests never stick.” Silas wasstill taking this all a lot better than I’d have expected. “They hauled me in somany times for being belligerent during these stupid stings that the judge whohandles those cases told them not to arrest me again unless I’d actually donesomething illegal.”
Bradley started to snicker. “I play pokerwith her once a month. She’s hilarious.”
Silas grinned. “She laid into them the lasttime because all I’d done was call one of the cops a moron when they barged infollowing someone they thought was an omega.”
“If we make a stink about that, it couldcost some jobs.” I looked around the room and grinned. “Evidently, thegovernor’s brother-in-law is a very small alpha and gets hassled about it.Well…and this is just hearsay…he was supposedly visiting some kind ofestablishment where omegas weren’t allowed. I’m not going to guess what thatwas, but let’s just say the governor wasn’t happy about it.”
Giggles and low chuckles echoed around theroom. Dakota was still making notes, but he glanced up, smiling faintly. “We’regoing to need to figure out what you’re going to say about that photo when yougo on TV.”
Silas stiffened, so I scooted closer andcrawled on his lap so he had to hold me tight. Leaning my head into hisshoulder, I stroked his chest softly. “The truth would make Bertie mad, but itwould be so funny.”
Tanner rolled his eyes. “I’m not surethrowing Bertie under the bus for better TV ratings is a good idea.”
I shrugged. “He should have kept a tighterleash on his men.”
Bertie had started apologizing as soon asthe phone had connected. He’d said that one of his men had just brought him thepictures, and from what he’d been able to find out it was from asshole’s bodycamera but asshole was claiming to be framed.
Moron.
No one was believing that, but Bertie saidhe hadn’t figured out which tech geek had dug out the photos since there wassupposed to be a clear chain of command with them. He was trying to keep it frombecoming a national headline, but I wasn’t sure that could be avoided.
“I say he has a day or two to figureeverything out, but after that, I just go with as much of the truth as I canwhen we talk to Maggie.” Silas stiffened again, so I went back to rubbing hischest. I knew no one else would be able to see how nervous the TV stuff madehim, but I didn’t like it.
“You’re sure you can get her to do theinterview this week?” Tanner seemed to be checking his schedule on his phone.“There’s a lot going on in the world right now and I’m pretty sure they have—”
Dakota snorted, breaking in as he leanedback in his chair, rolling his eyes. “Please. I’m sure his PR guy gets a dozendifferent interview opportunities a week. We’re just going right to the top. Ican guarantee they’ll all orgasm when they realize we want to give her thescoop.”
