Reno patted her on the back. “Let’s go.”
Skye descended the steps and then put Lola down. “I can’t thank you enough. I’ll never know how you did this—how you found me.”
I reached out and held her tight. “This is a chance for the new life you’ve always wanted. You go out and grab the world by the balls.”
Skye laughed. “Still the same old Naya.”
“Maybe someday you can call me up, if they allow it. Take care of that baby.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Lola is my world.”
I kissed her cheek. “Make sure Reno stops off somewhere and gets you some food. You need some meat on those bones.”
She snorted. “You’ve been telling me that since the day we met.”
“Don’t worry,” Reno interrupted. “I got food covered. Time to go.”
I knelt down quickly and stroked the brown curls on Lola’s head. “Hey there, pretty girl. You make sure you take good care of your mama, okay?”
She giggled. “You got big boobies!”
Wheeler laughed so hard he let out a snort. I scorched him with my gaze, since it was his fault I was running around in just a bra to begin with.
“That’s right, sweetie. And if you keep eating every bite of food on your plate, then someday you will too!”
She giggled and I smiled at Skye. “If I can’t put meat on your bones, then Lola is taken care of,” I said, swinging my hips as I walked up the steps.
I passed Denver and headed toward my room. Time for Naya to make her great escape before the bomb drops. Packs could be volatile in the clubs; I could only imagine what they were like at home during an argument.
I flipped on the light to my room and put on a button-up blouse. After packing my bag, I turned to head out.
“Going somewhere?” Austin asked. He leaned against the far door at the opposite end of the hall, asserting every ounce of male dominance he possessed.
Without breaking stride, I walked toward him with my chin up. “I’m a grown woman, Austin Cole. And I’m not one of your pack, so don’t even consider reprimanding me,” I said in a singsong voice.
He leaned hard on that right arm of his and blocked my exit. “Naya, I’m asking you as sweet as pie to get your ass upstairs and wait for me in the game room.”
“And I’m asking with a cherry on top to get out of my way before I do something we’ll both regret.”
His brows knitted together. “Who gave you a black eye?”
“What exactly did Reno tell you?” I put my hand on my hip and lifted my chin.
“That you all raided Delgado’s home, rescued two prisoners, and tore up his yard.” Austin reached out and took my bag. “What do you think Wheeler will say?”
Good question. Why argue and make myself look foolish? The only thing Wheeler could confirm was that I almost engaged in a threesome.
Austin stepped aside. “Go on upstairs. I don’t think after tonight you’re going to feel too safe walking home alone. I have a pissed-off criminal tycoon to deal with now.”
“He’s only a human.”
Austin moved aside and let me walk past him. “Maybe so, but you just opened the lid to a basketful of vipers. Just because one of them is a garden snake doesn’t mean I’m letting down my guard. Delgado has connections, not to mention Breed employees who do his bidding. Wheeler!” he shouted. “Come to my office.”
Austin took my bag with him, and I exchanged a quiet look with Wheeler when I passed him. I ascended the stairs, careful not to wake the sleeping children. When I walked by an open door, curiosity got the best of me.
Trevor was sitting at a cheap desk with tiny plastic pieces scattered in front of him in organized sections.
“You’re up late,” I remarked.
“Sometimes I have trouble sleeping,” he said without raising his head.
I inched into the room and looked around. Model airplanes hung from the ceiling and decorated wooden shelves on every row.
“Is this a hobby or should we have an intervention?”
Trevor moved aside a magnifying glass that was attached to his desk. It swiveled and he angled it away. After rubbing his eyes, he turned around to face me and stretched his legs out. “It helps me.”
I lifted a plane and looked at it. “With what?”
He folded his arms and yawned. “It’s therapeutic, I guess. I used to be in the closet with my wolf. Building airplanes started when someone gave me one as a gift, but it helped me with maintaining control over my wolf. Now that I’m in a pack, I shift when I want. But I can’t seem to stop building planes,” he said with a short laugh. “Fucking crazy.”
“Maybe you should give some of these to an orphanage before you become a clutterbug.”
His chair squeaked as he moved it left and right, looking about the room. “Never thought of that.”
“Mind if I sit?” I asked, motioning toward the wooden chair behind me. Trevor nodded and I took a seat. “Austin is coming up at any moment to beat his chest and display his male dominance.”