Todd stood and overwhelmed the small office in the mountain compound. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
“Of course.” She leaned over so he could look down her shirt. “We will get rid of all genetic experimentation and test subjects. Life must be pure.”
*
Zara eyed the men happily eating around the living room, all on the floor with their backs to walls, none of them talking. Way too busy chewing.
She’d found paper plates in one cupboard as well as some plastic forks. If Ryker was staying in town, he needed supplies and furniture. They were all well on their way through seconds, and if she didn’t miss her guess, Greg was about to head to the counter for thirds.
“So, Greg. Where are you staying?” she asked, dishing more cheesy eggs onto his plate when he approached.
“Here and there.” He nodded when she pointed to more bacon.
When was the last time the kid had eaten? She dropped a bagel onto his plate as well. “Will you be in town long?”
He shrugged, his gaze on the food. “It’s starting to seem like it, but I’m hoping your man gets me my info soon.”
“I have a spare room at my house,” she murmured.
Ryker’s head snapped up from across the room. “Not a good idea.”
Greg turned to retake his place by the door. “Unfortunately, I agree. It’s better if I stay away.” He slid down, his gaze remaining happily on his eggs. “I’m fine where I am.”
“No.” Zara slipped the spatula back into the eggs. “If Ryker is helping you, then he will find your information, but you can’t just wander around town underage. Where’s your family?”
Greg paused with his plastic fork almost to his mouth. “No parents, and Ryker’s supposed to be finding my brothers.”
Eesh. Another orphan. She knew how he felt, and her heart turned over for him. But the good news was that the kid had family. Hopefully he had one brother over the age of eighteen who could be a guardian and protect him. “Then I insist you stay with me until your brothers are located.” She waited a beat. “Meals come with the extra room.”
Greg shoveled eggs into his mouth and chewed as if he hadn’t eaten in days, temptation in his eyes. He glanced toward Ryker.
Ryker studied him and then gave a short nod. His gaze shifted into something warm. “It’s a nice place to stay, and I’ll be there, too.”
Zara opened her mouth and then shut it.
“But if I discover you’re in any danger, you’re staying here, not at Zara’s place,” Ryker finished.
Greg wiped his hand down his jeans. “Nobody knows about me, so I’m not in danger as long as you don’t screw up the search. If you get found out and they discover I’m, ah, around, then all bets are off. Danger doesn’t come close to describing the situation.”
“We won’t screw up the search.” Heath leaned forward and wiped his mouth on a paper napkin. “But you might need to be more forthcoming with information.”
“You know all you need to know,” Greg mumbled, reaching for his bacon.
What kind of danger stalked the poor kid? Oh, she’d get her answers once she had him safely at her house and eating regularly. There had to be something she could do with her legal background to help Greg. It sucked being without parents in the world.
The wind whistled loudly outside, and Zara gasped as white powder cascaded down outside the window. “It’s snowing.”
Dawn was barely breaking over the horizon, and ice speckled the window.
Greg set his plate down. “Before I decide, how did you get the bruise on your face?” His chest puffed out just enough to show aggression.
Geez. Feed the kid once, and he wanted to protect her. Her heart warmed. “Not from Ryker.”
Greg eyed Ryker. “Didn’t think so.”
“Why not?” Ryker asked softly.
Greg lifted a shoulder. “If you hit her, you’d do a shitload more damage.”
Ryker gave a short nod. “I don’t hurt women.”
“Good to know. Is the guy who hit her still standing?” Greg asked.
“Barely,” Ryker said. “Well, maybe by now he’s standing again.” He shared a manly grin with Greg, who returned to his food.
Zara dropped her plate on the counter. Her arms went weak. “What did you do? Ryker? Seriously. What did you do?”
He glanced up from the lone piece of bacon still on his plate. “I told you I was gonna have a talk with the guy who hit you. We had a talk, and he’ll never do it again. You’re safe.”
Zara shook her head. “He’s a client of the firm,” she hissed. “I can’t have him coming after you.”
“He won’t.” Ryker bit into the bacon with a hum of appreciation. “Trust me.”
Heat prickled along the back of her neck, and she ground her teeth together. “I told you I had it handled.” What if Jay let her firm know she was working with Julie? Or at least that she’d helped Julie? She’d be fired.
“Now it’s really handled,” Ryker said, his tone firm.