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The other officer snaps photos of the damage, but his movements are perfunctory, as if he’s already made up his mind.

“Sure, we can file a report, but this sounds like it might’ve been more…driver error than a chase.”

Swallowing his irritation, Jay tries to keep his tone even. “Thank you, officers. I’ll just make sure my family is okay first, if that’s alright?”

The taller officer snorts. “Yeah, yeah, take your time. Doesn’t change what’s on the record.”

Jay pulls Nix close, letting the frantic thrum of Nix’s heart and the solid weight of their babies pressed against his belly anchor him, calming the frustration threatening to bubble over. He doesn’t have time for their crap. Protecting his mate and family comes first.

“Are you okay? I told them to dump the SUV at the mall, back the way we came. Phones off and in lockdown mode. Hang tight in the lobby with Rowan and Luca.”

He kisses Luca’s forehead and clasps Rowan’s shoulder. “You got this, alpha?”

Rowan lifts his head in surprise and straightens his back, throwing his well-built shoulders back with a nod.

“Good.”

“Jamie. We’ll be fine. Go.”

An hour later, and after Jay has told the story in triplicate, Nix has thoroughly charmed the front desk staff, including human Officer Ted. The tall, lanky police officer can’t keep his eyes off their omega, and who could blame him.

He approaches the chest-high desk, where Nix is leaning attentively, and he overhears Officer Ted saying, “I’d be glad to drop you at the Residence Inn until you can get a new vehicle settled, Nix. It’s not fancy, but you and your brothers should be fine there for a night or two. It’s even close to the station, should you need me…er…the police.”

Brothers?Yikes.

It makes Luca laugh, too, given what he’d done to his “brother” last night. Both of them.

“Thank you, Officer Ted. My brothers are exhausted from our flight. They need a bed as soon as possible.”

Nix smiles that sunshine smile and makes his eyes impossibly big.

Poor guy’s mouth drops open—there might even be drool.

Ted finally drops them off with a sad smile and a business card pressed into Nix’s hand, at a motel three streets over. They’d left the SUV in the police impound for safekeeping in case they located the white van, but Jay is certain it’s been dumped already.

The lobby of the motel is silent, but the human front desk attendant’s eyes go wide when he sees Jay and then Luca. He glances at Rowan and then double-takes when he sees Nix.

“Uh…whoa. You’re…”

“Hello…Alex. We need a room for two nights,” Jay says, reading the young man’s name tag.

“Here?” Alex asks.

Nix laughs. “Of course, silly.”

“But…you’re… LRH and… friends,” he leans in to whisper.

It’s always nice to see fans in the wild, but that could make this harder or easier, depending on how this next bit goes.

“Nice to meet you, Alex. We need your help,” Luca says with his sweetest fan-style smile. “We were visiting some family here, and some really enthusiastic fans saw us at our rental and, well, we had to escape and hide out here. You won’t let on that we’re here, will you? I was so scared.”

Visiting family?Oh, Luca.

Nix pops his hand under his chin, watching as Luca dons his “outside world” persona like armor dipped in glitter—irresistible and calculated.

Alex is riveted, too, which is convenient. “Of-f-f course. Sure. Uh…a suite then? There are four of you?” he stammers, cheeks a bright pink.

No need to mention they’re eight—why invite questions?