Page 66

As I'm walking back down the hall, a happy squeal and a thump sound from the living room. And just like that, true happiness seeps deep into my heart and floods my veins. Her happy is my happy now. When I round the corner, Mac goes from smiling at the two rolling on the floor to scowling at me.

"Three days?" he asks. "You said three days. Where is she going in three days?"

This probably makes me a terrible person, but a bit of my own happiness sinks in at the distance between him and Pops.

I point to where she's rolling on the floor. "She tried to bolt. Said she needed to get out of here for my sake. I bargained with her, and we agreed on three days. Actually, four nights and three days, starting tomorrow, before she can run."

"Why did she run?"

"Hell if I know. Again, I had ten fucking minutes," I nearly yell. In an attempt to calm my rising temper, I turn toward the kitchen and run a hand over my hair.

"What did you do to her?" he accuses.

A snarl pulls at my lips, the stomp of my boots echoing as I move toward him, ready for bloodshed at what he's insinuating. "I didn't do a fucking thing to her, you asshole. She's scared. Can't you see that?" I shout and point to the ball of blonde hair and gray fur blended into one. "And after what all she's been through, I think it's warranted, don't you? You have no idea what it was like over there, what she had to do to survive—"

"Neither do you. She's been missing—"

"I know how fucking long she's been missing, you fucking asshole. I know every damn second she's been gone since I woke up in that motherfucking hospital, so don't you accuse me of a damn thing." My nostrils flare as we stare each other down. He's a big-ass dude, unlike the Matt guy. I can take him, but it won’t be easy.

A warning growl breaks our stare. I glance down and find her back against the chair, legs tucked against her chest and head buried. Dobby stands guard, ready to protect the best friend he just got back.

"Fuck," I mutter. Dobby hesitates as I approach but moves aside with one good scratch behind his ear.

I carefully pull the hands suctioned to her ears down. "Sorry, Poppy. We just....” I glare up to the idiot, then back to her. “We both care about you and you being here, it's... we're both on edge, okay? It's fine. You're safe, and me and the big guy here are good. Look." Pushing from the floor, I grab Mac by the shoulders and pull him in for a tight hug. His arms stay limp at his side, his groan of annoyance sending the corners of her lips twitching up.

After a second, he shoves out of my hold. "He's right, Fate. The past five months... it's surreal seeing you sitting here, and I'm just... sorry. Nash and I are good. He came to me a month after you disappeared, and we've been working together to find you ever since."

"You and him." She nods toward me. "What, were you the brains and him the entertainment?"

"Ah, there's the Poppy I know and miss," I say with a smile, which widens at her smirk.

"Where's my stuff?" she asks again, still holding our stare.

"Ah, yeah that." I drag a hand over my hair and stare at my shoes. "A guy with the company I work for found out your landlord planned on selling all your stuff to pay for back rent, so I kind of—"

"He broke in and stole it all," Mac says for me with a very obvious glare. Goody-Two-shoes, that one. "He said it was safe but wouldn't tell me where he put it."

"It's here," I say with a shrug. "It was safe and is safe. So yeah, I kind of broke in and stole your stuff. Which, by the way, was really easy to do. You should up the security on the next place and don't use your birthday as your code. Seriously, you're a hacker. Isn't that like rule one?"

Those blue eyes never leave mine as her smirk turns to a wide smile. "Most people breaking in wouldn't know my birthday."

"Yeah, criminals aren't that smart nowadays. No time for research, I guess. Too busy doing bad things."

"Bad things?"

"Being a hood rat?"

"Nope."

Damn, I love her true smile.

"Getting chased by the Po Po?" I say to keep that smile from ever fading.

"Try again," she says with a giggle.

And I'm a goner. A smile and a giggle and I'm lost on this spunky fighter who has no idea the control she has over my every move and thought.

"I know, they’re being solid citizens... except when they're not."