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“You’re taking photos of a stuffed animal in a restaurant for your wife?” She asks with a happy sigh. “That’s sweet.”

“Wouldn’t it be sweeter if she were here with you?” The man asks in a cold tone.

“She’s busy,” I tell him grimly. I look at the doors to see that nothing has changed. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad sign.

“Is there a problem?” The woman asks with a sharp glance. My change in tone should have been glossed over. She latches on with suspicion. The way her eyes dart to the closed doors and back to me is oddly protective.

“No.”

“If there’s someone here who’s bothering your wife, I’d like to know,” she eyes me with a stubborn frown.

“She’s dealing with them. I’m back up only.” It makes me want to hurl things across the room. She needs this more than I need to vent my rage on them. She’s strong; she just needs to own it. I’ll be right here waiting, even if she folds. But I’m silently begging her to tag me in. There won’t be a single blonde hair left by the time I’m done with them.

Her eyes narrow on me, flicking from the door Addie disappeared through and back to me again. “Are they in that room?”

Why all the interest? She sounds invested in what’s going on in there. It raises my hackles immediately.

“Is there something you need from me?” I straighten; expression blank as I take them in again.

The big man is looking confused at the table. The rough-cut man seems amused in a mocking way. The woman starts to look nervous as the colder man in the suit takes a subtle step forward. A move to gain my attention. I stare at him instead.

“I’ve been trying to find a way to get in touch with someone from your organization, but information is scarce,” he tells me with narrowed eyes and a haughty demeanor. “I didn’t want to miss this opportunity.”

If he can’t find information, he’s talking about SoT.

“It’s that way for a reason,” I tell him baldly.

He nods, his expression easing into thoughtfulness. He takes me in as if he’s seeing me in new lighting. Something about my response has made him relax with me. Usually, I have the opposite effect on people.

“Would you be willing to discuss a merger of sorts?”

I raise a mocking brow. “A merger?”

What’s this guy thinking? SoT isn’t some business enterprise that a company can join. There’s no money to be gained from it. No marketing. Unless they want to claim a tax write-off for helping people they consider victims, there would be no point.

“Would you like to join us?” He sidesteps to gesture to the table where several people are watching us as if we’re the entertainment for the night.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the door open, and Addie comes out. Her pace is leisurely, but her face is flushed. I can already see a few tears trailing down her cheeks. My stomach drops at the sight.

“No,” I tell him firmly and pick up Racer to meet her halfway. Her hasty attempt to wipe away the proof of her sorrow has my eyes narrowing. I don’t like it when she hides.

The smile that comes when she sees my determined stride makes my heart clench hard. It isn’t the mask smile. This one is a little shaky and relieved.

“Hey, siren.” It’s the only thing I can think to say when we reach each other, and her arms slide around my waist. An open welcome I cherish.

“Hey, yappy,” her smile gets warmer, steadier. “I’m ready to bail out. Did you two have fun?”

“No,” I nod, in a daze over her presence in my life. It’s always this way with her. Every second I’m in her sphere of influence is a balm to my soul. It still shocks me. I hope that feeling lasts forever.

A delicate throat gets cleared behind me. Addie leans to see who it is. She raises a brow, her smile getting what I’ve started to call chaotic. It’s a mixture ofI’m up to no goodandlet’s see what happens. I’m relieved to see it, even if it’s obvious she’s been crying.

“Someone has some explaining to do,” she bats her lashes at me in false innocence. “Why do you have a lovely lady following you,husband?”

I can’t stop the grin that takes over my lips.

“She’s a fan.”

“Of that ass? I agree, but it doesn’t seem right,” she pouts. “Are you into groups now?”