Page 14 of Anaki

Why was everyone trying to convince me we should go with them?

“Emm is in trouble, obviously. Are you taking us to make her compliant?” Instead of looking at the vampire guy and Nadia, I dared to look at Anaki. The one who was making my stomach flutter in ways it shouldn’t.

I haven't found any man attractive for a long time. Especially after whatLuis’ father had done to me. Men were just... off the table. I have a son and a medical condition that would annoy most men.

Who wanted a broken woman to take care of?

I gritted my teeth and looked away from his handsome face.

Anaki had kind eyes that I could get lost in now that I’ve really seen them. Pretty, cerulean-blue with hints of green around his pupils.

Hewasswoon-worthy. I would remember him in my personal time with myself.

“Emm doesn’t know that we came to take you with us. It is imperative that she doesn’t know, yet. Under direct orders of our president,” Bear said from the other side of the room.

I crossed my arms.I wouldn’t be soft, I wouldn’t be the pushover anymore.

“No.” I ground out. “We are fine here, no matter your intentions. We have been for years. I am not uprooting mi familia, because of Emm and her hunt for one of your members who supposedly has done something. She will make sure they are innocent before she does anything, she doesn’t kill innocent people, she—”

The men in the room barked out a laugh.

Bear shook his head and possessively put his hand on the back of Nadia’s neck. “We aren’t worried about Locke getting killed. It’s you, Emm’s family, that we are worried for. There have been… complications.” Bear’s eyes flicked to Luis, who was stealing cookies someone had placed on the table.

“What sort of complications?” Emm had told me she was being stalked and wouldn't be able to call for a few days. She called a few days later and told me she was fine and not to worry about it.

Had she been lying?

Bear cleared his throat. “Complications that involve Emm’s past, along with yours.Theyare hunting her,theyknow where she is, andtheyare trying to find her family.”

Instinctively, I put my hand over my heart as my face paled.

Shit. I knew she had gone too far. She’d played this game long enough.

“And why doesn’t she know you are coming for us?”

Anaki stepped closer. His hand had a tremor, but it landed on my arm like it steadied the both of us.

Why did the gentle warmth of his touch soothe me? As his hand connected with mine, the aches in my body gradually faded, and I could feel the tension in my muscles melting away.

Everything didn’t seem so overwhelming, which it should have. All of it should have me screaming and crying, but everyone was acting like it was normal.

Abuela was having tea with one of our captors for Christ’s sake!

“Because Locke likes to take care of things in his own way. Think of this as his present to your sister.” Anaki gently guided my arm down intertwining our fingers. The touch sent a wave of warmth through me, leaving me momentarily breathless. The air felt heavy with anticipation as I stood rooted in place, unable to react to the audacious act he had just pulled off.

“By the time this is all over, your whole family will be safe, with the MC by your side. We protect what’s ours.”

I heaved out a breath. “An MC? A motorcycle club? That has a kidnapping team?” I raised a brow.

Anaki shrugged his shoulders. “We’re specialists. Not just an MC.”

“Obviously,” I retorted. I waved my hand around, “especially with the whole vampire, witch and—”

Nadia stood up. “Bears!” She hugged the big man’s arm.

That tiny thing was a bear?

"There are also wolves, a lot of wolves.” Anaki bobbed his head back and forth. “Even some dragons.” He tilted his head toward me playfully.