Page 21

Yes, well, he’d rather his anchor didn’t sense something she’d blow out of proportion —that he liked Naomi more than he’d expected.

She possessed the very qualities that Harper and Khloe had listed, all of which appealed to him.

Plus, with Naomi, there was no artifice, no practiced moves, no scripted lines.

She talked to him. Listened to him. Her smiles were easy, her warmth was genuine, and her laughs were open.

As a rule, Luka never found himself wanting to know his bed partners beyond surface level, but she intrigued him. Honestly, he felt uneasy at the curiosity she roused in him. A curiosity he’d tried and failed to douse so far. It would surely flit away with time.

“You have a pretty active life,” he said to his anchor. “Why take time out of it to stick your nose into mine?”

“Same reason you’re all up in my business. You want what’s best for me in all areas of my life. Well, right back at you.”

“I appreciate your concern.”

“No you don’t.”

“No, I don’t. It’s fucking irritating.”

Ella’s shoulders shook with a silent laugh.

“At least I’m not sitting here insisting that you drop Naomi the way you insisted I drop Viper.

All I want is to hear you admit that you have more than a sexual interest in her.

I mean, it’s not as if it isn’t clear as day for someone who knows you as well as I do. ”

Luka gave her a flat stare. “When are you going home?”

Another quiet laugh made her shoulders shake. “I’m on the right track here, I know it.”

Darko snored so loudly he woke up both himself and Ghost.

Looking around, he double-blinked, sitting upright. “What was that noise?”

Luka shot him a frown. “It was you. Snoring.”

Darko’s gaze lowered to Lily. “And she stayed asleep. Seriously, man, you have to move to the compound.”

“Not happening,” Luka told him.

Ghost’s brow furrowed. “Don’t be selfish.”

“Not selfish, just not going to be a live-in babysitter,” said Luka. “I have too much shit to do anyway—I’d hardly ever be here.”

“He’s right on that,” Ella chipped in.

Darko’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “There’s no hope, is there? We’re gonna have to go without sleep for the rest of our lives.”

Ella rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. It’s not like you have her with you twenty-four/seven. Honestly, I’ve never known a bunch of grown-ass men to whine so damn much.”

“We’re sleep-deprived,” said Ghost, his voice rising slightly. “What do you expect?”

A snuffle came out of Lily as she stirred in Luka’s arms. Her eyelids fluttered open, and startling blue eyes met his.

Darko groaned and elbowed his brother. “ Now look what you did. Idiot.”

“I am, I am a total idiot,” Ghost admitted, sad and defeated.

Luka peered down at Lily. “Hey, there. How was your nap?”

A bright smile of contentment was her response. She aimed her gaze across the room, seeking out her mom.

Ella pushed out of the chair and crossed to him. “Come on, then.”

“She wants you to pick her up?” Luka asked, knowing the little girl could telepathically communicate her wants and feelings with images and impressions.

“Yes,” confirmed Ella, scooping her up. “She also wants her diaper changed.”

Both fallen angels leaned back, shrinking away from her.

Ella thankfully dropped her earlier subject, and they chatted about general things for the next hour. She then stood, announcing, “Time for us to go. Lily, say bye to Uncle Luka.”

An immature psyche lightly touched his.

Luka smiled at them both. “Later.”

Ella patted his arm. “We’ll revisit the subject of Naomi another time.”

No, actually, they wouldn’t.

Luka escorted his visitors to the front door, waved them off, and used the security app on his phone to open the electronic gates for them to exit the estate.

“I don’t like that Draya was asking Ella so many questions about you,” said Mikhail behind him.

Luka closed the door and then turned to face his two guards. “Neither do I. Draya has some front. It pisses me off more that she thought to use my anchor like that.” He stalked back into the house, and the twins followed.

“I’ll bet it also pisses you off that she apparently talked smack about Naomi,” Nikandr hedged, a teasing note to his voice. “Let’s face it, Ella was bang on the mark. You’re protective of the siren. More, you actually like her.”

Luka only cast him a cool look. His phone beeped, signaling that the outdoor gate sensors had detected the vehicle passing through. He pressed the button to close the gates and then pocketed his phone.

“You can at least admit it to us,” Nikandr persisted.

Luka sighed. “You’re as nosy as Ella.”

“He can’t help it,” said Mikhail, sidling up to his brother. “He’s always been determined to know everything.”

“That’s you,” Nikandr told his twin.

“Actually, it’s both of you,” said Luka.

Konstantin’s psyche knocked his. Know you’re busy with your anchor, but I thought you might want to know something.

Luka stilled. Is Naomi all right?

She’s fine , Konstantin quickly assured him. I’ve been tailing her all day, and, well . . .

Well what?

For the past twenty minutes, I haven’t been the only one watching her.

Biting into her burger, Naomi stretched her legs beneath the small table.

She’d stopped off at her local fast-food restaurant on the way home from her parents’ place.

Though she hadn’t initially felt terribly hungry, that had changed when she walked inside and was hit by the scents of onions, sauces, and hot meat—whether fried, greasy, or grilled.

All kinds of activity surrounded her. Cashiers called out numbers at the stainless-steel counter.

Lines of people griped at indecisive customers who were hemming and hawing at the self-ordering kiosks.

Workers bustled around wiping dirty tables or mopping up spills.

Parents went back and forth from the play area to check on the shrieking kids who were running riot there.

Naomi’s little seating area was packed. Customers walked about carrying trays while searching for tables.

A group of teenagers were laughing and snapping pictures at the corner booth.

A couple who clearly had a case of puppy love were chatting and chuckling and making kissy faces at each other.

A mother handling three overly loud youngsters looked close to planting her face on the table in exasperation.

Konstantin currently stood outside—he rarely followed her into any buildings unless they were so spacious he’d lose sight of her from the windows.

Because your safety is far more important to me than I’d anticipated it would be .

Those telepathic words from Luka clutched her chest tight whenever they drifted to the forefront of her brain, which was far too often in her opinion. When he’d first said them, shock had chased away her agitation and left her floundering. She hadn’t known what to say, so she hadn’t responded.

It was well known that Luka was exceedingly protective of his anchor and his honorary niece—any possible threat to them would be instantly marked for death. That was how he rolled. Naomi just hadn’t expected that side of his nature to ever be directed at her.

Luka evidently hadn’t expected it either.

Neither of them had spoken of it since that day, as if in silent mutual agreement that the matter was best left unaddressed so they could keep things uncomplicated.

Initially, she’d worried that perhaps Konstantin might stick too close to her, presenting a risk of him uncovering her secrets. But he kept a certain distance from her at all times, and he never entered her home.

Still, Tobe didn’t much like the protective display from Luka. But really, Tobe didn’t like anything the legion did—including breathing.

Jolene, on the other hand, was pleased about Konstantin’s presence.

She felt he would make any watchful clerics reluctant to launch another attack—they were careful to move about undetected, so they would notice him for sure.

The harder Naomi made things for the clerics’ preternatural helper, the more likely said helper would come out of the metaphorical shadows and involve themselves, thus also exposing their identity.

Metal scraped tile as a large family pushed some tables together. They were clearly celebrating one of the kids’ birthdays, because the youngest was wearing a birthday badge and holding a balloon. Too cute .

Smiling, Naomi took another bite of her now half-eaten burger. Picking up movement at the nearby condiment station, she reflexively looked over . . . and froze.

Well, if it wasn’t the PI, Daniel Phillips.

Her demon squinted, irritation skittering through it. Because although he didn’t appear to be paying Naomi any attention, busy gathering up sauces and napkins, it seemed too much a coincidence that he’d be here the same time as her.

Could he have followed her here? She had sensed that she was being watched, but she’d thought it was Konstantin—it hadn’t occurred to her that she had more sets of eyes on her. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Daniel turned, seemed to idly glance her way, and did quite a convincing double-take. But not convincing enough for either her or her entity to fail to see through his act.

He boldly approached her table, his lips curved. “Oh, hello again.” He tipped his head to the side. “Remember me?”

“Nope,” she lied.

His friendly smile faltered. “We met at the tattoo studio last week. Urban Ink?”

“Oh. Right. Of course.” She lifted her cup, which was damp from condensation. “You’re the dude who has a secret thing for Tobe.”

“No. No, that genuinely isn’t the case.” He flicked a look at the chair opposite her own. “Mind if I join you?”

She slurped some of her soda through her straw. “Depends what you want.”

“I’d just rather not eat alone.” He sat down without holding out for an invitation. “You waiting for someone?”

She set down her drink. “Nope. So if you were hoping you might bump into Tobe . . .”