Page 146 of Retribution

I don’t know why I didn’t during her heat, outside of this belated sense that we had more time. I wanted it to be her and I when she wasn’t in the middle of her heat.

We haven’t had enough time.

Alesso meets us at the back door, his eyes on me as we walk in.

I’m fine,I bite out through the bond.

You’re not. I’ll let you lie a little longer though.

“We’re going to head out in a few hours,” Lucas tells Alesso. “Grant brought something up the other day that I want to run by everyone.”

“Yeah?” Alesso asks.

“Where’s Leila?” I ask, noting that his hands are empty.

“Finally let me put her in the rocker,” he says, taking a step back to look into the living room. “She’s kicking and her arms are waving. She’s doing a little better now.”

“Good,” I say, nodding as I move to look in on her.

I’m not the only one as the four of us huddle together to gaze at her.

“She’s got you all wrapped around her little finger,” Rita murmurs behind us.

Sheepishly, I glance at her with a shrug.

“I’ll sit with her while you take a shower if you’re alright with it,” she says. “Post a few guards around the room if it’ll make you feel better.”

Lucas snorts to my surprise, moving to allow her to pass through.

“We all know that you’re a sharper shooter than you let on,” he says.

“You’re carrying, aren’t you?” Grant asks.

Blinking as I ask myself what alternate universe I’m in that the housekeeper is well equipped to deal with any intruders, I watch as she lifts her shirt a little to show her holster.

I’d never guess. Rita has gray hair, reminds me of a grandmother, and is wearing a long sleeved black shirt and slacks with very sensible shoes I might add.

“Of course I am,” she says. “God forbid some psychopath come for our baby.”

My lips twitch as I think about how loved Leila is.

“We’re going to go upstairs, shower, and pack, Rita,” Lucas says. “We’re taking the private plane to Minnesota. We’ll have more resources there to help us find Isolde. Can you please pack a bag for Leila?”

“I can,” she says, checking her watch. “It’s almost five. Should I give her a quick bath or just warm wash cloth to wipe her down?”

“She gets weirded out about water in her eyes,” I admit, wincing.

“That’s why she was screaming bloody murder the other day. Anyone else would have thought she was being tortured,” Rita smirks. “I’ll run a damp wash cloth over her and call it a day while I’m changing her clothes.”

“Thank you,” Lucas says. “We won’t be long.”

Rita walks over and unstraps Leila, talking to her the entire time as she follows us upstairs. Lucas fixed a room for Leila that she doesn’t sleep in, but it has her clothes and necessities.

Lucas gestures that we follow him to his room, and I close the door behind us as I wait to hear what he wants to tell us.

“Grant mentioned the other day that he wished that we could talk through a bond. I know it’s a very personal decision, but I’dlike to bite each of you so if we’re in a position where we can’t talk, we can still communicate,” he says almost without taking a breath.

“I didn’t think you could talk that fast,” Alesso says, wide eyed.