Defender Dragon (Protection, Inc 2)

Fiona’s sharp gaze raked over Journey’s necklace and rings. “I see that you appreciate fine jewelry. I don’t imagine there’s much of that in Lummox.”

Journey bristled at the implication of gold-digging. Her hand went protectively to her dragon pendant.

Lucas turned to the blonde woman. Journey expected him to be angry, but his voice was unexpectedly gentle. “Fiona. That is unworthy of you. Journey risked her life to save mine. She fought by my side. She took care of me day and night when I was poisoned—”

“Poisoned!” Destiny grabbed him by the arm, her soft brown eyes wide with concern. “Lucas, my God! Are you all right?”

“I am now. Thanks to my mate.”

“Really.” Shane’s cold eyes fixed on Journey.

He did nothing but look at her, but she knew in her gut that she was in terrible danger. He was going to kill her, right there

and then. Not even Lucas could save her. Desperately, knowing it was a useless gesture, she snatched up her backpack and flung it at him.

“What the—” Rafa exclaimed.

“Shane!” Lucas yelled. “How dare you!”

Journey stared, bewildered, as Lucas slammed Shane into the wall.

Shane didn’t fight or even blink, though his ribs had have been bruised at the very least. Instead, he addressed Journey over Lucas’s shoulder. “You’re a fighter. That’s good. I could teach you some actual techniques some time, if you like.”

The sense of danger vanished as if it had never been. Her fear gave way to curiosity. “How did you do that?” Hopefully, she asked, “Magic?”

Shane’s cool blue gaze met hers, full of mysteries she was never going to solve. “Just a thing I do.”

“Lucas, let go of him,” Hal ordered.

Reluctantly, Lucas released his grip on Shane’s shoulders. Then he turned to address the entire room. “Journey is my mate and I love her. If you must doubt someone’s worthiness, doubt mine.”

His amber gaze caught and held each team member in turn until they nodded their acceptance.

Destiny broke the silence. “Sorry about the hazing. The testosterone can get pretty thick around here.”

“Speak for yourself,” retorted Fiona. But she turned to Journey and said, “My apologies. I just—”

“You just had to be sure,” Journey said resignedly.

Hal cleared his throat. “Journey, Protection, Inc. would like to invite you to lunch to make up for being a bunch of macho idiots. Right, guys?”

A hasty chorus of assent rose. The next thing Journey knew, she and Lucas were sitting down with the rest of Protection, Inc., eating some of the best order-in sandwiches she’d had in her life.

Hal called his mate, Ellie, and she joined them halfway through. To Journey’s relief, either Ellie didn’t haze or Hal had warned her not to, because she was nothing but sweet to Journey. But so was everyone else. The hazing had been nerve-rattling, but she wasn’t angry at them. They’d only been trying to look out for Lucas.

After lunch, the team said their good-byes and left. On their way out, Fiona gave Lucas his gold pistol, Destiny gave him his car keys, and Rafa gave him his apartment keys and a wink. Finally, they were left alone.

“I like your team,” Journey said.

Lucas gave a wry chuckle. “You’re very forgiving. I should have warned you about them. They did something similar to Ellie. But I thought that was only because they care so much about Hal.”

“They care that much about you.”

“I know,” Lucas said, his voice roughening. “I know that now.”

Journey followed him out of the conference room where they’d had lunch. She thought he was going out, but he instead went into another office and sat down in front of an impressive-looking computer.

“Want to make sure that honorless thief you knew in Lummox never harms any woman again?” Lucas asked.