“You need to get the hell up!” West shouts, his face breaking out into a big grin as his eyes flit between me and Lexi.
“Why?” I ask, exuding calm but inside I’m raging that they’ve come inside my cabin unannounced and when Lexi is here as well, and okay, maybe I’m also pissed because I wan
ted morning sex and they’re totally ruining my chi at the moment. Not to mention the fact that she’s keeping a secret that I want to get to the bottom of.
“Check your cell,” is all Ty says before spinning around. “Warehouse. Ten minutes.”
He lets the door bang shut on the way out, leaving Lexi, Seb, West, and me in my small cabin. I reach over Lex, letting my lips drift over her cheek as I pick my cell up and unlock it.
My eyes widen when I see several messages from Ty, West, Seb, and most importantly—Darrell.
My fingers fly over the screen, opening up the message.
DARRELL: Warehouse at 12… today is the day.
My head whips back over to Seb and West, my eyes wide as I jump out of bed. “Today?”
Their lips lift into grins as Seb says, “Today’s the day that we get him.”
Excitement flows through my veins like lava flowing over the sides of a volcano.
I step around the bed, completely forgetting about everyone that is there as I grab some clothes and head into the bathroom, washing up and brushing my teeth before changing and heading back out into the main room of my cabin.
My eyes meet Lexi’s where she sits, still in the same position as I left her in when I went into the bathroom. I turn to face West and Seb. “I’ll meet you in the warehouse.”
Seb nods, but West stays there as he opens the door, his brows dancing on his forehead and his hips moving forward as he says, “I see you—”
“Finish that sentence, West,” Lex warns, her eyes lighting with fire.
He holds his hands up, backing away before he steps out of the door, slamming it behind him.
There’s a beat before I turn back toward Lex, seeing the questions in her eyes. I let out a long breath, knowing that I’m going to have to explain at least part of it to her instead of leaving her here without an explanation.
I step toward her, sitting on the side of the bed and taking her hand in mine, softly stroking her palm. “I have to go to work,” I say, looking away and debating how much I should tell her. I trust her completely, more than I’ve ever trusted anyone but I want to protect her; and to protect her I need to keep some things from her.
“Okay,” she answers, her voice unsure before she leans forward, cupping the side of my face. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t—”
“I do,” I tell her. “I want to tell you everything, but… I have to protect you, Lex.” I swallow as a lump forms in my throat. “If anything ever happened to you...”
I clench my teeth, hating that I’m showing her this vulnerability. It never goes down well—at least, it never did in the past. I much preferred to keep my feelings inside, not showing anyone. It’s easier to accept if people don’t like you if you’re not showing them the full you, because all it is then is a mirage.
“Evan…” She lifts up onto her knees, cupping my cheek. “Nothing will happen to me.”
“Promise?” I ask, my voice sounding so much like the little boy when I was first adopted.
“Promise.” She smiles, nodding her head as she shuffles closer and sits on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“This guy,” I start. “We tried to get him years ago, but he got away, and now we’re this close.” I hold my fingers a few centimeters apart. “He’s dangerous, but we can’t work out how dangerous.”
“And today is the day you can get him?” she asks, her eyes bright and a wide smile on her face.
“It is,” I answer, marveling at her reaction.
She jumps up off me, grabbing her shorts and pulling them up her legs. “Then what are you waiting for?”
I watch her, laughter bubbling up as she flits around, trying to find her Chucks and slipping her feet inside them.
I can’t help but be in complete and utter awe over this woman. She could be sitting here moaning about the fact that I have to ditch her, that I won’t be able to take her home. Yet she’s not, she’s literally pushing me out of here as she grabs my hand and lifts me up off the bed and pulls me to the door.