Wild Warrior (The Weavers Circle 2)

“What’s that smile for?” Baer asked.

The smile in question turned into more of a smirk when he looked down at Baer. “What? A guy can’t just be in a good mood?”

“Not without getting laid first.”

Lucien laughed and slapped Baer on the back. “Well, that explains your good mood, at least.”

Baer could only shrug. There really wasn’t any point in denying it. He didn’t think Lucien had heard anything, but he and Wiley weren’t exactly subtle about how cozy they had been getting over the past several days. Yeah, he got laid, but they were both adults. No big deal.

Starting down the street, Baer fell into step with Lucien, though he had to widen his gait just to match the tall man.

“I was just thinking that it wasn’t long ago I arrived in town. Thought Savannah was a cute, quirky place. Might be interesting to stay for a little while.” Lucien motioned with his hands as he talked, reminding him of Wiley, but not with the same exuberance. “I was looking forward to checking out the nightlife and even the ghost tours. This is supposed to be one of the most haunted cities in America.”

“You into ghost stories?”

“Love ghost stories. The creepier and scarier, the better. I lived in New Orleans for three years because you know there’s some crazy shit there.”

Baer huffed a laugh. “I’ve heard.”

“Just couldn’t stay long. The constant worry throughout hurricane season was driving me crazy.” He made a scoffing noise in his throat and threw up one hand. “And then, of course, I wind up here.”

“Hurricanes hit here?”

Lucien stopped and looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

Baer lifted both hands, guarding against that look while laughing. “Hey! I haven’t given it much thought. I haven’t been here long.”

Rolling his eyes, Lucien resumed walking. “Crazy man. Yes, hurricanes hit here, though it’s nowhere near as bad as it is for New Orleans or Miami. And before you ask, right now is hurricane season.”

Baer rubbed his bearded jaw with one hand. “Huh. I wonder if we need like a hurricane kit or something.”

“It’d be a good idea, but I have a feeling that’s something Dane would have prepared. The guy seems damned ready for just about anything we throw at him.”

“Definitely. Dane’s from around this area. I’m sure he’s got shit all pulled together, but we can check with him. Though I wonder if we need a different kind of kit for our cars.”

Lucien looked over at Baer. “You’re talking about a pestilents kit.”

He nodded. “A sort of first aid kit with a roadside car kit plus weapons,” he said ending in a rough whisper so that no one passing them on the sidewalk might overhear.

“Wouldn’t be a bad idea. We’ve got…what? Four vehicles at the plantation, counting my Porsche.”

“Right now, but that could easily grow. We can’t all stay on lockdown at home constantly. There are errands and just random stuff that needs to be done.”

“But the pestilents,” Lucien paused and looked around to make sure that no one was close enough to hear him. “They’re like ghosts and vampires, right? Only come out at night.”

Baer couldn’t help it. He laughed, knocking into Lucien’s arm as they walked side by side down the street. “No!”

Lucien gave him a little shove. “Asshole,” he growled, but there was still a hint of a smile on his face.

“No, they can be out at any time,” Baer said when he could finally stop laughing. “They tend to attack more at night because everyone has an advantage in the dark.”

“I get you. You’re still an asshole, though.”

Baer smiled at him. “We all are. I’m beginning to think it’s something of a prerequisite for being a Weaver.”

Lucien snorted. “God help the poor man if one of the last two ends up being this really nice guy.”

“Too true.”

“But that brings me back to what we were talking about. I was thinking earlier that until I met you guys, everything seemed so peaceful and normal. Now I look around and the world feels kind of fake. Like how do we know a pestilent isn’t watching us right now? How do we know one isn’t lurking around the corner?”

“Well, aren’t you just a little ball of fucking sunshine? Next time I’m making Grey accompany you.”

“Now there’s a man in desperate need of getting laid,” Lucien said. Their conversation was put on pause as they hurried across a busy street and entered a mostly empty square filled with massive live oaks covered in dark-green leaves. The day wasn’t too hot, but the shade offered a nice break from the unrelenting sun. “But seriously…”

Baer stepped off to the side, moving them away from the main foot traffic and the tourists snapping pictures of the statue in the center of the square. “I hear where you’re coming from. It’s stressful, but you have to remember to stay aware of your surroundings and know that your brother is watching your back.”