Head Hunter (City Shifters the Pack #3) - Layla Nash Page 0,75

of himself, though. He didn’t even know if Persephone wanted to stay with him at all, much less forever.

Mercy eyed him. “Thinking big thoughts over there, friend?”

He snorted and prepared a pistol and extra magazines. It wouldn’t stop a shifter or fae, but it would damn well drop a human in his tracks. Which Dodge was counting on. “Nah. Just planning how we’re going to get Persephone to her apartment and back in one piece.”

She made a thoughtful noise and sat on the counter, swinging her legs. “Need me to come with you?”

“I need you to keep up a patrol around this neighborhood,” he said. “They’re still watching her from the street. I need to know if they move after we leave. Can you text me if you see anything?”

“Sure thing,” she said. Mercy hopped to her feet and headed for the living room. “Be careful.”

Dodge waved her off, only half paying attention. He needed to get his head in the game. There was no telling what waited for them at Persephone’s apartment building. He was still running through scenarios when he returned to the living room and found Persephone already there with Deirdre, wearing new jeans and a sweater that fit her so closely he had to drag his eyes away before he drooled on the floor. He had no clue how he’d been able to resist her for more than a few hours. Maybe he’d been blind and hadn’t seen how amazing she was.

Deirdre’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. “You two be careful.”

Dodge tried to sound cheerful and relaxed, despite the way his guts twisted with nerves. “It’s fine. We’ll be back in just a few minutes.”

And then he focused all of his concentration and attention on Persephone, everything around her that might endanger her, and the car that would get them to her apartment and back. He sensed the other pack-mates moving around them – spotting for trouble on the street, heading to her apartment before them to search for threats, and spreading out to cover spots where they’d seen Bridger’s goons lying in wait just the day before. He missed Silas in a sudden spark, since he could have trusted Silas to keep Persephone safe.

He didn’t let her see it, though, and moved at a leisurely pace to get them into the car and on the move.

“I guess there’s more than just one alligator near the boat, hmm?” Persephone asked when he pulled out of traffic, navigating through small side streets so they didn’t get bogged down due to other cars.

Dodge reached over to squeeze her hand. “It’s the same alligator. It’s just a little wilier than we originally thought.”

She made a soft sound, a little distressed, and kept looking out the window like she expected trouble to land on the hood of the car. Dodge laced his fingers through hers. “Then maybe you can think of new ways to seduce me.”

That got him a smile, at least. Her lips pursed, like she wanted to hide, but the grin escaped just long enough for him to spot it. He parked the car and leaned over to brush a kiss over her mouth. “I expect creativity and dedication, Persephone.”

She shivered but her lips parted and she kissed him back. He would have given anything to have stayed there with her all afternoon.

Chapter 29

Percy

My stomach twisted with every step toward my apartment. We’d kissed more in the car and it had damn well nearly distracted me from the fact that someone might want me dead, but too soon reality set in. Dodge pretended to be relaxed and nonchalant, but the tension in his arms and shoulders told another story. He also spent most of his time searching the surrounding streets for something I wouldn’t recognize. Which just made it even clearer how ill-prepared I was for my current predicament.

I breathed easier when we made it to the apartment, though Dodge prevented me from immediately unlocking the door. He searched for signs of something around the door jamb and the handle, then under the sweep. I didn’t think anyone was hiding in the cracked plastic around the door, but maybe it helped him feel better.

As soon as we were inside, he had me stand in the kitchen while he searched the rest of the apartment, and I held my breath as I braced for trouble. Nothing else moved inside or in the hall. I only exhaled when Dodge returned to the kitchen with the all-clear. He smiled, a