Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,58

over from the door.

"I'm not telling him that," Storri sighed, curling over the baby in his lap.

He was feeling last night more than he let on. The tips of his cheeks were still pink from when I'd first come in, but for the most part, he looked like he'd forgotten why he'd been so embarrassed. "Telling me what?" I asked, looking to Dog as I did.

Dog stared only at the bacon.

"He says you're a smart, distinguished alpha who is as…" He turned a tortured look to Dog. "Seriously?"

Dog chuffed.

Storri stuck his lip out in a pout. "Who is as virile as a spring stallion."

"Really? All that, eh?" I angled my front to Dog, and he stared unblinking, a drop of drool gathering at his muzzle. I tossed him a raw piece, and he caught it easily. "I could've told you that." I winked to Storri before turning my back and giving his nerves a much-needed break.

My omega was cute when he was grouchy and hungover.

"Bacon for lunch?" Knox announced from outside the kitchen. He burst in the next moment, finding his mate first, then Angus, and then the rest of us. "What's going on here?"

"Oh, just providing for your mate after he's had such a tough morning."

Knox growled and stomped forward, tearing the spatula from my hand. "I'm making lunch."

***

"Hallie will be with you the whole time. You'll both be miked. Me, Knox, or Diesel will always be listening."

"What about Jazz?" Storri hugged his right arm tight against his chest. His glasses tilted crookedly on his nose, but he was too nervous to notice or care.

"I doubt we'll be able to keep him away. He's grown very protective of you."

Storri smiled with his usual brand of bemused joy. It was as if learning people cared for him was as unexpected and delightful as learning he could fly. "Maybe I shouldn't go, if it makes everyone worry so much."

I shook my head, needing the moment to form a reply that wasn't a wholehearted endorsement of that plan. I didn't want Storri to go.

He'd spoke to his aunt, Selene, several times over the two days since he'd discovered she'd been calling. She was staying near Yamitt, on the Oregon side of the border. She'd claimed that was so she could be near in case anyone had spotted Storri.

The woman had had all the usual questions about where Storri was and how he'd gotten to his current location. He hadn't told her about his kidnapping or David Grouse's involvement.

"You shouldn't make this decision based on how it will make other people feel, Storri. We will all worry for you, but I worry whenever you aren't in my sight, so there's no change."

Storri smiled and leaned forward, resting with his forehead into my bicep. "Thank you."

My hands dropped to his hips, sliding with minds of their own to his supple ass. "I already miss you."

Storri's gaze darkened, his pupils eating up all the caramel as his dick pushed into my side.

"She's two miles out," Knox yelled up the stairs.

I groaned. How was I meant to let him get into a car with a veritable stranger while smelling so sweet?

Storri didn't jerk for the door. He lifted his face up to mine and watched me. "Should I hide? Say 'never mind?'"

Yes. "No. Not unless you've changed your own mind."

He'd been doing well making his own choices. Asking him if he wanted orange juice or milk no longer sent him spiraling into a heap of indecision. But he was still healing, and likely would be for years to come. Maybe it was too soon to let him go. We should've negotiated for them to not just meet here but stay here. Instead, she was going to drive Hallie and Storri back to the motel she was staying at in Rockshell.

I'd tapped into the Rockshell security—all one camera of it—and watched her check into her room the day before. She looked like her ID. Her backstory checked out, as did most of the memories she'd mentioned during her calls. As hard as I'd tried, I couldn't find a gap in who she said she was. Not even when I'd researched every single person she'd mentioned as a friend or acquaintance.

I could find no reason to not allow Storri to meet her other than I didn't want it to happen, and that couldn't be the reason. Not this time. The rest of us would follow behind at a reasonable distance and would camp outside her room when they