Shaw (Alpha Geek #6) - Milly Taiden Page 0,33

work?”

Poppy ground her teeth together. Of course, Shaw would have a sweet little grandma who depended on him. Sweet seniors were definitely her soft spot.

“I’m sure I can work something out with my boss,” she answered.

“Good,” Nick said. “Take her there. Then you two need to get the hell out of town for a bit. I’m talking a place with absolutely no access to any electricity, internet, nothing. While you two are lying low, my crew and I will get in touch with our contacts with the DEA and the IRS. We’re going to clean up this mess and hope that things work quickly enough to get the three Cain brothers off of your back permanently. Pack heavy, kids. You might be in hiding for a long time.”

“I really don’t think this is a good idea,” Poppy argued. “A new shifter and me? That’s all of our defenses?”

“If you can find a place in the woods, you can help Shaw shift and train him a bit in shifter fighting. It won’t come to that. We’ve never had so many people on staff. We’ll fix this mess you made, hacker.”

There was definitely venom in Nick’s tone as he spoke to Shaw.

For his part, Shaw didn’t even seem to look concerned. “I did what I thought was right.”

“You’re a pup, wet behind the ears, playing the big man. You think being a shifter makes you tough? You think that’s the answer to strength?” Nick laughed dryly. “Strength comes from the people you love and protect. We never would have given the serum to a man who thought deceit was the way to go. You’ve got a lot to learn.”

Nick took Poppy’s arm and nudged her out of the bedroom. He closed the door behind them, silently telling Shaw he wasn’t to follow them. Once they were on the completely other side of the house, Nick pitched his voice low.

“He’s your mate. He’s done dumb shit, but without him? You’re vulnerable. You need your mate, Poppy. Take this time to try to get to know him. Try to forgive him and find the space to move on from this.”

Poppy inhaled sharply. “If Shanti had done something like that to you, if she had betrayed you, would you have been able to forgive her?”

“One-hundred percent. Especially because she’s my mate, and I know her heart. Shaw is a hurt, confused little boy inside of himself. Given time and guidance, he could be a great man.”

Poppy didn’t know what to respond, so she remained quiet.

“Shanti has made me a better man, a better shifter for believing in me. Even when I do dumb and boneheaded shit, because I think I’m a big tough guy. I don’t like what Shaw has done. But you’re part of my pride now. I look after my own. Listen to the voice of life experience. You need your mate. You don’t have to fall in love with him. Just get to know his heart. He might surprise both of us.”

Nick retreated back to the other side of the house, leaving Poppy alone to contemplate what she had just heard.

From everything Dakota had told her about Nick, he was a grumpy shifter, who was borderline sexist about how he saw women around him. That was not the impression she was getting. It made Poppy wonder just how much of Nick’s crotchety attitude was an act.

The man was full of wisdom.

Now she just had to see if she could heed his perceptive words.

Chapter Sixteen

Shaw

Shaw was very careful during their drive to his grandmother’s apartment. Nick had given him a few tips on what to look for, in case they were followed. He knew that Bennett and a few other shifters were trailing them in case the three Cain brothers crossed their paths. If they did, Nick’s crew would be ready for them. An ambush was all but planned.

All he had to do was get his nana out of her apartment and into a nursing home.

That was not something he was looking forward to doing. He had vowed to her, a long time ago, that she would never see the inside of one of those places. He could only hope that Poppy worked in a nice one that would take care of his grandmother. She was the only family he had left, and he wanted her to be happy for the rest of her days on earth.

Shaw led the way into the decrepit building and up the dingy stairs. Poppy’s face was pinched,