by Susan Bliler
The valet nodded and didn’t ask any questions as he followed Recker around the car.
Five minutes later, Alex was nestled in his plush bed in the warm hotel room. Seeing her sigh and relax into the comfort, he felt like shit. Should he have done this sooner? It felt like it, but what right did he have hauling her here to the lap of luxury only to have to reject her back to her miserable little shithole? None.
Pressing a finger to his lips, he paced and eyed Alex the whole time. What are you doing, Sentry? What in the fuck are…you…doing?
Alex started coughing, and he stopped and faced her, dropping his arm quickly. His shoulders hunched and his leg and stomach muscles flexed as his body prepared to spring into action. What kind of action, he had no idea. She was just sick, damn it! But his inner beasts were rallying like she was under attack by some unseen enemy.
If I collared her… He forced the thought aside. He wasn’t about to collar Alex just because he knew it’d cure her cold. Hell, it’d cure everything.
Walkers didn’t suffer illness or disease, and once their Angel was collared with a Walker halo, a genetic mutation would begin transforming her so that she too would become immune.
Alex quieted, and Recker heaved a frustrated sigh.
Okay, I’m not collaring her, so what else can I do?
Jerking his cell from his back pocket, he pulled up Google and took a seat.
***
Four days later, Alex was ready to kill Recker. He’d stuffed her so full of cough drops, soup, and hot tea that she thought she was going to start sprouting tea bags. Worse, he had rarely let her leave his bed the entire time. Normally, she’d be giddy as all get out that a beast like Recker Rhodes wanted her in his bed for three whole days. The problem was he wasn’t in it too. Nope. When he wasn’t hovering over her like some damn vulture, watching her cough up a storm, he was trying to force feed her or get her to drink more tea with lemon and honey. Honestly, it was kind of adorable once she got over the whole him seeing her look like a hot mess deal. Today though, she was feeling better and was determined to get a shower if she had to fight him for it.
She watched as he came out of his room’s ensuite kitchenette carrying a steaming mug of something.
Aw hell no.
“Tea,” he asked merrily as he set it on the bedside table.
“No. No more tea.”
Instantly his brows speared down over those big baby blues, and she knew she was going to have a fight on her hands.
“I’m feeling much better.” She ripped the covers off.
On day two of her illness, she woke to find Recker unpacking familiar looking clothes from what she knew was her duffle bag. He’d told her that he’d had Sentries retrieve some of her gear from her place and she’d been slightly annoyed, but more grateful because it meant she didn’t have to spend one more night in her jeans and t-shirt.
Now, dressed in yoga pants and a loose t-shirt, Alex swung her legs off the bed. “I need a shower.”
His response was instantaneous. “No.”
“No?” Her face screwed up in annoyance. “A, I wasn’t asking, and B, what part of I’m feeling better don’t you understand?”
Planting hands on his lean hips, he splayed those long legs and stared down at her. “Inter-webs say this kinda shit lasts a week.” He flicked his fingers at her legs like he expected her to get back in bed.
“Don’t you flick your fingers at me, mister!” She scooted to the edge of the bed and wanted to laugh at the panicky look that took Recker’s eyes as he quickly dropped his arms like he was getting ready to wrestle her back under the covers.
“I’ve had hundreds of colds. And yes, they can last up to a week or longer, but I’m better now.”
Truth be told, she’d give anything to spend the next week in Recker’s luxurious hotel room while he took care of her, but she’d already missed a day of work. It couldn’t happen again.
“Besides,” she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “My shift starts in three hours. I gotta get ready.”
“You can’t go to work!”
She blinked up at his incredulous tone. “Why not?”
“You’ll infect all the other humans,” he accused. “You all have the damn immune systems of infants.”
Alex’s delicate brows speared down. “Well, so-rry.” She shoved to her feet and wobbled a minute. “We can’t all be magical, mystical creatures who are immune to life!”
She was halfway to the bathroom when Recker grabbed her around the waist and lifted her carrying her back toward the bed.
“Recker!” she snarled. “Put me the hell down.”
“No! You need seven days.”
“I don’t have seven days,” she bellowed and tried to kick him in the shin. The quick man lifted his leg just in time to avoid the blow. “I didn’t have these days. I have to work, or I lose my apartment. Do you get that?”
All the talking had her sucking in a breath that crackled in her lungs and turned into an epic coughing fit that kept her from doing anything as Recker lifted her into the cradle of his arms and took her back to the bed where he settled her in before covering her legs. His hand was on her back rubbing firmly as she continued to cough.
This really wasn’t helping her argument. Worse, the way he was looking at her with his eyes all full of concern while his hand continued to stroke her back was doing funny things to her insides.
When her coughing finally subsided, Alex fell back against the pillows stacked against the headboard. Fuck, I need to get out of here.
Chapter 15
Recker didn’t know if now was a good time to tell Alex that he’d accidentally gotten her evicted from her apartment. Honestly, it hadn’t been his fault. He’d only meant to get the landlord to do something about the lack of heat in Alex’s apartment, but the guy had been a world-class dick, and well….shit happened.
Watching Alex melt bonelessly back against the pillows, one forearm lifting to cover her eyes while she tried to catch her breath, he decided to wait. She didn’t need that stress right now. Later.
There was one thing he couldn’t wait on though.
“Alex?”
She lowered her arm to just below her nose and turned to look at him.
“You’re not going back to work.”
Her response was furrowed brows and silence.
While she’d been ill, he’d done the one thing he’d vowed not to do. He’d contacted Amanda at StoneCrow Estates and had Alex graduated to the second round of vetting. Alex was going to StoneCrow, and thank fuck because it gave Recker the perfect excuse to take her back to her apartment and pack up all her shit.
“We’re going to StoneCrow,” he finally explained. He’d expected excitement and elation. What he got was Alex still simply staring at him.
“You’ve passed the first round of vetting. The second stage means temporary residence at the estate.”
“How temporary?”
He shrugged. “Depends on how well you do. Could be a few days, or it could be permanent.”
That had Alex shoving up as interest finally sparked in her eyes. “Permanent?”
“Don’t get too excited yet,” he held up his hands trying to calm her even though his own heart was hammering at the prospect of Alex coming to StoneCrow. “It’s an arduous process,” he explained.
“So what about my apartment? I can’t go interview for a few days to who knows when and still pay rent on my place.”
Her face crumbled and he knew she thought there was no way she could swing this.
“You give up your place, Alex.” She started shaking her head vehemently, so he rushed to tag on, “And if things don’t work out at StoneCrow and you're brought back to the city, then Monroe will ensure you have a place to live and a stipend to help you pay for your first year.”
It was a big fucking lie. Monroe would do no such thing, but he would. He’d make sure he found Alex a way better place to live than her shitty apartment, and he’d gladly
pay for her first year there if it meant she had heat and space and… “Groceries too,” he found himself adding. “Gift cards to cover your groceries are covered for your first year too.”
Alex was looking at him funny out of the corner of her eye, and he wondered if he’d gone too far.
Shit!
“Sounds too good to be true.”
Yep. He’d definitely gone too far.
Recker shrugged. “Guy’s rich as fuck. What do you expect?”
“This doesn’t make sense. Why would he let humans come to StoneCrow and then just let us leave if we don’t fit? And with the promise of free housing and food for a year?” Alex’s eyes narrowed on him suspiciously. “If this doesn’t work out, you’re gonna bury me in some field aren’t you?”
He barked a laugh. He couldn’t help it. She was too damn cute for words. “Nah, Alex. I’m not gonna bury you in some field.”
“Why? Why wouldn’t you all just get rid of the candidates that don’t fit? We’re a risk once we see inside right?”
He turned serious then. “Not you. With you, an exception’s been made.”
Her forehead relaxed. “Because of Stoney, right? Because I know her?”
“No,” he shook his head once. “Not because you know her, Alex.” He took a step closer to the bed. “Because she vouched for you, and in our world that means something. On oath of her own life, she’s telling us you’re safe.” He studied her face intently wondering if Stoney knew what she was doing and praying she did. “Remember that, because if you aren’t what you seem, you aren’t the only one who’ll pay.”
“Stoney gets hurt too?”
He dipped his chin once and answered quietly, “Yeah.”
Alex shocked him to his core when she reached up and grabbed his bicep, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I won’t let her down, Recker Rhodes. I told you, she’s my sister. I’d die for that woman.”
He prayed it was true.
Chapter 16
Hours later, Alex was at the diner shoving her last paycheck into her pocket and bidding her co-workers farewell. She’d called the owner of the diner and apologized about not being able to give two-weeks notice, but Maria had said it was okay, wished her well, and promised to have a check waiting at the restaurant.
It’d been hell getting Recker to agree to let her out of bed. Trying to leave the hotel though had been a whole different story. He’d flat out refused to take her back to her place so she could get her car. In the end, she’d had to settle on letting him give her a ride to the diner.
Her eyes lifted to where he waited in his truck that was parked across the street. Grinning, she waved at him as she made her way around the counter. Instead of waving back, he jerked his chin at her.
Tough guy.
Alex sidled out from behind the counter and was heading for the door when the waitress on shift, Rochelle, asked, “Alex can you do me a huge, huge favor before you leave?”
Rochelle was a hard worker, and she genuinely liked the girl, so Alex shrugged. “Sure. What is it?”
It was dinner rush, and while only a few of the booths were full, it was still considered busy for the small diner.
Looking frazzled, Rochelle looked toward the counter. “Dishwasher called in sick, and it’s just the cook and me. Can you please take out the trash behind the counter? It’s overflowing, and…”
Alex held up a hand to stop her. “Got it.”
Rochelle’s body visibly relaxed as she breathed, “Thank you!”
Looking out the front window, Alex threw up a finger so Recker knew she’d be a minute. He dipped his head in a nod, and she sacked up the garbage and hauled it toward the back of the restaurant.
Planting a foot on the back door, she kicked it open and walked through the darkened alley to the dumpster before hoisting up the trash and dumping it inside.
“Well, well, well, boys. Fifth time’s a charm.”
Alex gasped and spun.
Fitz and his friends were coming down the alley toward her. Afraid, Alex looked from them to the door before dropping the garbage and making a run for it. She didn’t make it.
Rough hands grabbed her from behind and jerked her back, her fingers stung as they were ripped off the door handle.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! She started fighting, but it didn’t last long. A fist connected with the side of her face and knocked her to the ground. Jaw throbbing, chest heaving, Alex glared up at Fitz, giving him the most mutinous look she could muster. If he was expecting tears and begging, he was expecting wrong!
“See, bitch,” Fitz spoke calmly as his eyes narrowed at her. “Told you there’d be a time you weren’t expecting it.”
Internally, Alex screamed, “Reckeeeeer!”
***
Recker watched the diner through the front glass window. Alex had chucked him a finger about five minutes ago, so where the fuck was she? They’d argued earlier about him trying to boss her around, so right now he was trying really hard to give her the time and space she needed to get her affairs in order. But…something didn’t feel right.
Fuck it!
Shoving his door open, Recker was to the front door and was about to jerk it open when a blast of wind hit him in the face. The scent of Alex’s terror had him stumbling back as he looked up. Where? Where? Fucking where? Alley!
Racing around the side of the building, Recker felt rage engulf him when he saw Alex on the alley floor. She had a hand clamped to her cheek, and three guys were towering over her.
“Hey!” The bellowed word was intended to draw their attention to Recker, but his feet didn’t wait. Inhumanly fast he was tearing down alley even as three heads jerked in his direction. Alex didn’t look though. No, she kept her attention on the guys like she was afraid to look away. It only pissed him off more. Motherfuckers!
Recker was to the stupid fucks in a flash, too fast honestly, but he couldn’t control his instincts right now if he tried. Honestly, it was a blessing that he hadn’t shifted and wasn’t tearing into the guys. Closer, he recognized them as Fitz and his friends and that only pissed him off more. This was a calculated attack. Premeditated.
Without hesitation, his fist sailed through the air and landed square in the center of Fitz’s face. He heard bone break. It should have given him some satisfaction, it didn’t.
Fitz’s friends launched themselves at Recker. It was the worst mistake they could have made. Fitz stumbled back and bent over, grabbing his nose. It gave Recker the space he needed to grab one of his friends by the shirt and spin fast, slamming him into the third guy. Both men went down, and Recker followed. He pummeled one man into unconsciousness and only stopped when a punch to the side of his face snapped his head to the side and drew his attention. One hard punch and the second guy was out too. Lucky fuck! They had no idea how hard it was to not shift and rip them limb from fucking limb.
Dropping the unconscious guy, Recker’s head snapped up just in time to see Fitz coming at him, face covered in blood and a brick cocked back in one hand.
Shaking his head, he flashed Fitz a sinister sneer. Hoooo, stupid fuck! He was gonna bleed for hunting Alex down. He was gonna regret ever coming after her.
Fitz didn’t falter in his course. When he got close enough, he swung that brick at Recker who easily dodged it and then used Fitz’s own momentum to send him careening into the side of the building. Fitz hit face first and went down hard, but that didn’t stop Recker from bending over the prick and punching him until he felt like the guy would have learned his lesson when he finally woke up.
Pulling back, Recker stood to his full height. He wasn’t even tired, but he was breathing hard from the monumental self-restraint it had taken to not kill anyone.
Turning, he saw the other two guys were still out, but they were no longer his concern. His eyes scanned the alley, and his heart slammed to a halt when he didn’t see Alex. Recker felt a surge of panic, but tried to calm himself. Nostrils flaring, he let his animals do what they did best as he sifted throug
h all the scents and pinpointed Alex. His gut curdled when he dissected the sweet perfumy scent of her that was mingled with horror and…blood. The scent led him to the back door of the restaurant. He didn’t hesitate to jerk the door open and rush inside. Looking around the kitchen, he didn’t find her. When a portly man holding a spatula looked at him and yelled, “Hey!” Recker hustled through the kitchen to the front. Alex wasn’t there either. The waitress was though, and she was staring gape-mouthed out the front window. Recker followed her line of sight and saw Alex climb into the passenger seat of his truck before she slammed the door.
Out of the restaurant, Recker’s eyes were locked on where Alex was sitting in his passenger seat. She was staring straight ahead, but the terror from earlier was still etched into every line of her face and posture.
Purposely, he crossed in front of the truck so she’d see him coming. When her eyes finally locked on his, they looked hollow. Recker didn’t break the contact though. He couldn’t. He had to see her, had to see that she was okay.
At the passenger side door, he jerked it open. Alex just sat facing straight ahead.
“Alex?” He took in the swollen side of her face and the line of blood smeared at the corner of her mouth.
“I’m fine,” she whispered. “It’s not a big deal.”
He hated that she wouldn’t look at him. “Alex.” He grabbed her knee. When she flinched, he snarled and reached in and pulled her out before crushing her to him in a massive hug.
At first, it was just him hugging her, reassuring himself with touch and by her scent that she was okay. Then, slowly, Alex melted against him before her shoulders started shaking and she wept softly against his chest.
“Shhhh,” he crooned, smoothing a hand over the back of her head and holding her tighter. Honestly, his adrenaline was still pumping. He’d been terrified when he’d seen those fuckers on Alex, and now he was terrified because what if he hadn’t gotten there in time? Fuck!
“I got you, baby. It’s alright. They’re gone.”
“I was scared.” Her voice hitched on a sob.
“I know,” he soothed. “I know.”