38. Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter thirty-eight
Peter
After Hummingbird finished eating the soup Quinn brought down, she settled into the chair a little more. “I’m exhausted.”
There it is. “It’s usually what happens after you’ve been through something traumatic.”
She shook her head at me. “Shut up.” The smirk on her face softened the somewhat sharp response. “Back to the name thing, though. Your cover has been blown.”
I shrugged. “I meant what I said before. I’m good with you using either name.”
Hummingbird stared at me for a moment. “Do you want to know my name?”
The question caught me by surprise, and while I wanted to know anything and everything about her, that wasn’t mine to ask for. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know I don’t have to do a damn thing. I was asking if you wanted to know.”
I looked at her for a moment before nodding.
Hummingbird pressed her lips together for a moment. “The name I’m going by these days is Adair.”
These days? What other names has she gone by? “Adair. I like it.”
She smiled. “It’s not bad for a third pick.”
I tipped my head to the side. “Third pick?”
Hummingbird… No, Adair nodded. “Yeah. It’s not the name I wanted to go by, or the second name I was forced into, but I do like it. Probably because Derek helped me pick it out.” Her voice cracked on the last sentence as tears appeared in her eyes and emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
“He chose well.” When she failed at stifling a yawn, I struggled not to reach over and pat her arm. “Maybe you should take a nap. I’ll clear out and give you some space. Having this many visitors must have been overwhelming since you’re used to the quiet.”
Her eyes went wide, but I couldn’t help but see some relief in them. “What are you going to do? I don’t want to kick you out of your room.”
“You’re not kicking me out. I’m going to grab some lunch, talk to Edith, and probably get grilled a little more by Quinn.
” When she tensed up again, my resolve broke, and I reached to rub her arm.
“I’m not leaving the basement. I’ll be at most twenty feet away, and I can either let you have some quiet time to yourself when I’m done with my stuff or come back and sit with you. ”
She nodded and let out a shaky breath. “Okay.”
“You’re safe here, Adair. I promise."
Once she had shifted and pulled her blanket over her, I went to leave but was stopped when she grabbed my hand. “Don’t feel like you have to stay away after you eat. I may be used to being alone, but I also like being with you. I can’t explain why, but—”
“I’ll make it quick.” I held her hand for another second before giving it a gentle squeeze and letting go.
Cole’s head popped up from whatever he was doing on his phone as I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. “Everything okay in there?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
Edith walked out from the security room. “I have to get back to the lodge before Lukas figures out I was here.” She turned a serious and sharp look on Cole. “You didn’t see me at all today. You also know nothing about what's behind that door.”
He stood with a start, clearly nervous by the sudden shift of her mood. “Yes, ma’am.”
Her attention shifted to me, the ferocity in her eyes softening some. “Keep me updated on the goings on here, okay?”
I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Would you like one of us to walk you to your car?”
Edith’s classic smile reappeared on her face. “I can find it all on my own, but thank you. Also, I’m going to chat with Quinn and say goodbye.” She turned and headed up the stairs.
As soon as we heard the ladies talking upstairs, Cole glanced past me, likely looking at my door, before focusing on me again. “So, this is a super secret project?”
“Yep.”
“And the rest of us will get filled in when?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. Soon, I hope.”
Cole headed back into the security room, and I walked into the small kitchen to make myself some lunch.
I was in the middle of eating my sandwich when I heard the door to the garage open and shut. “Quinn?”
Hearing Lukas’s voice that clearly told me Edith had left the door open at the top of the stairs.
“In the kitchen.”
His footsteps grew louder. “Why was Edith here? What happened?”
Quinn let out a sigh. “Nothing happened.”
“Then why was she here? And why are you home?” Lukas had all kinds of attitude in his voice.
“Well, I’m here because I live here. I didn’t realize I needed to clear it with you to go home.”
I snickered at the ‘fuck around and find out’ tone Quinn had used. If Lukas was smart, he wasn’t going to push it, but the man didn’t always make the best choices when it came to handling things with his wife.
The conversation became too quiet for me to pick up on the words, and about the time I was going to head back to my room and check in with Adair, Lukas’s raised voice stopped me.
“But this is my house.”
Uh oh.
“This is also my house, Lukas. And Peter’s house.
And Phil’s house. And Cole’s house. They have a right to privacy, and that extends to their guests, especially when Edith and your mother are asking for it.
If you’re going to be an ass about this and force your way in, you and I are going to have a very long and uncomfortable evening.
Also, don’t underestimate how quickly I will call your mother to back us up about this. ”
“She’s not playing.”
I glanced over at Cole, who was standing in the doorway to the security room, and shook my head. “Not at all.”
There was a loud thud from upstairs. “No, you’re not going down there right now.
I’m not done talking to you. You trust Peter with both of our lives, right?
” There was a pause. “Direct order from your mother aside, do you really think he would bring someone here who might compromise our safety? And if you do, why in the hell is he still employed by your family and driving me to and from work?”
Cole let out a low whistle. “Shit.” He glanced over. “Hope you’re still employed in the morning.”
I chuckled. “I will be. If Lukas doesn’t keep me, Lynette will.”
There was silence again, and then a door closed.
About ten minutes later, my phone buzzed.
Quinn:
Peter:
Quinn:
Peter:
Quinn:
Quinn:
Peter:
I was about to walk into my room when another text came in.
Lukas:
I could feel the irritated eye roll from here.
Peter:
I let out a sigh and opened the door to my room. Adair was sleeping peacefully on my bed, and I felt better seeing how much more relaxed her face was.
I wonder when I'll get to see her that calm while she’s awake.
Not wanting her to be worried when she woke up in an empty room, I sent her a message.
Shield:
Letting out a sigh, I headed upstairs and into what was very likely going to be an interesting meeting.
As I walked past the kitchen, Quinn stopped me. “I know I’m not your boss in any sense of the word, but do not let Lukas bully or blackmail you into giving up any information or compromising her safety.”
I smiled at her. “Even if he tried, which I doubt he would, he won’t get a word out of me. He would get an angry call from his mother after the fact, though. I think he knows that.”
She nodded, and the angry determination that sparked in her eyes intimidated me a little. “Okay.”
I knocked as I walked into Lukas’s office. “You rang?”
He glanced up, frustration all over his face. Between the clenched jaw and the tight grip on the glass in his hands, the man was clearly pissed. “I did. Come in.” After I sat on the chair near his desk, he let out a sigh. “I’m assuming you heard some of the discussion Quinn and I had?”
“A bit, yeah.” Neighbors would have heard it if we had any nearby.
Lukas opened his mouth to say something as his phone rang.
When he glanced down, some of the color drained from his face.
“It’s my mom.” He cleared his throat and answered the call.
“Hey, Momma. How are you?” Lukas looked up at me, intrigued, and nodded.
“Yeah, Peter is right here.” He nodded again.
“Okay.” Letting out a sigh, he put the call on speaker.
“Peter?”
I leaned closer to the phone. “I’m right here, ma’am.”
Lynette sighed. “Peter, I’d like to thank you for helping me, as well as apologize for putting you in an extremely difficult position with my son. It’s almost over, my dear.”
It surprised me to hear Lynette bringing up the topic right in front of Lukas.
Lukas furrowed his brow. “What are you talking about?”
“Peter, how is she doing?”
My eyes went wide. “Ma’am… I…”
“I’m about to fill in Lukas on more of it. You’re free to answer the question in front of him.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded. “She’s doing as well as she can, in my opinion. She’s also understandably concerned about what’s going to happen next.”
“She? Who is she?” Lukas was staring at me, dumbfounded. “Who are you talking about?”
“Hummingbird. Now, shush, Lukas.” Lynette cleared her throat. “Peter, who knows her location?”
“Specifically? Me, Edith, and Quinn. Phil, Cole, and Lukas know something is going on and that we are hiding someone for their own protection, but they haven’t pressed for too many details.”
Lukas’s confusion quickly morphed to anger. “What in the hell is going on?”
“Lukas Reginald, mind your tone. Peter has been in a unique and extremely difficult position, and I have one more request for him before you can have more answers.”
A scowl appeared on his face, but all he did was take a sip of whatever was in his glass and glare at the phone.
I sat up a little straighter. “What’s that?”
“Ask her if she’s ready to reunite with some family.”
My eyes went wide. “What?” What in the world is Lynette talking about?
“She’ll know what I mean. Ask her and let me know what she says.”
I glanced at the door and then back to the phone. “With all due respect, why me and not you?”
Lynette took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I need you to read her reaction. I can’t get that in a text.”
Fair enough. “Would you like me to ask her right now?”
Lynette sighed. “Not immediately, but sooner over later, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” As soon as I was off this call, it was going to happen.
“And Lukas?”
He sat up again. “Yes, Momma?”
“Don’t interrogate Peter after I get off this call. There are many reasons for all the layers of security and secrecy.”
A tense breath rushed between his lips as his posture softened. “Yes, Momma.”
“And Peter? Please contact me the moment she gives you an answer.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The call ended, and Lukas stared at me. “How long will it take for you to get an answer from her?”
I could tell by the twitch in his fingers he wanted to ask me too much more, but Lukas was never one to do anything to hurt or anger his mother. Not wanting to wait, I stood up. “I’ll take care of it now. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get filled in soon.”
All he did was let out an irritated sigh and wave me out of his room as he took another drink. Lukas prided himself on knowing everything going on, and I could only assume how frustrating this situation was for him.
Not wanting to waste any time, I quickly made my way back downstairs and into my room.
Hummingbird… No, Adair sat up as I walked in. “I saw your message, and by the determined look on your face, I have a feeling something happened in your meeting.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, you could say that. Lynette wants me to ask you something.”
She gave me a curious look. “What’s that?”
“Are you ready to reunite with some family?”