Chapter 22 #2
“Sure, but did you also notice that those who went missing were also rookies on the supply teams? While I’m not blaming them, they were also inexperienced and could have easily ended up in a bad situation.”
Rhys’s sigh is loud. “I still think this needs investigation.”
Theo and Alex murmur in agreement.
“We’ll take your recommendation under advisement,” a feminine voice tinged with sympathy says.
“Personally, I think these missing people deserve for us to at least look into their disappearances, regardless of their experience.” That last part is said pointedly, and no prizes for guessing who it’s aimed at.
“Exactly,” another feminine voice says. “Although I agree with Charles that I don’t think this is anything to worry about. Especially now that the three of you are back. How soon can you go out for another supply run?”
“With all due respect, Elsa, we’d prefer to remain here for at least a few weeks. That rescue mission was long, and we have things we need to do here at Haven before we do another run,” Theo says, sounding surprisingly diplomatic even though there’s a tinge of frustration in his voice.
The second feminine voice—Elsa—harrumphs, clearly not pleased with his answer. “We managed just fine without you and I think you’re better suited to be outside Haven, getting us what we need.”
“The guys said no, Elsa,” Charles reprimands. “While I think they’re blowing this out of proportion, they’re entitled to pick the jobs they want. Especially after everything they’ve done for us.”
There’s an unimpressed huff from Elsa, but she stays quiet.
“Well, I don’t know about you boys, but I’m starving. How about we pause this meeting until after lunch?” the first feminine voice says.
There are several murmurs of agreement followed by the scraping of chairs and feet hitting the floor.
Rachel yanks me away from the door, and the two of us hoof it down the staircase and back to the ground floor of the building. Harlow sticks by my side, the excitement gone from earlier and replaced with wariness.
“There are people going missing?” Rachel asks quietly as we stop in front of the reception desk.
I lean against it, trying to appear casual and nod. “Yeah, Rhys found a pattern in the reports yesterday.”
“None of them aside from the guys seem that concerned about it, though.” She wrinkles her nose.
“I know, it’s weird. Especially since they sent the three of them out to go rescue Jerri and the others when the Scourge took them.”
“Were they sent out, or did they volunteer? Because from what little we heard, I think it’s the latter.”
I have no idea. The guys never really talked about it, and I’ve never really asked. Something I’ll have to remedy soon, since all of this is making my stomach clench itself into knots.
Our conversation comes to a halt as the door to the stairwell flies open and two men and two women stride out.
Only one of them—a man with dark hair and eyes—appears to be under the age of fifty, while the others have a mixture of greying hair and wrinkled faces.
None of them even so much as look at us as they stride past.
A moment later, Rhys, Alex, and Theo appear, talking animatedly amongst themselves.
Rhys is scowling—not unusual—although the thunderous expression on Alex’s face coupled with Theo’s frown tells me they’re all frustrated by how the meeting went.
All three stop the moment they see us at the reception desk.
Harlow finally relaxes with a huff and wanders off to sniff around.
Theo’s face lights up. “Hey baby, were you waiting for us?” he asks as he strides over, grabs my head and plants a deep kiss on my lips.
The action takes me completely by surprise, so I just stand there and allow him to kiss me with more fervour than is probably appropriate in public.
But before I can really sink into the kiss, he pulls back with a chuckle, and then Alex is suddenly there.
He slams his lips against mine and presses me back against the reception desk, kissing me passionately.
A throat clears but Alex ignores it. He deepens the kiss, devouring me until I’m ready to say screw it and start ripping clothes off.
“Jesus, Alex. Quit mauling the poor woman before you two end up fucking against the desk,” Rhys says in exasperation.
Theo chuckles. “Not the worst idea in the world…”
Rhys sighs. “Don’t encourage him.”
Rachel snorts on my other side. “I don’t think they need much encouragement. Although I’m not sure I want to be a part of this show.”
Oh, oops. I forgot Rachel is still here.
As much as I enjoy kissing Alex, I reluctantly push at his shoulder. He groans in frustration but backs off, his blue eyes so dark they’re almost black as they zero in on my lips.
“That’s such a good look on you,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl as he traces my bottom lip with his thumb.
I just barely resist the urge to lick the pad of his thumb and fight to get my brain back online. What were we doing here? Oh, right, firing range.
I lean around the side of Alex’s large form. “Hey, Rhys, is there a firing range here?”
The man in question arches a brow. “There is. What do you need it for?”
“Rachel wants to learn archery, and I figured it’d be safer to do it there than anywhere else. Less chance of accidentally shooting someone. Or losing an arrow.”
“I also want my gun back,” Rachel says with a pout.
I point at her. “Yeah, that too.”
Theo snorts. “Of course you do. You had a tantrum that would make a toddler proud when Rhys took that rifle off you.”
Rhys considers it for a moment before answering. “I’ll see what I can do about the gun—but no promises—and after lunch, I can show you two where the range is. Try not to shoot yourself or anyone else. Fuck knows I have enough shit here to deal with.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Rachel says, sounding almost giddy at the idea of getting her gun back.
I shake my head. I’m pretty sure the woman is more in love with her rifle than her partner at this point.
“Come on, I’m starving. We can fuck Ollie later,” Theo says, grabbing my arm and dragging me away from Alex, who’s still looking at me like I’m a juicy steak and he’s starving.
Alex huffs out a laugh and takes my other hand, twining our fingers together. “I’m holding you to that,” he says, squeezing my hand.
I squeeze back. “No complaints here.”
“I should hope not, considering how hard we made you come last night,” Theo murmurs in my ear before pressing a kiss to my neck, causing a shiver of pleasure to race down my spine.
He goes to say something else, but we reach the communal dining area before he can, and the amazing scent of food overtakes our thoughts.
Various people trickle in as we enjoy our meal.
First, is Tamsin who sidles up to Rachel, followed by my brother and his wife, both of them joining in on the chattering and laughter.
Simon joins us at some point, and while I don’t know him very well, Rhys greets him happily before the two of them descend into an intense conversation about security measures.
About halfway through lunch, a new couple joins us.
“Hi!” the woman says, grinning brightly at me as she plops down into a chair opposite.
She looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it until she explains.
“I’m Harriet, Rhys’s sister, and this is my husband, Matt.
” The man in question offers me a welcoming smile as he sits beside his wife.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ollie, Rhys’s friend.”
Several people snort and cough at my proclamation, including Alex and Theo.
My eyes narrow at them, but only Alex has the decency to look sheepish while Theo just grins.
Assholes. Aren’t they supposed to be on my side?
Rachel kicks me under the table, and I turn my glare to her, but she just smiles.
Tobias snickers from further down the table.
Why do I hang out with these people?
Harriet’s dark brows shoot upward at everyone’s reaction, and her gaze turns calculating as it flicks between me and her brother. Her eyes are a darker shade than Rhys’s amber eyes, more of an oak brown than honey. “I see.”
I grimace. “Just ignore them.”
Rhys grunts in agreement and turns to his younger sister. “You going to tell me what you did to piss off Elsa?” he asks, effectively turning the conversation away from our relationship status.
Harriet’s head drops back as she groans. “She’s a bitch, and I called her out on it.”
Matt huffs from beside his wife. “You did more than that. You insulted her in front of everyone and said that she was useless at her job.”
Her head whips towards him. “She deserved it! I told her we needed to stop reassigning our security guys, but she wouldn’t listen.” She scowls, looking so much like Rhys. “You’re supposed to be on my side, not rat me out to my brother.”
I offer her a sympathetic smile. I know exactly how you feel.
“If I hadn’t said anything, he would have just asked Anthony,” Matt says with an unrepentant shrug.
Harriet clutches her chest. “Betrayed by my own husband,” she says dramatically.
A couple of people around the table chuckle at her antics while she and her husband squabble.
Rhys and the guys cut in every now and again to tease her, which she dished right back.
It’s sweet to see the close relationship she has with the guys, how even Theo and Alex treat her like a little sister.
I sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. I could get used to this. Hot men, amazing food, and good friends.
I just wish I knew why there were still knots in my stomach and dread lurking in the back of my mind.