Chapter Four
Mateo
Dinner Instead Of Payment
Shit. That’s an overreaction if I’ve ever had one. But it’s hard to hold back. I am already protective of her. I watch her frown, taking in my anger.
“Sorry,” I say softly. “I tend to be overprotective of women.”
She tilts her head. “All women?”
I shrug. “My sister was in a bad relationship.” I try to explain why I may seem a little crazy.
I’m not lying. Many years ago, I had a sister. She was in a relationship with a man. He was a jagter. She thought he was the love of her life, but actually, he was just using her to get to me. He hurt her emotionally and physically and eventually killed her.
That’s the truth, but it’s not the only reason for my reaction. Harlow is the main reason.
“I’m sorry,” she says softly, and I can read the genuine emotion scrolled across her face.
“It’s in the past,” I say with a shrug. “I do want to know if you are okay.”
She gives me a small smile. “I’m fine. I promise. I just got a weird vibe from him, and he pressed my buttons. But nothing actually happened.”
I nod, returning to her computer. I’m already done with what I needed to do, but I’m biding my time before I leave. I let my fingers fly across the keyboard, making sure that the spyware I installed is still fully functional, along with a decent anti-virus.
“I think that does it,” I say without looking at her.
“Really?” She sounds excited and relieved at the same time.
Turning my head, I find her face right beside mine, leaning over my shoulder.
Shit. I’m a fucking vampire for god’s sake.
I have the heightened senses of every fucking predator on earth combined.
How did I miss her moving closer? Not that it matters right now.
All I can do is take in her scent as it wraps around me.
“It’s all there,” she says with a sigh, sounding relieved.
“I told you,” I say with a chuckle. “I’m good at what I do and wouldn’t let you lose anything important.”
Her gaze collides with mine before she pulls away. “Thank you so much. What do I owe you?”
I grab my bag and shake my head. “Nothing. It was a simple fix.”
“No one works for free,” she says with a frown. “And I don’t need charity.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “It’s not charity...”
“Then let me pay for your services.” Her voice has turned hard as she glares at me with her arms folded across her chest.
I stare at her, taking a deep breath. She has always been beautiful, but she is glorious in her anger. I wonder what she would look like in a flat-out rage and what it would take to push her that far.
“I don't want your money.”
“Mateo...”
I love the sound of my name falling from her lips, but I cut her off. “If you really feel like you need to repay me for helping you, I have a suggestion.” When she simply stares at me, I continue. “Let me take you out to dinner.”
“What? How is that repayment?”
I smirk. “Getting to eat dinner with a beautiful woman is more than enough.”
She blushes deeply, and I know that my compliment has hit its mark. She is stunning, and if she hasn’t been told that every day, I will make it my mission to do so.
“You can’t be serious,” she says in a whisper.
“I am. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.”
I don’t allow her the opportunity to argue or deny me what I want.
Quickly, I slip from her apartment and disappear down the stairs.
I have a pep in my step and a broad smile on my face, knowing that I will be spending more time with the other half of my soul tomorrow.
And if I have my way, every day after that.
My phone pings, and I pull it out to check my message.
Her: Thank you for your help.
Me: Any time, beautiful.
****
Kyson is waiting for me as soon as I reach the compound, a frown marring his face.
“Where have you been?” he asks.
“Out.”
“No shit. Where?”
I glare at him. “I know you are supposed to keep us safe, but I’m not a sixteen-year-old with a curfew, my friend. I can take care of myself.”
I walk past him to my office, where I have everything set up just the way I like it.
I drop my bag on the counter before falling into my black leather chair and wheeling myself into place.
I work through each of the cameras surrounding the compound and check that they are working and haven’t picked up any activity in the hour I have been off-site.
Kyson stands in the doorway, watching me closely.
“Can you hack into the surveillance of Sangre?” he asks after standing there for several minutes.
“Why?” I don’t look at him as I continue with my task.
“The jagters are going to find us eventually,” he explains. “And they are going to hit the town before they come up here for us. I would like to be prepared this time.”
My heartbeat accelerates at his words. Harlow is in town. Fuck my life. I need time to convince her to be mine. I know kidnapping Scarlet worked out for Kyson, but I have a feeling locking my woman away would only push her away from me. I don’t want to force her into doing anything.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Mateo.” Kyson waits until I focus my attention on him. “You need to talk to someone. If not me, then one of the others or the women. We can all see your mind isn’t here.”
“It’s none of your business...”
He holds up a hand, cutting me off. “It is, though. You are part of our security, our first line of defense, and you’re not doing your job.”
I glare at him. I want to kick his ass, but my rational mind is telling me he is right.
“Fine. I’ll find someone to talk to.”