56. Henri
Chapter 56
Henri
The first cramp hits, and I dismiss myself out the back door of the courtroom. The guard gives me a pointed look, but I ignore him. Immediately two Corinth Security agents are following me down the hallway. I push my way into the bathroom, and one of the male agents follows me in.
“Women’s room,” I hiss at him, trying to shoo him out.
He barely acknowledges my remark, checking the stalls, which thankfully are all empty, before walking back out the door.
I turn the faucet on to cold water and stick my wrists under the flow. Resting my elbows on the countertop, I draw deep breaths, hoping the cool water and the stretch of my lower back will ease the ache of the cramp.
It doesn’t take long before I feel better. Just a little one, then.
Straightening, I look at myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed, but beyond that, I don’t look any different.
We need Deacon, my wolf demands.
“Miss Greene.” A male voice comes at the same time as a knock on the door. My security agent. “We’re moving. ”
I grab my bag off the counter and leave the bathroom.
Ansel walks by with Morrigan in his arms, headed toward the exit. I fall into line toward the back of the Ardelean pack and get moving with the group through the police escort to where our vehicles are parked.
“Henri,” Deacon shouts.
I spin around, looking for him, but I can’t find him.
“Henri,” he calls again, and this time I zone in on him standing by one of the smaller SUVs. Deacon beckons me, gesturing me toward him.
With brisk steps, I move around people piling into SUVs to get to him.
“You’re going with these agents, you’re on the first flight back to Minnesota.” He nods.
“Deacon, hurry up!” someone shouts from across the group.
Deacon holds his hand up with his middle finger extended. “Just a minute.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I pull his arm down, grabbing hold of the suit jacket. “We talked about this.”
“You gotta go.” Deacon opens the door for me and ushers me around it.
Not without him. My wolf protests.
“You’re not coming with?” I shake my head, leaning around him to look at his family, nearly all in their vehicles. “No, that’s ridiculous, you should celebrate with your family. I’ll go.”
Deacon locks eyes with me. “Ask me to come, Henri.”
I look back at his family and then to Deacon. “I’m scared. Please?”
“Let’s go.” Deacon motions for me to get in the SUV, and when I do, he closes the door.
Instantly, I feel trapped and uncomfortable. My heart starts hammering in my chest. I reach for the handle, but he doesn’t walk away to the other cars. He walks around the front of ours and climbs in the back seat next to me.
Deacon closing his car door only helps in the slightest to bring me back to center. I still don’t like how confined I feel in this SUV.
“Seat belts,” the security agent in the front instructs, looking in his rearview mirror.
My fingers fumble with it, and Deacon slides over, pulling it out of my grasp and buckling me in with ease.
He then handles his own.