Page 51 of Flint's Arrow
Flint felt the air shimmer slightly to his left and knew Pax was there too, invisible and ready to throw things if necessary.Outside, Flint also knew all of his friends were there, ready to move at a moment’s notice. His mate had backup. They all did. That was what family meant.
“They’re coming,” Pax’s voice whispered, the voice coming from by the window. “Three trucks just turned onto the access road.”
Flint’s snake went very still inside him.Threetrucks. Patterson hadn’t just brought one or two witnesses. He’d brought an army.
“How many people?” Arrow asked, tension locking his shoulders. “Any idea?”
“I can’t tell yet. At least eight, maybe more, or” - Pax’s disembodied voice sounded as if he was having fun - “it could just be three or four people who can’t stand being in the same vehicle with your dick ex-boss.”
“Fuck.” Arrow scrubbed a hand over his face. “That’s not a witness party. That’s a raid.”
“We knew this could happen. Patterson probably thinks he’s rescuing you,” Python said. “From the evil assassin who supposedly kidnapped you.”
Flint’s hand drifted to the small of his back, fingers brushing the Glock’s grip. If Patterson thought he was going to take Arrow, he’d be leaving in a body bag.
“Easy,” Arrow murmured, catching the movement. “Let me talk to him first.”
“And if talking doesn’t work?”
“Then we improvise.” Arrow kissed his forehead. “Get behind the counter. Stay out of sight unless things go bad.”
“I’m not hiding.”
“Flint…”
“I’m. Not. Hiding.” Flint held his mate’s gaze. “You can fight him if you have to, but I’m standing right here where he can see me. He thinks I kidnapped you? Fine. Let him look at me and see how stupid that sounds.”
Arrow’s expression softened. “You’re five-foot-seven and weigh maybe a buck-thirty soaking wet.”
“Five-eight, and one twenty-five,” Flint corrected. “Your point?”
“My point is you’re one of the least threatening people in this building, and I love you for it.”
“I’m a trained assassin with a Glock and a very protective snake who wants to eat your ex-boss.”
“Somehow that’s not very threatening.” Arrow’s smile was full of affection. “I know you were wearing a sun hat less than two hours ago.”
“I took the hat off before we left.”
“And now you’ve still got a leaf in your hair from the greenhouse.”
Flint reached up and found the offending leaf, flicking it away. “Better?”
“You’re still adorable.”
“I’m a trained killer.”
“An adorable, trained killer.” Arrow kissed him quickly. “Just...stay back. Please. I need to know you’re safe.”
The trucks pulled into the parking lot, engines rumbling. Flint could see them through the window - three large pickups, all bearing official-looking plates. Doors slammed. Voices carried, loud and aggressive.
“Here we go,” Python muttered.
Arrow straightened, rolling his shoulders back. The nervous wolf disappeared, replaced by the look of cool confidence Flint remembered from the night they met. Flint had seen that look before on missions. His mate might have worked in cybercrimes, but the predator underneath knew how to handle threats.
The door crashed open. Patterson filled the entrance, massive and broad-shouldered, his bulk making the doorframe look small. He was dressed in tactical gear, complete with a vest and sidearm. Behind him, three more bears crowded in, equally armed and armored. An extraction team, in other words.
“Arrow.” Patterson’s voice boomed through the space. “Step away from the shifter.”
