Page 47 of Flint's Arrow
“Yes, please,” Arrow growled as he rolled Flint onto his back.
Chapter Sixteen
“I still don’t understand why we couldn’t just tell Cyrus.”
Python’s eyes filled with flames as he glared at Storm. “Because my mate is losing his mind dealing with agency bullshit and I amnotgoing to add to his stress by telling him we’re about to commit what could technically be considered murder, assault, or at the very least interfering in an agency investigation, depending on how things go.”
Arrow shifted his weight, leaning against the workbench in the sawmill workshop where he’d spent the last few days attempting to whittle. Python had warded the entire building - whatever that meant - so no one could overhear them. All five assassins were present - Storm and Devon flanking the door, Calvin and Levi standing near the back wall, and Flint pressed against Arrow’s side.
“The agency is driving him nuts,” Python continued, pacing. “They’re calling at all hours - day and fucking night. These management idiots act like they don’t even believe assassinscanhave fated mates, which is complete bullshit. But they keep pushing for Arrow and Flint to come to the main office for ‘interviews,’ just so the whole thing can be ‘sorted out.’” He made air quotes with his fingers.
“Cyrus is doing his best. You all know he’s got the patience of a saint, and he’s got our back no matter what. He’s calling in every favor he’s ever been owed, and it’s like he’s hitting his head on a brick wall. I don’t like what this whole mess is doing to him, so we’re taking things into our own hands.”
Arrow’s stomach twisted. Through his bond with Flint, he felt his mate’s anger simmering just beneath the surface, but Arrow’s emotion was guilt.
“I should go back,” Arrow said quietly. “To the city. If my presence here is causing problems…”
“No.” Flint’s voice was sharp as a blade.
“Absolutely not,” Devon added, crossing his massive arms.
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all week,” Storm said. “And Pax tried to convince me that chocolate should be part of the vegetable food group yesterday.”
“It’s made with milk, which comes from cows, who eat grass,” Pax protested from where he sat on a stack of lumber. “That’s practically a salad.”
“Focus,” Python snapped, though his mouth twitched. “Arrow, you’re not going anywhere, especially alone. You’re part of this family now, which means we handle problems together.”
Arrow’s throat tightened.They’re all standing up for me.
“What can we actuallydo,though?” Devon’s reasonable tone cut through the emotion. “We’re assassins under contract with the agency. We can’t just kill Patterson for being annoying, otherwise, you’d have already done that, Python. It’s not just the paperwork, which would be bad enough in itself, but the implications for our jobs…”
“It would be a nightmare,” Calvin finished. “They pay us to kill their targets, but Fates help us if we take someone out on our own. That could reflect badly on Cyrus as well, given that he is supposed to ‘handle’ us. How’s he going to explain an unsanctioned killing to upper management?”
“Patterson would have to do something that warrants it, first,” Levi pointed out. “We could probably make that happen.”
Arrow straightened. “Or…you know, I’m not an assassin.”
Everyone turned to look at him.
“I’m not under contract with the agency,” Arrow continued, his wolf stirring. “If Patterson insulted my mate - which he did, multiple times - I’d have the right to challenge and fight him. All I need is somewhere this can happen that’s not in the Alley.”
“Now we’re talking.” Python’s grin widened. “And you’re exactly right. No disrespect to your previous profession, but we don’t want agency personnel anywhere near our homes. This is our space. We need somewhere else that is also private.”
“You’ve already got somewhere else in mind,” Flint said. “Where?”
“Remember that run-down barbecue joint we all used to meet at? Back when Ethan was our handler, and we were being watched constantly?”
Storm nodded slowly. “The one about forty minutes out, middle of nowhere? We haven’t been there for a while.”
“We haven’t needed to because now we’ve got a home, but yes, that’s the one. Isolated, private, and perfect for what we need.” Python pulled out his phone and put it on a bench. “Arrow, I’m going to need to borrow your phone.”
Arrow handed it over without question. Python’s eyes went completely black, the flames extinguishing as something else took over. When he spoke, Arrow’s own voice came out of Python’s mouth.
“What the fuck?” Arrow breathed.
“That’s Asimov,” Flint murmured. “Python’s demon side. He can mimic voices perfectly.”
Arrow watched, fascinated and slightly disturbed, as Python - no, Asimov - scrolled through Arrow’s contacts and dialed Patterson’s number. The phone rang twice before Patterson’s gruff voice answered.
