Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
I go still, stuck on the fact that none are leading with shock and awe. “You knew we’ve wanted to be together?” I ask all of SFO. “Did you read her medical records or what?” They know I’ve had sex with Luna. Just like her dad knows.
Shit.
Farrow is glaring at me, though, like I’m being more illogical.
“Why would her medical records matter?” Thatcher asks intensely.
Shit.
So she didn’t let security have access to those files? I scrape a hand down my face and mutter, “She had a rape kit done—I thought it went to security, no?” I glance to Farrow, who’s shaking his head.
Fuck. I’m so ready to stop being out of the loop with security. Don’t need to be a lead or top dog with the most responsibility, but put me back in the middle where I belong.
Quinn looks devastated and murderous all at once. “She had a rape kit done? And we’re just now hearing about this?”
“It was thrown out,” Farrow says plainly, then eyes me. “You going to tell them or do you want me to?’
I’ll do it. “I had sex with Luna before the…incident or whatever you’re all calling it. Sperm matched me.” I make a loose rock on gesture with both hands.
Akara has a palm over his face, stressed to the max. “Donnelly.”
I open my mouth, but I can’t figure out what to say. I knew that trying to be with Luna would be bad for Security Force Omega and Akara’s firm as a whole.
Oscar munches on the corn chip. “Are we shocked they’ve been having sex?”
“It hasn’t been a lot,” I mention.
“That is shocking,” Oscar says.
I’m more shocked he didn’t place a bet on it with the rookies, but maybe it’d be an unfair one since I tell him more shit than them.
Banks bobs his head. “I thought you’ve been secretly fucking since you moved in.”
“I had my suspicions,” Thatcher says.
“Same here,” Quinn says and motions to Frog and Gabe too.
I’m frowning, not realizing that all of them thought we were already together. Maybe even longer than we actually were.
“You two just click,” Frog says simply. “Everyone who’s anyone can see it and believe it.” My friends are smiling, which are all of SFO in case that’s not clear.
More than friends, actually.
Family. Best I’ve ever had.
Frog adds, “I’d like to mention that Epsilon hates the idea of you two together. Like despises.”
Figured.
Akara slides his hand down his tensed neck. “You weren’t going on Luna’s detail, Donnelly.”
That…stuns me. “What?”
Akara sighs out, “We’re actually concerned about her attachment to you post-trauma and mixing that in a professional setting.”
“Especially since it’s only been four days since she woke up,” Thatcher adds.
Alright. Makes sense.
Thatcher explains further, “We weren’t sure if it’d be a good idea to put you in a position where you’ll need to protect her 24/7 while she’s still processing who you are to her and healing. It’s a relatively big change from what you were to Luna, and her therapist advised us against it.”
I try to ease. “Who’s shifting then?”
“I’ve already talked to Farrow about his son having no security for a while,” Akara starts, and Quinn begins to arch backward, knowing it’s him.
He’s been Baby Ripley’s bodyguard for some time now. A big position, but this one might be just as big, considering Luna’s threat level.
“Quinn,” Akara says, “you’re being transferred. You’ve already been Luna’s bodyguard, and she needs you now.”
She needs you.
A pit wedges in my ribs, but I try not to take his words to heart. She needs me too. Just in a distinctive, unique, unduplicated way. Just like I’ve needed Farrow and Oscar and not only her. Still, I want to be the most necessary, vital thing to Luna’s life.
Gotta say, this transfer is a good call from Akara. He’s reverting Luna to her past with Quinn and keeping her present with Frog. He’s not changing to something entirely new. Maybe it’ll help her find her memories too.
“I’ll be there,” Quinn assures our boss, then eyes Frog.
She eyes him back skeptically. They’re now working together as a bodyguard duo. Seeing as how they’ve been bickering, it’s not looking so bright, but they’re friends at the core.
“Donnelly,” Akara begins, waving me forward. It’s my time to shine and plead my case.
I step off the ladder, more concerned this won’t end well for me and Luna. “I asked for a meeting today ‘cause I know the timing seems bad. I know it’s important that my family still believes I’m on their side. They can’t know I was behind getting them locked up, and the best you’ve done, Akara, is make it so I can still be on the team. I know that.”
I’m appreciative of that.
I tell him, “I have to maintain my cover with my family, but I have a way to make it safe if I’m seen out in public with her.”