15. Easton

Chapter fifteen

Easton

T alking to women has never been a problem, but the idea of moving forward with Emily is daunting. How does one date a pregnant woman? I decide to do what I used to do best when it came to women before my last ex–just jump in. The block Em's Bloom's is situated on is packed the next morning, as usual, with rush hour traffic. People in cars and on the sidewalk are all rushing by in a hurry to get to where they need to clock in.

I leave the house as soon as I see Emily leave her apartment on the cameras, but thanks to traffic, I still end up slightly behind her. She finds a close spot to her shop, but I'm late and have to park further down the block. I'm thinking about running to get us bagels before I catch up to Emily. She seemed so amused when I mentioned chocolate chip bagels. That's when I see it–a white van.

It's so nondescript I doubt many people would even notice it. It's not the stereotypical creepy pedo van–this one is new and shiny and has a modern shape, but something about the way it moves sets my senses off immediately. It slows down and the side door opens just a crack as it turns on the busy road.

It looks like someone's about to jump out…or pull someone in.

I pull out my phone and text Darius.

White van traveling north

He is out of his car immediately and running toward Emily, who's only a few cars away, heaving herself out of her tiny car. The van skids to a stop right beside her and, immediately, the side door opens. A man reaches to grab Emily, but she's not taking that shit. She gets behind her still-open door and begins to hit him with her umbrella, giving Darius enough time to pull the man out of the van and onto the ground.

It takes everything in me not to shift into my wolf as I run through throngs of people oblivious to what is going on between Emily's car and the van. Someone starts honking for the van to move, but, fortunately, a semi delivering food is backing into the side lot of the Chinese restaurant next to Emily's shop. It's blocking all lanes of traffic and drawing most of the attention. By the time I reach them, Darius and the man from the van are on the ground, wrestling for a gun, just as the dumbass in the driver's seat finally gets out to help.

I have to hand it to Emily–what she lacks in self-preservation, she makes up for in loyalty to Darius. She manages to kick the gun out of the man's hand and send it sliding under a car, just as the second man comes around the front with a gun of his own.

I don't hesitate–all I can see is the gun coming up from his side as he points it at Darius's head. I pull out my 9 mm with the silencer on it and double tap the man as Emily cries out in surprise. A few people turn to see what the drama is, but most go on about their day as if nothing has happened. The distraction gives Darius the upper hand. He manages to flip the man he's wrestling with to his belly in one smooth move, pressing his face to the pavement.

"Thanks, boss," Darius says as I reach them both. Emily stares at us both, wide-eyed.

"What the hell just happened?!" she cries.

She is covered in tiny droplets of blood. Darius is already on the phone, calling for the clean-up crew. My guys are good. They'll be here before first responders even make it into their vehicles.

"Emily, someone just tried to kidnap you."

She's still clutching her umbrella. She looks from me to Darius and back to me again. "Who–who would…?" She doesn't finish her sentence. Her whole body begins to shake as she looks back and forth between Darius and me.

"I don't know, sweetheart. Come with me and we'll get you cleaned up."

"Cleaned up?" She looks over at Darius, and he nods encouragingly.

"Thanks for your help, kid," he tells her.

"I–" she shakes her head. "Thank you."

I put a hand on her arm, and she allows me to draw her away. "Will Darius be okay?" she asks as I take her hand. Already, two of my men are heading at a fast pace toward Darius, and still no sirens. We make it back to my car at her pace and I turn in time to see the men help Darius load up the two men–or rather, I suppose, the body and the still-living man. Several people have stopped to watch, but no one moves to intervene. They drive off in the van, leaving Darius, who seems no worse for wear, to head back to his car like nothing happened.

"Yes, he's getting in his car now."

Take the day off.

I text Darius before buckling Emily's seatbelt and getting on the other side.

"I-I'm going to ruin your car."

"Not the first time someone bloody has been in here." I say without thinking, and she starts to laugh. She's hysterical and I'm worried, but there's not much I can do as I drive us back to my place.

She hits me on the arm. "Did-did you see? They tried to kidnap a huge pregnant woman, and they sent…the…skinniest man alive…" She leans her head into my shoulder and I can't help smiling at her. "Do they even know how much I weigh?" Her laughter fills the car. "I probably have fifty pounds on that guy."

She's still giggling when I turn down my road, stopping only as I pull through the gates. "Fuck, Easton, this is where you live?"

She sits up straighter and leans forward a bit. I've driven down this drive millions of times, but it's interesting watching it through my mate's eyes. She seems truly impressed by the place.

I nod. "My whole life. It's been in the family for a few hundred years. My great-great-grandfather was big time and had it built."

She looks at me and opens her mouth as if she wants to respond, but then shakes her head, mystified. I don't bother going into the garage. I park as close to the front door as possible, and come around to open her door and help her out. Worry lines cross her forehead as I lead her up the steps to the main door. She looks down at herself and sighs. "I can't go in there like this."

"It wouldn't be the first time–"

She holds up a hand. "I get it."

Instead of waiting for her to decide, I take her hand and pull her gently behind me. She doesn't fight, but I can feel her reluctance as we walk into the main foyer. "Tracey!"

Instead of Tracey, an unofficial cat delegation saunters in to sniff at Emily. She forgets the blood as Kevin steps forward, followed by Daryl, Steven, and Rodney, a handsome Ragdoll that showed up not too long ago.

"OHMYGODYOUHAVECATS!" Somehow, despite the huge belly, she manages to kneel down to their level and soon has a swarm of cats rubbing against her and purring like she's covered in cat nip.

"Easton, why the hell are you yelling in the house before noon?" Tracey says, as she steps into the foyer. She stops short as she lays eyes on Emily. "Holy crap, Easton, what did you do to this poor girl? Why is she covered in blood?"

Emily looks up. "No, no. Easton and Darius saved me from being kidnapped." She holds up a hand to me and I help her back to a standing position. "He had to shoot one of the bad guys to keep him from killing Darius."

"Does she know you're one of the bad guys?" Tracey asks with a withering look.

I open my mouth to make a joke, but Emily beats me to it. "I've heard of the Degarmos. Everyone in this city knows of them, but he did save my life and Darius's. That should count for something."

Tracey smiles. "It does. Come on, let's get you cleaned up."