Lindsey’s Wolves(64)

Alex paced in front of Ryan, running his hands through his hair. “I don’t like it. What the hell do they want? Ay Dios.” His voice rose in pitch as he grew more frustrated.

“Wish we had more info than that, but right now, we just don’t.” Trevor looked as worried as everyone else. “Jess wants to go home though, so I think we’re going to have to let her and hope these guys are innocuous even if they’re annoying.”

Ryan’s gut clenched. “Lindsey’s going to want to go with her.”

“She can’t. No way.” Alejandro shook his head.

“What do you want to do about it?” It wasn’t as though Ryan could shake a magic wand and make her see reason.

When three women appeared on the stairs, hands on hips, Ryan took a deep breath.

Lindsey spoke first. “Jess and I are going back to the apartment.” She held her head high and bit her lower lip after she spoke, belying the fact she knew this wasn’t going to go over well with two aggressive wolves. Well, four.

“Joder.”

Ryan held up a hand to keep Alex from speaking out loud. His ire was over the top, emotion radiating from his thoughts to Ryan’s. “We’ll take you. We’ll discuss it further there.”

He turned to Alex, hoping the look on his face would keep the man’s mouth shut. “It’s just a trip to their place. Doesn’t mean anything yet. Maybe if we go along for the easy parts, she’ll bend a little when it comes down to something more serious. She can’t stand for us to boss her around, tell her what she can and can’t do.”

Alex breathed in and out of his nose, as loud as possible. His lips were pursed.

Lindsey scooted between them, heading for Ryan’s truck, Jessica on her heels, not saying a word to anyone.

Once they were inside, squished in the tight back seat, Kara spoke. “Just let them check it out, please.” She pleaded with all four men, glancing at each of them in turn. “If you demand they can’t go home, you’ll regret it. Believe me.” She was serious.

“She’s right.” Ryan headed for the driver’s side, head hung. He knew Alex did the same on the passenger side.

No one spoke during the drive. At least not out loud. Alex never stopped huffing, puffing, and complaining into Ryan’s mind the entire ride. He was worried.

Ryan couldn’t blame him. He felt every bit as uncomfortable as Alex.

When they arrived at Lindsey’s place, Ryan motioned for everyone to stay seated and held out his hand. She damn well better give up the keys and let him check the apartment out first or he’d probably embarrass himself in front of Jessica.

His expression was clear enough. In short order, the key was in his hand, his contrite mate biting her bottom lip in the back of the car as he walked away. If anything happened outside, Alex could handle it.

The door wasn’t tampered with, and when he opened it nothing seemed amiss. What did you expect? A break in? Jeez, calm down. Ryan’s shoulders relaxed as he wandered around inside. He wouldn’t know if anything was out of place. He’d never been there. But it wasn’t ransacked. At least not the front area. The bedroom that had to be Lindsey’s looked like a hurricane. He smiled. Their mate was a slob.

When he headed back to the front door to give the all clear, he found the others all standing at the entrance.

He glanced at Alex.

“Did you think I was going to tie them up and gag them in the back of your truck?”

Ryan stepped back and let them in.

“You two have to stop this.” Lindsey gripped her hips with both hands, her face ablaze. “This is my home. I will not allow some crazies to terrorize me in it.”

“Nor will we,” Ryan agreed. “That’s why we’re here.”

“Well you can’t stay.”

When no one spoke, her jaw dropped. “You didn’t honestly believe you were going to sleep here did you? I’m fine. I’ll call you in the morning.”

Jessica tiptoed from the room and disappeared down the hall.

Ryan spoke through a tight jaw. “It’s not even noon, Lin.”

“And I’ve been gone for several days. I have stuff to do. Please give me a little space.”

Alex paced again, his obvious method of coping. “How about we order lunch. Some pizza? We’ll stay out of your way. Hang out in the living room. Watch some TV. Let you regroup a while.” He ran a casual hand over his hair again. To no avail. The long locks just fell back where they’d been.

Did Lindsey find that sexy? Ryan wished he could get inside her mind and read her thoughts already. It’d be so much easier.

Taking a stance, Ryan sat on the couch and pulled his cell from his pocket. A quick Google of the area provided him with the phone number of three close Italian restaurants. “Which place do you want me to order from? Jess,” he shouted without waiting for a response. He tipped his head to the side as though it would help his voice travel down the hall. “What do you like on your pizza?”