Free Tricked: A Dark Protectors Novella by Rebecca Zanetti Page B

waiting for an answer, he stood and headed for the bathroom.
    A rap on the door stopped him short. He pivoted and headed to open it, wanting to sigh at seeing Theo and Ginny in the hallway. “What is going on now?” He moved aside to allow them in. It was way too late in the evening for visitors.
    Theo rubbed dirt off his jaw. “An attack squad moved in at the hotel, and we were warned just in time to get out. Satellite feeds monitored by the Realm.”
    Jared checked the hallway and shut the door. “Attack squad?”
    Theo slid his gun to his waist. “I had soldiers move in as we got out and don’t have a report yet. As soon as they check in, I’ll let you know.”
    Jared sighed. “All right. We’re leaving here in an hour. We have another safe house we can use.”
    “I’m not leaving,” Veronica piped up, her gaze on Ginny.
    At that moment, he’d just had more than enough. He turned on his mate. “You are leaving. I’m giving you one hour to pack what you’ll need for at least a week, until I find the guy who tried to poison you and break his neck.” His voice went hard and low as he let his temper loose. “If you don’t pack, you’ll go in the clothes you have on.”
    She stood, fury in her eyes, apparently oblivious to the newcomers. “You wouldn't dare.”
    “I would.” He was done with all of them. “Theo? Handle things here for fucking ten minutes. I need a shower.” Stomping across the apartment, he slammed the bedroom door.
    Jesus. He needed to calm down.
     
    * * * *
     
    Ronni barely kept from flinching as the door banged. She glared at Theo. “If your brother made any of my paintings drop, he’s paying for them.”
    Theo snorted. “So the mating is going well, is it?” He scratched his head. “I have some things in the car and will be right back.” His gaze went from Ginny to Ronni. “Ah, don’t kill each other.” Whistling, he let himself out and into the darkness just as his cell phone rang.
    Ginny fluttered her hands together. “I’m so sorry to intrude at such an inappropriate late hour.”
    Ronni rolled her eyes, her entire body exhausted. It was way past her bedtime. “The big strong men are gone. Give it a rest, would you?” She turned and loped into the kitchen. “Would you like some tea?”
    Ginny stared at her, calculation in those blue eyes. “I really would. You know you can’t hold on to Jared, right? He’s been in love with me for centuries.”
    Ronni winced. Well, she’d wanted Ginny to drop the act. “It seems to me that a guy like that wouldn’t forgive a betrayal, you know?” She poured two cups of steaming tea. “His love for you probably ended a long time ago.”
    “Neither one of us believes that,” Ginny said smugly, looking around the small apartment.
    Ronni added sugar cubes to the tea. “I have to ask. When we were attacked, did you even think of throwing fireballs?” How cool would that talent be? She’d love to see it actually happen.
    “No.” Ginny drew off her red cape. “I allowed Theo to shield me, of course.”
    What a waste of a good ability. “You really think that’s what a guy wants?” She crossed around the counter and carried the tea toward Ginny, who sat on the sofa.
    “Yes.” Ginny accepted the tea, smoothing down her long skirt.
    “Not a guy I’d want,” Ronni said thoughtfully, taking a sip.
    “Which is why you and Jared simply don’t mix,” Ginny said. “Sorry.”
    Ronni perched on the adjoining chair. “Eh. I’m not sure about that. Lady, you really need to enter the current century. It’s okay to be strong.”
    Ginny fluttered her eyelashes. “We all have our places. Mine is with Jared. Finally.” She took a sip of her tea, somehow doing it daintily. “You’re not going to win, so how about you just get out of my way?”
    Ronni rubbed her nose. “You know, I like Jared.” Even though sometimes he acted like an asshat from the last century, he seemed like a decent guy. He had saved her life, after