Page 59 of The Crowing of Hell

“True,” Rooster agreed, moving forward and holding me.

Unconsciously, I touched a hand to my head and tried to stop self-doubts from flooding in.

“Let’s be honest. It’s been one drama after anothersince we met,” I whispered.

Rooster cupped my head and tucked me in tight to his chest. “Yup, and I wouldn’t change any of it. Because it brought me, you. And that’s a gift I’ll treasure forever.”

My insides melted at Rooster’s words.

“Well, I’d change going bald,” I said with a soft laugh.

“Not even that, because that incident showed your dignity, grace and capacity for forgiveness,” Rooster challenged.

“And the fact I ugly cry.”

“Do you? Strange, I didn’t notice,” Rooster teased and laughed as I pinched his flank. Terrible man.

???

I was lying by the pool when I sensed something was wrong. Thalia and Chey were beside me, all three of us in bikinis and chilling out. But I felt someone watching me. Sitting up puzzled, I peered around, confused. There was nobody here but us.

“Kenny?” Chey asked.

“Someone’s watching,” I murmured.

“Um, thought that was my imagination,” Chey said, coming upright.

“No, somebody’s here, but I can’t see anyone,” I whispered.

Rooster’s backyard looked out over the woods, and it would be easy for someone to hide in there with binoculars. Rooster had explained the land Hellfire owned had been fenced in, but how easy would it beto climb a fence?

“Let’s go in because this feels threatening,” Chey said.

We all got to our feet and as soon as we were inside, the feeling lessened. Warily, I grabbed a wrap and tied it around me as the women did the same.

“Rooster doesn’t have cameras inside his home, does he?” Chey asked with a shiver.

“No. But there is definitely somebody outside in the trees,” I said.

“I’m calling Bear. Someone needs to get out there,” Thalia interrupted, looking worried.

“Yeah, this doesn’t feel right,” Chey agreed.

We moved away from the big windows in the kitchen and headed into Rooster’s office. I knew it had no windows, and nobody could spy on us. Also, hidden behind a panel was a safe room.

Thalia’s phone rang as mine beeped. She answered it quickly after mouthing Bear’s name.

‘Stay in the house. Fanatic, Wraith, and Slaughter are on their way.’ Rooster texted me.

‘We’re in the office, and I’m going to open the safe room’s door just in case,’I replied.

‘Do it,’Rooster sent back.

Obediently, I went to a small panel and pressed before it dipped and then slid to one side. I typed in the code to open the same room and bent as it did an eyeball scan. When Rooster had shown me this a few days ago, I’d laughed and teased him mercilessly for being paranoid. Now I was grateful for the high-tech shit. The door slid open and would stay open until weeither closed it from the outside or inside.

“Holy shit, I thought Celt and I only had a safe room,” Chey exclaimed and looked inside Rooster’s.

“You have one? Bear made me promise not to tell anyone about ours unless needed,” Thalia said.