The Pet

Chapter 4

Atlas

It didn't take long for us to take out enough of their men to send the remaining ones running. And fortunately, thanks to Pet, they couldn't take their second SUV. It was torn to shreds and tipped over on the side of the road.

And as much as I hated to admit it, Pet was decently smart. And not bad with a gun either.

It made me wonder what kind of damage she could do with those throwing knives she had in her belt.

And I hated that.

I hated that I wanted to know anything about her. I hated that even when I was getting shot at today, my eyes were still drawn to her. I hated that I fucking pulled her into my side before we'd hit the Jeep. All of it was like some sick reflex.

I blamed our laws. We weren't supposed to put women in danger. And she was a woman.. and I'd spent my whole life following those rules. It just didn't sit right. Her being out here. That's it.

"Is this a map of your compound?"

Pet's voice pulls me from my thoughts. Her head pops out of the sideways SUV, a piece of paper clutched in her hands.

She'd offered to check out the inside of their vehicle since it was tipped over and none of the rest of us could fit comfortably through the window. I didn't really trust her to do anything, or check very thoroughly but Rhodes had seemed relieved so I didn't say anything.

But then again, there she was, holding the map out to Rhodes as he approached the sideways vehicle.

His eyes raked over the paper and his forehead creased. He looked up and found me. "How could anyone have gotten ahold of this?"

"I don't know," I admit, shaking my head. "They're only given to new Soldiers and Shadows for their first week. Then we take them back."

"I wasn't given a map." I hear Pet say, a frown in her voice. But I ignore her and so does Rhodes.

"And it's this exact map?" Rhodes hands me the paper and I look over it, nodding. Tyes comes up next to me and glances at the map too.

"That's it," He agrees. "That's the one I give my soldiers for week one."

Rhodes makes a grim face and looks back at the SUV where Pet has disappeared back inside. "Anything else in there?" He calls out.

"Not much," She says through some shuffling. "Shell casings, some ski masks, some gum. But it's pretty empty. There's no vehicle registration, no wallets.. nothing."

Rhodes nods. "Alright, let's get out of here before the cops show up."

Pet appears out of window at the top of SUV. She climbs out until she's sitting on top of the car. She looks like she might jump all the way down but Tyes steps forward.

"I got you, Trouble." He says, grinning up at her.

Great, it's a been a fucking day and Tyes and Rhodes are both ready to bring chivalry back for her.

Pet smiles wickedly down at him and pushes off the SUV, landing pretty gracefully into his arms. "You gotta start eating more, it's like holding a kitten." Tyes tells her as he throws her up a bit and she laughs.

Rhodes just shakes his head and turns, headed back for our Jeep. It's a little fucked up. Especially on the right rear-end side. But it was nothing that couldn't be fixed. Though I was sure we'd get an earful from Reno about it.

The techs were still waiting silently in the vehicle when the rest of us clamber inside. They never really talked much. Which to be honest, I appreciated. I wasn't a big talker either. They were really just here for directions, If equipment malfunctioned or broke and to get us any new information Reno needed us to have.

I take the front seat this time.

If Tyes wants to play with Pet so badly then fucking let him.

***

"Dude she's fucking hot,"

"She's insane."

"I'd still bend her over this bar."

"I heard she cut someone's ears off."

"I heard_"

"Shut up." I growl, slamming my whiskey down. The brown liquid splashes out of my glass and onto the bar top.

The two soldiers sitting beside me murmur an apology and get up and walk away, likely finding some other place to talk about our newest member.

Apparently I couldn't escape her, not even here. At our men's-only bar.

I was so pissed at Reno for doing this. I was even more pissed at Reno for making me pissed at him. I was a damn good spy. It's why I was promoted quickly. And why I'm the head now. It's why my Shadows listen to everything I say. I'm good at what I fucking do. But now, something felt off now. I felt off. It's only been a few god damn days. And I really fucking hated that.

The murmur of the bar crowd gets louder but I don't pay it any attention. It's around shift change so I assume some members getting off are making their merry way into the bar.

But the noise continues to climb until it's a dull roar. Some of the drunker men hollering and yipping.

I set my jaw and force myself to turn.

My skin sets ablaze when I see her.

Not because she looks fucking radiant. Not because I recognize Tyes's T-shirt hanging off her small body and not even because Tyes's arm is wrapped around her shoulders.

But because she's here. She's fucking here.

I slam down the rest of my whiskey and slip through the crowd. It only takes me a few seconds before I'm standing right in front of them. They both look a bit startled.

I try to keep my eyes off her but it's harder than I like to admit. She's put some dark shit around her eyes, eyeliner I think. And it makes her look fucking wicked in the sexiest way possible.

"Why is she here?" I force myself to look at Tyes.

He shrugs. "She's part of the team now."

"It's men only." I say. It sounds stupid coming out of my mouth but I can't take it back now. Pet raises a brow.

Tyes looks at me like he doesn't recognize me. "That was before we had any women in our ranks," His arm tightens around Pet's shoulders. "Now we do. Things change. Roll with the punches, Talve."

"She shouldn't be here." I argue. I don't even know why I'm arguing this. He's right. This is The Reaper's bar. The only reason it's been men only is to keep the guys from bringing cheap dates and hookers inside.

Pet looks around. "Do you see anyone complaining?"

The elated cheers roar in my ears again.

I take a breath and look away from her. Away from how fucking distracting she is.

"Keep an eye on her." I tell Tyes as I shove back through the crowd to my empty whiskey glass.

I'd need about three more to make it through this evening without breaking something.