Gypsy Rising (All The Pretty Monsters #5)(30)

“You’re asking for an impossible timeframe here. Something like this can take up to a year or longer just to get mapped out before construction even—”

“There’s a guy downtown who says he has a design he can easily modify, and even have it ready within a week or two,” I cut in. “I just wanted someone I trust who can make changes as we go, because it’s going to be a lot of work done really fast but very well. I have the best construction crew ever. I need a flexible, hard-working architect to match them.”

Jerome gives me a look, lips twitching.

“Always just as impatient as ever, huh, Vi?”

“You know me,” I say with a private smile, as I meet them in the middle of the foyer.

Jerome gives me an awkward hug that I return just as awkwardly, and then quickly back away because I hear four deranged alphas coming…who may tear him apart for that.

Should be fun hiding a bunch of immortals from Jerome over the next five months. Hopefully he’ll stay too busy to notice.

“She’s trying to convince all the stupid shifters hiding under rocks to come out so she can rebuild her army. This is all part of her ploy to look sane and reasonable. After she punishes them for hiding, of course,” Arion is saying, as the guys walk in.

Emit is holding a very massive TV and heads off to one of the side rooms where they’ve started setting up. To keep me safe and all.

Dad makes a frustrated sound, as I loudly clear my throat.

“We have an architect here. Can you take that new TV show conversation somewhere else?” I ask them.

Arion moves to me, kissing the top of my head. “Sure, love. Come find us later.”

Jerome’s eyes follow after Arion briefly, but they widen on me again when Vance distractedly gives me a quick kiss on the head too.

Damien doesn’t settle for a chaste kiss. His lips are on mine so fast that it’s dizzying, and his arm circles around my waist as I lean into him, momentarily rendered stupid, as he works his mojo.

He grins and nips at my lips just before I hear, “We have an agreement, Morpheous!”

Hearing your Mom’s voice, even from a new, foreign body, is the quickest libido killer. Especially when coupled with your father’s disapproving grumbling.

I quit kissing him, and he grins before slapping my ass and running off. “Violet, we’ve got training class at five,” Emit says as he points a finger at me.

“I’ll have to miss. I have a lot to do,” I tell him distractedly, and then turn to face him again. “But you can help with the—”

The door shuts to the room they’ve taken over before I can finish asking for his help.

“You’re going to want to work on the padded room first,” Shera says to Jerome, drawing my eyes back to the people actually ready to work.

Jerome is just staring at me like I’ve sprouted a second head.

I understand his confusion, but I’d rather not delve into explanations about my monstrous love life with my human ex.

“Sure,” he tells her, even though I don’t even know if he knows what he’s agreeing to.

“Clear!” Anna shouts just before I hear a whir of electricity.

A squeal is startled out of me when Ighan comes crashing through the wall across from us. Chunks of plaster violently spray into the room, and I barely get in front of it before it slaps Jerome.

It crashes to my chest hard enough to force a grunt out of me, knocking a bit of my breath from my lungs. As it falls off me, I blow dust and hair out of my face and glare through the hole that Anna is peeking through, ghost-eyes wide.

“I said clear,” Anna reminds me, as Ighan laughs like a giggly kid on the floor.

I can actually feel the electricity humming through him, and I inwardly groan, as I literally watch his stitches start visibly healing. Right in front of Jerome.

“That’s great!” Ighan shouts, pumping his fist in the air.

“I-I-I-are you okay?” Jerome stutters, as he grabs my elbow and spins me around in a panic, his eyes way wider than Anna’s were as he looks me over.

“I’m fine. Just fine.” I glare over at Dad, since this is his fault.

If Jerome keeps touching me, I’m going to have to deal with at least three possessive alphas.

Emit will be a coin toss, depending on his mood.

Jerome releases me when he realizes I’m uncomfortable, and he clears his throat.

“Well, I’ll get started on this. If you want to stay and help, I’ll get it done faster.”

I dread the impending argument that will come when they realize how much time I’m having to spend with my ex, and four brooding stalkers will be in the room with me.

Should be great fun.

***

Month Two…



“I’ve never seen construction moving at the same speed as design layers, and I have to tell you that leaving no room for error is proving intimidating,” Jerome tells me as he hands me my cup of coffee.

I pass the sugar once I’m finished, and he absently takes it as he studies his latest draft.

“I have to hand it to you, though. They catch any potential problems before they happen,” he adds. “It’s all impressive.”

“They’ve built a lot of homes in their time with far lesser technology,” I say as I glance over the flooring options, smiling to myself.