Smiley

Smiley squeezed her hand. “Trust me?”

“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate to answer because it was the truth.

“We’re fine. This isn’t a large gathering yet. We’ve dealt with much worse. We’ll pay for your things and leave. We’ll be back at Homeland in ten minutes.”

She took another slow breath and turned, facing the front of the store again. There were so many faces out there that it was weird. The NSO officers had help blocking off the street that ran between the store and the parking area. She noticed a few police officers had joined them along the sides to keep people from entering the store. Her shopping trip had, in effect, closed it down.

The cashier gri

Va

“I never thought I’d see any New Species in here.” The cashier started to scan the clothes.

Smiley pulled Va

The cashier finally stared at Va

Va

“That’s so cool! You’re my first celebrities.” The cashier resumed sca

“We are.” Smiley rubbed Va

Va

Regret came next. She shouldn’t have used the word love but it beat mentioning being drugged. Smiley didn’t tighten his hold or seem to mind her word when he agreed.

“It certainly was. She’s beautiful and sweet. I couldn’t resist her.”

The cashier paused again and gri

“He’s amazing,” Va

“You’ve drawn a mob.” The cashier jerked her head toward the front. “I’ve never seen that many people want to come in here before.”

“Sorry about that.” Smiley eased his hold around Va

“Don’t apologize.” The woman laughed. “We need the business. Stop in any time. I’m Do

“We deeply appreciate that.” Smiley let Va

Va

“I’d do anything for you.” He winked.

The cashier told him a total that made Va

The doors opened and some people shouted for them to look their way. She squared her shoulders and peered at them. Cell phones were out and they were either taking videos or pictures. She smiled and clasped Smiley’s hand in a death grip. He waved with his free hand and kept her moving.

“Can we have an interview?” A woman with a microphone and cameraman tried to rush at them but a police officer opened his arms, preventing them from going forward.

Another news crew got around an officer but the NSO team was able to keep them at a distance. “Not now. No interviews,” one of them a

Wager pulled the SUV up to the path cleared by the police who had kept people back to give them an exit and Smiley yanked open the passenger door. Va

“Are you okay? You’re pale.”

“I don’t do well with crowds. There were so many people staring and shouting at me.”

He surprised her by suddenly reaching out and lifting her onto his lap. “It’s okay. The windows are tinted. They can’t see inside. You did really well.”

She turned against him and enjoyed his arms wrapping around her in a hug. “I never want to do that again.”

He massaged her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know this would frighten you.”

“I’m not scared. I just…” She struggled for a word to describe almost having a panic attack but none came.

“You’re just shy,” he finished for her and kissed the top of her head. “No more outings.”

“Thank you.”

The other members of their group piled into the SUV. Slash opened the hatch door, put the bags inside and then just climbed over the third seat.

“Here we go,” Wager warned as he closed the hatch from the driver’s seat. “I’ll drive slowly so we don’t hit anyone. We lost our backup team but they’ll catch us soon.”

Va

“That was crazy,” Va

“This is our life outside Homeland.”

She shifted to stare into Smiley’s eyes. “I never realized.”

He shrugged, keeping a firm hold around her waist. “We have adapted. Those are the nice ones. No one threw anything at us or screamed obscenities.”

“Some people suck,” Va

He gri

“Wait for that until you get home,” Jericho ordered from the seat next to them. “You’re not alone.”

Va

Chapter Sixteen

“We have trouble,” Wager growled from the driver’s seat.

Smiley tensed, lifting his chin off the top of Va

“The front and back gates are packed. They’ve had a significant increase in traffic in the last few minutes.” Wager met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Do you want an earpiece?”

“Yes.”

Flame twisted in the passenger seat and held out one of their communication devices. Smiley grabbed it and placed it on his ear.

“Four news crews at gate one,” a Species a

“There are two news vans at gate two and a lot of foot traffic. I’d guess four dozen humans. They aren’t holding signs but they don’t appear to be friendly.”

“This is Smiley,” he chimed in. “What about gate three? Can we go in that way?”

“Negative.” Smiley recognized Trey Roberts’ voice. “There are too many cars on that street and they’ll see you enter. The businesses are opening so employees are arriving at work.”

“What about four?” Gates three and four were secret so one of them should be clear. Smiley just wanted to get Va

“No,” a male growled. “We have children on the field. They are having some kind of outing in the park across the street from my location at four. It’s too dangerous.”

“They are children,” Trey responded. “How are they a danger? All they’d see is an SUV pulling into what they’ll assume is someone’s home.”