“Shit run of luck.” The werewolf who had picked him and his contact up said it low and he nodded slowly.

“Not going to hear the end of it.” He muttered it out, remembering the absolute barrage of beratement that the new Meridia had given him when the driver of the tow truck had happened upon them. It had been hard not to absolutely fold underneath her angry tirade. Even the fact that he knew it was all for show didn’t stop him from feeling like he had done something wrong. Aristocrats were like that though. Something about them held this power to make you want to shrink

“Yah those aristocrats can be something else. Glad it’s you and not me though.” The other male glanced at him and Roike nodded.

“We aren’t far out?” He looked around at the trees and the male made a non-committal sound. Roike felt a bunch of nerves wash over him. Agent Anders was out there on that mountain somewhere and the moon only knew what the bastards had done to her.

“Looking a little nervous there.” The words held and edge of suspicion to them and Roike swallowed hard, rubbing his hand on his pants. He suddenly felt sweaty and put on the spot, like a giant old tradition beast was breathing down his neck. Perhaps this was the exact reason his contact had refused to give him any pertinent info on her team. He felt like he was going to break. “Like really nervous.” The suspicious grew sharper in the male’s voice and the tow truck started to slow down.

Roike felt like he was blowing it, he was fucking it up and they hadn’t even reached where they needed to go. “Can I be perfectly honest?” He gripped his pant legs as the words burst from him. “I’m a fuck up. Like a massive fuck up and the only reason I got this job is because my father pulled strings. She’s the eighth aristocrat I have worked with and I’m already fucking it up. This is my last chance to make my clan proud. Us Moore’s have been taking care of aristocrats for generation and I come along and I fuck it all up no matter what I do.” He inhaled deeply, actually proud of himself that the lies were coming so easy.

“That female in that SUV has the ability to disgrace me to my family and I’ve already fucked it up. She’s told me straight up my pay is getting docked for every hour we aren’t on our way to that villa where she is meeting her cousin and I can’t lose this job because I’ll disappoint my father and that’s the absolute worst.” His hands had stopped shaking and the feeling of messing shit up slowly fell off of him and Roike was actually rather proud of himself that it sounded so convincing. “So yah, I’m nervous because if something is wrong with her SUV, I’m dead meat. My father will probably kick me out of the clan and I won’t have any work prospects because who wants a person who fucks up that badly taking care of staffing or driving you around?” He glanced at the tow truck driver and the male’s eyes were wide and he cleared his throat.

“This job seems to be more trouble than it's worth for you. Have you thought about getting out of the whole, taking care of aristocrats, business?” He asked it slowly and lightly and Roike nearly slumped into his seat with relief that the guy bought his lying rant.

“A Moore who doesn’t have an aristocratic household to manage? I swear my ancestors would come out of the clan stone just to kill me.” He let out a small groan along with the words. “I’m hoping that the issue is a quick fix and it was beyond my control so I can tell my father that it was just a series of unfortunate events that caused this.” He waved his hand as he said it before letting it fall to his lap.

“I’m sure it’s nothing serious. A quick fix and you can get that… lovely female back where she belongs. “The male cleared his throat again. “Sleepy Burrow isn’t exactly your usual place for her type.” The male said it lightly and almost hesitantly and Roike looked out the window at the vast swaths of trees.

“I am fairly positive anywhere with less pavement than dirt isn’t the usual place for her type.” He half muttered it out and the tow truck driver let out an amused snort.

“Ain’t that the truth?” The driver finally relaxed and Roike felt like letting out a relieved breath that the male was no longer suspicious of him. “I’m sure the SUV is fine. Probably something got knocked loose, a quick fix and you’ll be back on your way in no time. At that Roike let out that relieved sigh.

“Thanks and sorry for ranting at you there. It’s just been a long few days.” Roike threw the male a half smile and he nodded as they crested a hill, showing off the small town of Sleepy Burrow.

“No problem. I’ll take you straight to Ed’s and then we can see what we can do from there.” The male nodded and the truck started to slow down as they reached the edge of the town. A old faded sign spelling out Ed’s Mechanical was off to the left and The two truck driver slowed down and pulled into the lot. “Ed’s a good guy. He’ll make sure y’all are taken care of right.” At the words Roike nodded and the moment the tow truck parked he got out and headed for the SUV.

He pulled open the door and looked at his contact. “No! I am not getting out. You are going to take this SUV and you are going to get it working so I can go visit Cassidy!” Her voice was high pitched and agitated and Roike bowed his head at her.

“My lady, we need to let the mechanics work on the SUV to see what’s wrong with it.” He held out his hand and she crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her nose. With the SUV tilted up, she looked ridiculous.

“Absolutely not! I am not staying in some grimy, podunk town! It’s so…common!” The disgust she managed to throw onto the word was impressive and agitating at the same time. Impressive because holy shit was that a lot, and agitating because holy shit, that was uncalled for. Worst part was, he knew it wasn’t beneath some aristocrats to act like she was, treating commoners like they were

“My lady-“

“No! You are going to take me to see Cassidy!” Her voice pitched upwards more and Roike glanced around. He met the tow truck driver’s eyes and the male actually physically winced as if he was sorry for him.

“My lady, isn’t it better to make Lady Cassidy wait?” He said it carefully and her mouth dropped open.

“No!” It was a high pitched response that had him wanting to clamp his hands over his ears.

“Forgive me, my lady, but isn’t it true that a lady is never late, she always arrives precisely when she means to and that means everyone else is simply early?” Roike knew he was talking out his ass but with his Order contact in full alter mode, he couldn’t rightly ask her what he was supposed to do. “Perhaps her ladyship Cassidy is simply early to the villa?” He watched her and her eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips.

“She did make me wait for daddy’s fiftieth when we were going out clubbing She made me wait a two whole hours, Everly! I was so embarrassed! She didn’t even apologize.” She sniffed, her eyes taking on a calculating glint. “You are right, a lady is never late. She is always on time. I’m going to make her wait! See how she likes it.” With that she extended her hand out and Roike took it. She gracefully unfolded herself from her place in the back seat and he helped her out of the SUV and onto the gravel. “Yuck.” She looked at the ground with a sneer.

“I am sorry, my lady, but perhaps we can find some where less dusty once I get the SUV taken care of.” He released her hand, tucking his own behind his back.

“See that you do, Everly. I don’t want my heels all dusty. I’ll have you scrubbing all of my heels if you don’t.” She sniffed again, sticking her nose up as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Roike took that as his cue and headed around the SUV to the tow truck driver who was now talking to a rather bear like male with a full and bushy beard. “Vehicle troubles?” The male’s voice was like gravel and Roike nodded.

“Stopped working, no clue what’s wrong with it.” He tucked his hands in his pocket and glanced at the SUV. He couldn’t see his contact but then again the SUV was in the way.

“Don’t get many of her type out here. Fuck is she loud, could peel paint with her screeching.” The burly male shook his head. “But we will get the SUV in and figure out what’s wrong with it. I hope you don’t mind me saying but get her off of my lot. I don’t want to listen to that all day.” At the words Roike nodded.

“Do you have an eating establishment or somewhere we could both wait while repairs are being done?” Roike asked it as politely as he could. He could tell the burly male could and would make trouble if he wanted too.

“Eating establishment? Fuck are you uppity. We’ve got the bar. Probably not your usual fare though and try to keep her quiet, the regulars will want to string her up if she keeps that uppity attitude.” The words were said coldly and Roike felt slightly uneasy but he nodded.

“I don’t want her to be here for any longer than she needs to be. My pay is literally on the line right now.” He tacked on the last bit and the burly male gave a grunt of acknowledgement.

“Fine by me. Will do my best to get that heap fixed and have you two out of town before night fall.” With the words the male spat on the ground, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the SUV.

“I greatly appreciate it.” He muttered it out before he looked at the tow truck driver. “Is the bar close enough we can walk?”

“You sure her ladyship is willing to do that?” There was a jab there that Roike ignored.

“She would prefer to be driven and I honestly don’t want to have to clean all her heels because she got her current pair dusty.” He let out a heaving sigh wondering just how much shit they were currently wading into.

“I’ll drop you two off. Just let me off load your SUV and then I’ll take you there.” At the words Roike nodded and than moved back towards where he had left his contact. She was tapping on her phone, a sneer on her face and her bright red nail polish glinting.

“We have a driver to a bar in town where we can wait, my lady. We just have to wait until he unloads the SUV to get worked on.” She didn’t respond to the words, just continued to furiously type on her phone as if she were in an intense discussion.

Roike waited before she held her phone out without a word. He stared at it and she made a noise of disgust, “Take my picture, Everly! Moon you are dense.” She put on some shades and Roike took her phone and brought up the camera. She adjusted herself before gesturing at him to move over. He followed her direction. “Get my left side and try and get the mountain in the background. I want Cassidy to be absolutely green with envy at my stop.” Roike just nodded and lifted the phone to snap a picture of her.

Regardless of how shitty he was with cameras in general, his contact was fucking hot regardless of his ineptitude. He snapped a few pictures of her with the mountains in the background and then handed the phone back. She immediately went back to tapping on her phone screen he made a slight face. “Not the best but when you aren’t dealing with a professional it makes sense. I’ll just edit them.” She waved him off and he turned to watch the tow truck driver.

Within a few minutes the SUV was backed into the shop and they were on their way to the bar. Granted it had taken a bit of coaxing to get his contact into the truck. It was both scary and fucking agitating that she was as good at acting like the aristocratic brat as she was. The tow truck driver stopped in front of the bar and smiled. “Good luck. Ed will call down here when your SUV is done.” Roike nodded and thanked the male before he opened the door and holding is hand out for Meridia.

“Thank you. This truck smells…” She curled her nose up as she got out. “Musty.” She flipped her hair and flounced towards the sidewalk. Roike glanced at the tow truck driver, repressing the urge to apologize for her words.

“As I said, good luck.” The male’s eyes widened as if he truly believed Roike was fucked ten ways to Sunday. Roike nodded and moved around the tow truck to get onto the sidewalk. She was still typing quickly on her phone, not looking up at all, even when the tow truck pulled away.

“Well, my lady, let’s get you a seat.” He moved over to the bar door. The entire building looked rundown but he couldn’t think of a better place to situate themselves. They would be right close to gossip central and could keep and ear open for anything to help with finding Agent Anders.

“If I get tetanus, I’m telling daddy to sue.” She didn’t look up from her phone as she said it as she flounced her way inside the bar. Roike followed close behind her, blinking away the brightness of the day to adjust to the dimness of the bar. He looked around and she was already weaving through bars, heading to an occupied table by the window.

Roike quickly moved to catch up with her. He wanted to grab her elbow and steer her away from the table that already held two patrons but he froze in his spot as he saw just who was sitting at that table. His world felt topsy turvy, like there was nothing holding him to the ground. “Flint?”