Alpha Loren

Luca's POV

"Okay so quite obviously you don't want to get on the bad side of these people," I said a day later as we sat across from each other at a freeway diner somewhere in Texas on our way to Miami. "Hopefully they will just see you as my sidekick or whatever but if they start to show a little too much interest like Guillermo did, you've gotta learn to play the game."

"I don't even know what the game is," Ella replied taking a big slurp of some strange brightly coloured iced drink.

"Don't tell them you have a mate. Play along with their messed-up, twisted flirting but don't let them get too close. If they think they have a chance of getting somewhere with you they won't force it and you have the control," I explained. 

"So you want me to flirt with them? Tease them? Kinda like playing hard to get?" she questioned with a grimace.

I laughed at her expression and nodded.

"Just smile, hold your head high and use your wonderful Jones wit- within reason of course. The last thing you want to do is look weak because they will attack you like the vultures they are. Oh and go for the boss. If you have him in your purse, none of the others can lay a finger on you."

"Got it," she said. "Look confident and flirt...but not too much. One little problem though Luca."

"What?" 

"I have a huge fucking mark on my neck and some of them already know I have a mate," I said.

I looked at the inch long mark Leo had left there years ago and sighed. She was right, that was gonna be an issue.

say that he won't be a problem or he's dead or it's a battle scar. I don't know, think of

they know who Alpha Loren is?" she

they do."

out who I am? I have both his scent and his mark," she said. "It's pretty obvious,

answer, the door to the diner swung open. Three masked men ran in, all pointing guns. The guy at the front desk instantly put

"Shit," I cursed.

gun is still in your glove

checking my pockets just

me a look of

said as the marching

and there wasn't even an escape route either. They were blocking the way to the only exit and neither of us

them barked pointing the gun directly at Ella as the

had no choice but to oblige and watch helplessly as one plucked the

and this was Texas. Surely someone would have a gun on them? But no one was coming to our

or we will shoot your cousin," one told Ella as he and

I was stopped by a gun, dangerously close to me, held by the third

move, gringo,"

my hands up and slowly stepped

the meaning of his words seemed to sink in

as I watched. There was nothing I