He knew he was trying to articulate something he didn’t understand or trust – and he was attempting to warn them he could be dangerous around Pepper. He reached for her, a little ashamed that he hadn’t protected her from Draden and Trap. She hadn’t deliberately enticed them, but they’d still felt her pull.

Are you okay? Did they hurt you? I know there’s nothin’ to what they’re sayin’. They’re only tryin’ to protect me, sugar. You’re very potent.

I wasn’t trying to, Wyatt. Honest.

He knew the difference between her keeping her shield up and letting it down. I know that, Pepper.

The thing is, Wyatt, I don’t care whether they like me or not. I don’t even care if they trust me. I care if you do. You matter to me. When you met me, you were just like them, suspicious. I didn’t blame you. Ezekiel and Malichai were as well. I didn’t blame them either. Trap and Draden come in here and they meet me and I’m… well… me. Of course they want to protect you. They wouldn’t be your friends if they didn’t.

He couldn’t argue with that. She had a point. He also didn’t mind so much that his opinion was the only one that mattered to her.

Trap shrugged. “Why are you surprised that you would be dangerous around a woman you care for? She’s under your skin, under your protection. You’re enhanced, Wyatt. You have physical changes, of course you’re going to have emotional changes as well. Along with all the good things there’s always a balance of bad.”

Wyatt wasn’t going to admit that the intensity of his emotions – especially jealousy when he was around Pepper – could be off the charts. That was his problem, not hers, and he didn’t want Trap or Draden blaming her for his own weaknesses.

He glanced at Trap’s face. The man was sheer stone. He always had been. He ignored all social cues. He just didn’t care about fitting in or making friends. Even in college, he’d ignored everyone. As far as Wyatt knew, there were only the team members who accepted Trap’s brutally honest personality. He couldn’t imagine a woman putting up with him for very long.

He was also the most dangerous man Wyatt knew, and all members of the team were hell on wheels. Trap was just… lethal. He didn’t hesitate to go into an encampment of the enemy utterly alone, move like a ghost through the guards and take out the primary target.

There was no doubt that he was brilliant and everything he touched seemed to turn to gold – although Trap could care less about money. He didn’t have any family, and Wyatt felt a little sorry for him at times. Trap wouldn’t understand that. He didn’t long for things he didn’t have. He had a strict code he lived by. He knew he wasn’t good at any kind of relationship, and when he’d joined their team, he’d been brutally honest about himself to the team members. They’d all liked him better for it.

Wyatt had found that if Trap gave out a piece of information, it was always correct. Always. One didn’t question Trap’s abilities or knowledge, because he was a walking library of facts, which made him an unbelievable asset both on and off the battlefield. It was easy enough, once you accepted his personality, to like him.

Wyatt shrugged. Trap was right. He should have realized that when his DNA had changed, so had his emotions.

“Let’s go eat before Nonny disowns me. And Trap, Nonny’s important to me. Very important. Her protection and happiness. I know it’s hard for you to bother with the little niceties, but I would greatly appreciate you tryin’.”

Trap frowned and looked to Draden for an explanation. Draden clapped him on the shoulder. “Play nice with his grandmother, Trap.”

“And Pepper,” Wyatt warned softly. “She’s important to me as well.”

Draden nudged Trap. “Remember that book of manners I gave you and you read in three minutes flat? Use those little tips and be courteous.”

“You gave him a book on manners?” Wyatt asked.

“Actually he gave me three different ones and I found a couple of others,” Trap said, serious as usual. “They didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I can see why society would want to implement some of the rules, but others are just a waste of time.”

“Use them anyway,” Draden suggested as they approached the kitchen.

“If we’re going to actually waste time eating, shouldn’t we at least discuss our entry point into the compound? When you called, I found someone to help us out with the blueprints, specifically the water system. That might be a point of entry.”

Draden groaned. “Just because you’re a fish in the water doesn’t mean the rest of us are.” He pulled back a chair and plopped in it, giving Nonny a big smile. “Ma’am, this looks like a feast. Thank you for going to the trouble of fixing us all food.” He kicked Trap hard under the table.

Trap looked up, blinking as if coming out of a fog. Wyatt wanted to laugh. Trap’s mind was far from their dinner, already trying to solve the puzzle of how to get them safely in and out of the laboratory without bloodshed or raising an alarm.

“Yes,” he murmured, clearly unsure of what he was supposed to say or do. He actually looked a little helpless.

Wyatt covered his mouth and coughed. “Ginger isn’ eatin’ with us?”

“We’ve been trying to get her into a routine,” Pepper said. “Children do much better when they have a routine.”

“She’s right,” Trap said, “Statistically, routines actually provide children with the feeling of security as well as teaching them self-discipline.” He looked across the table at Pepper. “You’ve been with these children since they were born?”