Gem’s eyes widened. “You mean the long-haired Shifter we met at your father’s house? He’s kind of dreamy.”
Christian shifted in his seat.
I lifted my wine and swallowed a mouthful before setting the glass back down. “This is what Switch does for a living. He’s not only a nanny but also a teacher. He educates kids of all ages, and besides, he’s a wolf. That’s better protection than if you hired a Relic. Maybe he’ll act as Hunter’s watchdog. Look, I trust him with my life. He comes from a good pack.”
Viktor struggled with his words before switching to Russian.
Gem bit her bottom lip for a second as she mentally translated. “He says that Switch belongs to a pack. We need someone as a… live-in.”
“Spasibo. Why is it simple words I struggle with?”
Gem’s necklace tapped against the edge of the table when she leaned over her plate. “Nothing is simple when it comes to language.”
Gem often conversed entirely in Russian with Viktor. Just not when others were in the room.
I sat back and redirected the conversation. “That’s not a problem. Switch comes from a good pack, but he doesn’t belong to one. He’s independent. He hasn’t chosen a permanent family to live with yet.”
Viktor’s grey eyes narrowed with that look he sometimes got when we were withholding information. “And why is that? If he is so talented, Packmasters would be fighting over him.”
I tried not to make the next sentence sound as dramatic as it really was. “There’s something you should know, and I hope you’ll keep an open mind. We’re a second-chance group here, and I think it’s only fair the same should apply to anyone who works for you.”
Shepherd flicked his cigarette ash into the candle tray. “Spill it.”
“One of the kids he was watching was being abused by an uncle or something. Instead of reporting it to the Packmaster, Switch took matters into his own hands and killed the man. That’s why he’s not in a pack. People trust him with their kids, but the Packmasters won’t take a chance on packmates who might break the chain of command.”
Everyone stole a glance at Hunter, who was blowing bubbles in his drink through a straw. He giggled when he noticed us watching. After a few more bites of his food, he crawled underneath the table.
“Is that all there is to the story?” Shepherd pressed, his dark eyes searching mine.
“You can verify it with any of the Packmasters in his territory.”
“That’s it? The packs don’t want him because he killed a lowlife who had it coming?”
“That is the pack way,” Viktor interjected. “The alpha has absolute power, and when Switch killed the perpetrator, he took that honor away from the Packmaster.”
Shepherd stared at the tendril of smoke rising from his cigarette. “Do you trust him?”
I shared a glance with everyone at the table. “He’s loyal. I don’t know if he’ll even want the job, but his prospects aren’t exactly looking up. He’s living in a shitty apartment, and I think this would be a good way for him to build up his income. We could be the substitute pack that he’s been looking for, and you can trust him with Hunter. I grew up around Switch, and he’s always been good with kids. Patient, kind, attentive—it’s like he was born to do this job.”
Viktor quietly listened, his eyes fixed on his plate. Even if Shepherd was all in, it was still up to the boss.
“We’re not exactly a pack,” I pointed out. “He’ll respect your rules, but if—God forbid—someone ever hurt the boy, do you really want the kind of person who would sit on their ass and do nothing?”
Shepherd stubbed out his cigarette. “If anyoneeverlays a finger on my son, I want them six feet under.”
“Then Switch is your man. He’s not a killer; he’s a protector.”
Viktor stared at his plate. “I do not know.”
All hope seemed lost.
And then Christian spoke. “Perhaps you can bring him on for a trial period. See if he’s as good a teacher as Raven suggests. We don’t exactly know if he’s teaching arithmetic or how to bake bread, so this will give you a chance to look into the matter. I don’t see any other options if you’re waiting for someone to come along who’ll be loyal to Keystone. The man doesn’t know us, but he knows Raven. And if Raven trusts him, well, that’s a good enough place to start.”
I stared at Christian, his unexpected support leaving me speechless.
“Very well,” Viktor agreed. “We have an important job ahead, and it would give me comfort knowing that the boy is under someone’s constant watch. If the packs still employ your friend, they must trust him immensely. But first his wolf must meet the boy, and I will need to supervise this. There is not much time.”
I scooted my chair back. “Do you want me to call him?”
