And you’ll have to leave your parents behind.
Cole heard the words as clearly as if Logan had said them out loud.
LOGAN MADE IT back to McKillan head offices in the early afternoon. The shared office space was surprisingly empty, only a few desks occupied, and Logan frowned as he made his way around to Jacob’s office.
He pressed the buzzer next to the door and waited for Jacob to come open it.
“Where is everyone?” he asked when Jacob stood in the open doorway. “Is there a meeting I didn’t know about?”
Jacob scowled and tugged Logan into his office.
With the door securely shut, he walked over to his desk and leant against it. “They’ve had a tip-off.”
“What do you mean?” Logan immediately thought of Cole. No, he wouldn’t be that stupid, not after what had happened that morning. Not after everything they’d talked about.
“One of the candidates has gone missing. Baker thinks it could be connected to the ‘group of rebels working to undermine the government.’ He even used air quotes.”
Logan felt the blood drain from his face.
Jacob crossed his arms and sighed. “I’ve asked, and the general consensus is that it wasn’t anyone the CEG have been talking to. Probably should’ve been by the sounds of it, but that’s a question for another day.” He sighed again.
With shifters’ enhanced healing power, it took a great deal of stress and strain to make them look tired. But Jacob did. Not for the first time, Logan wondered exactly what role Jacob now played in helping people get out of London.
“What does that mean for us?” Logan asked, suddenly feeling nervous. If they called off the run, Cole would have no choice but to affiliate. Along with all the others who’d be counting on them for escape.
Jacob sighed, both hands covering his face for a minute. Logan had never seen him like this, and it set his wolf on edge. Jacob was the calm mentor they all depended on. If he was worried, what the fuck did that mean for the rest of them? “They want to move the run forward by a couple of days to July third. Doing it on the full moon night had its risks anyway, but this new development adds unnecessary risk on top of that.”
“Is it serious then?” People had been trying to poke their noses in for the last couple of years, but nothing had ever come of it.
“I don’t think so, but better safe than sorry. A lot of the preparation had been done, they’re just waiting on one or two more to confirm.” He met Logan’s gaze. “That includes your guy. How’s that coming along. He made a decision yet?”
“He wants to bring his parents too.” No point in beating around the bush. They didn’t have time for that.
“It’s what they all say at first, Logan.”
“I know, I know.” And he did. It was just... “This is different.”
Jacob rolled his eyes. “Why? Because you like this one?”
Yes. Maybe. “No, I—”
“Come on, Logan. They all want to bring their family. I would if I was in their shoes. But just because you like this guy doesn’t mean he gets special treatment.”
“It’s more than that though.” He hadn’t realised it until he said it. “It feels different with Cole.” Jacob’s raised eyebrow told Logan what he thought to that.
“Do his parents even want to leave? We take a big risk offering it to candidates we know are desperate to get away. How do you know they aren’t perfectly happy with life?”
Logan suddenly remembered what had happened that morning. “Paul went to their house today.”
“I know. He was in here afterwards complaining that you were doing a shit job of getting Moreton ready.”
“He threatened Cole’s parents. Not outright,” he added, quickly. “But he scared the shit out of them. Pretty sure they aren’t all that happy with life right now.”
“That was one bad interaction.”
“That we know of. I get the feeling they’re not pro shifter by any means.” There had to be some way to get them to be considered for extraction. “Can’t we say they’re in danger? Whatever Paul’s reasons for going there, he still went, and it’ll be on record now.”
Logan hadn’t expected that argument to hold much weight, but to his surprise, Jacob looked like he was considering it.
