Bastien’s brows lower. “If she’s better, isn’t that a good thing?”
“Stone asked me to go, and I can’t.”
I can hear how torn he sounds. “Because of the meds?”
“That too.” There’s a note in it that I don’t recognize, haven’t heard before despite knowing Max since we were children. “But I just… honestly, I don’t think I can leave her, Nik. Not like this. Not withthem.”
His voice cracks on the last word, and I finally understand the tension in the kitchen. Luc unfolds himself from where he’s been leaning against the counter and takes a seat next to Bastien.
“You want to bring her here.” My words hang in the air, waiting for a response.
“Yes.”
We all take a breath.
“Let me get this straight,” Lucien rumbles. He’s glaring at the phone as though he’d like to wring Max’s neck through it. “You want to steal a pregnant omega and bring her here?”
Max makes a noise of affirmation. “I do.”
“Max, have you thought this through? Stealing meds and supplies is hard enough. You want to take a person, too? And one who’s being closely guarded?” Bastien’s voice is firm, but stress lines his forehead as he glances at me.
“I have a plan,” Max pleads. “It’s a shot in the dark, but it could work.”
“And the omega?” I ask. Everyone goes quiet. “What have you said to her?”
Panic slices through me. If he’s mentioned our pack, our set-up here, we might all be at risk. We have no idea what loyalties this omega has. We’re an unregistered pack with a biological child that was never handed over to the adoption agency. If the government find us, I’ll lose Nash.
“Nothing,” Max promises instantly, sincerity ringing in his voice and relaxing my muscles. “That’s not just my decision to make. I haven’t said anything to her. And I wouldn’t – just in case…”
His voice trails off.
In case it doesn’t work.
Bastien is deep in thought. I can almost see the cogs whirring, identifying possibilities faster than most people could even fathom.
“Tell us the plan,” he says suddenly. Luc drops his face into his hands with an exasperated groan. Bastien grabs a notebook that’s been left on the table and flips it open, his silver-gray eyes meeting mine across the table. “Talk us through it, Max, and we’ll go from there.”
ChapterEleven
Bastien
My fingers tap against the solid wood of the table. Plates, cups and discarded bits of paper are scattered everywhere, littering the kitchen with half-baked ideas and frustration. Luc stares out through the window at the darkened sky, the tic in his jaw betraying his unease.
Max had to go, with a promise to call back this evening. Nik disappeared to grab Nash from Leah and bring him home for bed, but he slips back in as I pore over the rough notes in my hand.
Max was right. We do have a plan. It’s full of enough holes to sink a ship, but it’s getting there.
Nik clears his throat and I hand him the notebook, watching as he flicks through it. When he’s done, he glances up at me. “Nice work.”
“You say that like there was any doubt,” I respond wryly. His lip twitches, but stress lines his face. I feel it too, but Nik has a lot more to lose than me.
I lean forward to catch his eye. “If we do this, you’re staying here.”
His jaw clenches, and he opens his mouth.
“No buts,” says Luc firmly. His eyes are resolute, arms crossed as he matches Nik’s glare with one of his own. We’ve talked through all the options.
“You need to be here, Nik,” Luc say softly. “Bastien will hook up the van so you can listen in, but Nash needs you. We can’t risk it.”
