“Ah.” The old shifter nodded. “Pack Alpha business.”
“Pack Alpha business,” Ken confirmed. “And why can’t we swap Beck for Carl? Nami could go over with Beck every day, we get another full-time Enforcer out in the field, Nami gets to spend time with family, and everyone’s a winner.”
He didn’t like the shadow that flitted across Badger’s features. “No options are off the table yet, lad. But let’s at least give the new parents a couple of weeks to nest before we drag him back into the office.”
They were almost to “the clubhouse,” to use Nami’s nickname for it, when Ken’s phone rang.
Gillian. His stomach tightened as he answered. “Hey. I’m in the car with Badger.”
She sounded chipper, which immediately relaxed him. “Oh! Put me on speaker, please.”
“Hold on.” He did. “Okay.”
“Hey, Badger!”
“Hey there, lass. How ye holdin’ up?”
“More like blowing up, but I’m doing okay. Listen, I just received word that the pack’s offer was accepted on that big piece of property two properties over from Dewi’s. Over two hundred acres.”
Ken’s relief hit him so sharply he nearly cried. “Yay! What’s that mean?”
She laughed. “It means I’ll handle the paperwork and send you details once it’s finalized. Badger, I’m also going to send you information I have for the two properties between them. Peyton asked me if you could try to locate the owners and convince them to sell? I haven’t been able to contact them yet. Looks like shell companies own them.”
“Eh, I’m a bit busy right now. Can I send Duncan and Ken to do it?”
“Like I’mnotbusy?” Ken snarked at him.
Because Badger had no clue how busy Kenreallywas.
Or why he wasreallyopting to work several mornings a week over at “the clubhouse.”
“No rush on this Ken,” Gillian assured him. “But yes, please add this to your to-do list.”
“Sure,” Ken sighed. “Why not?”
“Thank you! Gotta go, another call coming in. Bye!”
Ken ended the call and made a note on his phone about the new task.
“I know yer working over here to stay offa Dewi’s radar,” Badger said.
Fuck. “Pack Alpha—”
“Business. Yeah, I know.” He cast Ken a glance. “I’m not askin’ what the business is. But if ye need me to run interference with Dewi about it, just ask me.”
“Thanks.”
They pulled in and parked. “All Iamaskin’,” Badger continued, “is that if ye get word there’s somethin’ dangerous, I’d like a heads-up. Deal?”
“Deal. Peyton gave me certain parameters.”
“Good lad.”
They climbed out, and as Ken grabbed his computer case and followed Badger inside, he hoped he’d never have to test the limits of those “parameters.”
* * *
Dewi
