“Hey, Peyton did the heavy lifting. All I did was speak the lingo.”
“How many languages do you speak?” Trevor asked.
“I mean, my Russian is passable. A native would likely clock me, though. I can read and speak it. My Finnish isn’t bad—I can read and speak it, too. My Spanish is okay, although I haven’t spoken it in a lot of years. I’m really rusty there.”
Peyton laughed, and it felt damned good. “Well, I’m certain your son-in-law and his sister can help you.”
Jake smiled, staring into his glass. “Yeah, guess you’re right.” He blinked. “Can’t believe I missed their wedding.”
“I’m simply glad you’re not a raging homophobe,” Trevor said. “Especially since Tamsin is my daughter’s mate.” He made a choked sound. “Was,” he said. “She’s like a daughter to us. We love her, and hate like hell we’re missing time with our granddaughter thanks to that bloody bastard.”
“I get Faegan being a jackass,” Jake said, “but I’m honestly shocked he didn’t take the money and run when you offered it.”
“That’s because you have a conscience,” Trevor said. “And you aren’t a cunt.”
Jake snorted. “Been called lots of things in my life, but never that.” His smile faded. “But I’d love a chance to hear Faegan call me a lot of names before I help rip his head off his shoulders.”
“Stand in line, mate,” Trevor said.
“And it’s a long fucking line,” Peyton added.
“Well, with that all said,” Trevor started, “there have been further developments. About twenty minutes before your arrival. Another tip was phoned in.”
Peyton scowled. “Do you know the people personally?”
“No. Reported to a wolf pack in Italy. Their Pack Alpha called me personally and is awaiting my further orders.”
“Can we trust him?”
“One of my Primes talked to him when this misery started, and we can trust him. He’s loyal. But he doesn’t know the person who called in the tip. Knowing what happened to you, he’s also holding action until my further orders.”
Jake sucked his teeth. “I know I’m the new one here, but I don’t trust it.”
“Me either,” Peyton said. “And someone has to know the team that took me is dead. Or mostly dead,” he added. “That they’re sending out another tip so soon means they think I’m still missing.”
“Or it’s a legitimate tip,” Trevor said.
“I think I have a better chance of being crowned king than it being a legitimate tip,” Jake said.
Chapter Forty-Six
Ken
Ken didn’t drink any alcohol on the flight and, despite the first-class seat that folded into a bed and the semi-private pod, he didn’t get any sleep, either.
He’d briefly turned on his work phone and used the Wi-Fi to see that Dewi had sent several dozen texts and left eleven voicemail messages, but he didn’t read or listen to any of them.
He couldn’t. Not without hating this whole situation even more, and himself as a by-product.
So he turned it off and hoped he could contact her soon with good news.
Customs felt nerve-wracking, even though he knew he had nothing to worry about. The rental car was another issue, because while he’d watched plenty of BBC America, he’d never driven a vehicle with right-hand drive.
And it was night, the time difference working against him.
And he was exhausted.
Fortunately, his work phone’s GPS worked here. After putting the phone in “do not disturb” mode, he used its sat-nav to steer him in the right direction. He pulled up at Trevor’s gate and hit the intercom button not long before midnight.
