Tonight would be drinks and socializing more than business, Duncan setting the agenda for the next several days, and then a group run afterward for everyone to stretch their legs.
The next several days would be packed full of meetings to maximize their limited time together. He planned to travel to Seattle at the end of the week as a surprise for the girls and take a well-needed weekend off. Louisa knew about it, but other than Badger, she was the only one.
He didn’t want there to be any slip-ups regarding Charlie and the girls’ location.
Duncan was one of the first to arrive at the hall, Badger beating him there by mere seconds. Within twenty minutes, almost everyone was present, including Charlie. The man acted subdued, bore a grave air about him, but Badger had already warned Duncan that was par for the course for the man now. Especially when he had to visit the compound.
At least Charlie was taking things seriously, and that was what mattered most to Duncan. That their pack would be in safe, competent hands once he decided to step down.
Correction—what mattered most to Duncan was that Chelsea would be safe and well-loved with Charlie.
Even better? He knew their packmates were seeing Charlie in that light as well, as potentially their future Pack Alpha.
“Who are we still waiting on?” Duncan asked Badger.
He pulled out a small, battered leather journal where he kept his notes. “We’re still waitin’ fer Amos, Darren, and Kellen. They should be along momentarily. They’re stayin’ with Darren’s brother, Malachi.”
They all looked up as the door opened and the three men walked in.
“Aye, thassit, then,” Badger said, tucking his journal back into his pocket. “We’re all here.”
“Excellent.”
Darren led the way to shake with Duncan. “Oh, and Malachi sent this with me,” he said, handing Duncan a paperback book, A Tale of Two Cities. “He said Darcy borrowed it from Chelsea, but she wasn’t in school today. She asked that I return it to you because she’d promised to return it today.”
Duncan’s hand froze in mid-reach, his gaze meeting Badger’s. Then, unable to help themselves, they looked over to where Charlie sat.
He’d already perked up, his nose flaring, gaze bright as he stared at the book.
Well, shit.
Duncan forced himself to take the book. “Thanks. I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Now Charlie’s gaze met Duncan’s. It left the Pack Alpha wondering if he’d need Badger’s help subduing the man.
To Charlie’s credit, while he sat ramrod-straight in his chair during the brief meeting, and his gaze rarely left Duncan, he didn’t move from his chair except when everyone stood to get glasses and pour drinks for the toast before heading out for their run.
And when everyone else made their way outside about twenty minutes later, Charlie remained standing near the bar, the glass in his hand.
Badger looked from Duncan to Charlie. “What’s the word, then, sir?” Badger softly asked Duncan.
“Go on outside, please, and keep everyone busy for a couple of minutes. We’ll be right there.”
He nodded, looked at Charlie one more time, then left.
Charlie didn’t move, staring at the glass in his hand where an ice cube remained. Duncan watched how his chest inflated, deflated, the way he obviously struggled to remain still and not react.
After a long, tense moment, Charlie finally spoke. “It can’t be Malachi’s daughter, because if the girl’s parents know about me, he wouldn’t risk it.” Charlie thought for a moment. “Chelsea just turned thirteen, didn’t she?”
Duncan took a deep breath. “Yes.”
“I’d always wondered which one,” he said, eventually meeting Duncan’s gaze. “Which of your daughters. But I swore to you I would wait, so I didn’t really want to know. Because it didn’t matter who she was, only that I follow your rules. I knew you were right about that, even though it feels like it’s killing me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you suspected?”
“Because only my oath to you mattered. I meant it when I took a knee to you the first time, that time and every time since. You’ve never steered us wrong. What I want to know is how you knew?”
“What do you mean?”
