Arsenal leaned in, voice deadpan. “He got thrown so far, his boots landed before he did.”
I grinned, let the room enjoy the joke. “Yeah, and I still made it to breakfast. Unlike some people.”
Pearl bopped me with a towel. “That’s enough, boys. Let’s talk business.”
Bronc shifted, and the room tensed like a coiled spring. “We’ve had eyes on Maltraz since he went underground, but the trail’s colder than a witch’s tit in January. No hits, no chatter, not even a whisper from the local packs.”
Arsenal put down his fork, posture going rigid. “He’s not the type to just run. He tried to drain our accounts, poisoned half our pack, and his demons nearly killed Papa.” He gave a tight nod to Big Papa, who just shrugged like getting possessed and bled out by demons was all in a day’s work.
“We know he’s still trafficking women,” Wrecker said, voice low. “Word from the coast is, he’s paying good money for supernatural girls. Human, too. The jobs go through burner phones and third parties, but it’s all Maltraz.” His words made my head hurt.
Papa wiped his mouth, slow and deliberate. “I’d pay a month’s wages to rip his spine out myself.”
Bronc’s eyes narrowed, blue as an arctic lake. “The Council’s supposedly aware. The very demon king who’s running the operation sits on the goddamn Council, and they’reaware.”
Arsenal’s laugh was all frost. “They’re aware. Yathink? And they’re gonna do fuck all about it. Until they take someone who belongs to the Council, they are gonna ignore the issue.”
Bronc looked around the table, weighing the mood. “I need to know. Are we gonna take this fight to him? Or do we sit and wait for him to bring it back to our doorstep, because he damn sure will bring it back? And Gunner, when he does, he’s gonna have both barrels aimed right at your girl.”
All eyes at the table were suddenly focused on me. Not everyone was aware that Brie was my mate. Hell,shewasn’t even aware.
“Guessthatfucking cat just got yanked right out of the bag. I haven’t even had this talk with Brie yet, but she’s my mate.”
After a series of whoops and ‘bout times, it got quiet again.
“And I know that Maltraz likely will target her since she got away in Paris. I don’t know if I like her being a sitting duck.” I caught all the eyes in the room when I told them that.
Papa raised his gigantic hand. “Maybe we could bait him. Put the word out that Iron Valor’s got a line on a rare blood witch. Maltraz can’t resist a flex.”
I met Bronc’s gaze. “Or we do it the old way. Call in a favor from King Rafe. Tell him the demon king’s running girls through his territory. Rafe’ll be pissed enough to use his own dogs.”
Bronc rubbed his jaw, frown deepening. “Both of those have merit. But we have to be smart. Maltraz has eyes everywhere. We show our hand too early, we lose.”
Papa grinned, wide and sharp. “Then we don’t show our hand. We show our teeth.”
The table went silent, every man chewing on the words.
Pearl started to clear plates but paused at my shoulder. “You all need to remember who you are. Iron Valor built a legacy by outsmarting the bastards, not just by out-muscling them.” She patted my back, gentle. “Use your head, Gunner. You’ve got a good one.”
I swallowed, the compliment landing harder than I expected. “Yes, ma’am.”
Bronc finally spoke. “Wrecker, start tracing the buyers on those girls. Quietly. Papa, see if the witches in Amarillo have heard anything—no one talks to strangers, but they’ll talk to you and Aspen.” He turned to me. “Gunner, you’re on recon. If Maltraz is baiting the pack, I want you to be the one he sniffs out first.”
I straightened, pulse pounding. “Copy.”
Pearl started to laugh, but it was soft and secret. “My boys, all grown up and ready to start another war.”
Papa reached for another lemon bar. “We’re getting damn good at it.”
We finished breakfast without another word about Maltraz. The next hour was for strategizing, mapping out contacts, figuring who would run interference and who would play decoy. Bronc stayed at the head, but his eyes were on me more than usual, like he was waiting for me to crack.
I didn’t, not this time.
When the room emptied, Pearl caught me alone. She fixed my collar, like I was a child again, then leaned in close. “Be careful with that girl, Finn. She’s got more power than you think.”
I nodded. “I know.”
She kissed my cheek, then went back to her kitchen, leaving me in the doorway with the smell of roses and coffee and the faintest touch of her perfume.
