"Very well." Sinclair picked up his phone again. "Did you hear that? Good, then bring him in."
I swung around when the doors to the council chamber opened. Roger, in cuffs, was being led into the room.
"I must admit to a bit of subterfuge here. Roger and his men attacked my home just after these proceedings began. Once he was captured, he was brought here."
"How did you even know he had attacked your home, Sinclair?" McKay asked.
"I suspected that this council meeting was a smoke screen to get us out of the house. Langston knew Jojo would insist that Tommy not be brought here for his own safety and assumed we would leave him at home."
"He is not?" McKay asked.
"Tommy is currently visiting Alpha Darby with Sampson and his mate, Henry, who is a former member of that pack. I believe they are teaching the alpha how to make cinnamon rolls."
Elder McKay sighed before turning to look at Alpha Langston. "Care to explain this?"
* * * *
I jumped up and dove for Stalker's arms when my father pulled a gun and started shooting. I knew he was up to something when these proceedings started, but I never imagined this. Stalker wrapped his arms around me and pushed me to the floor, covering my body with his own.
I knew my terror was on my face when the man looked down at me. "Stalker."
"It'll be okay, baby. I promise."
I wasn't sure if he could promise that. I could hear people crying out and the continued sounds of gunfire. I didn't understand why it didn't stop. It should have stopped by now.
"Stalker—"
"I promise, baby."
"I love you," I blurted out. Stalker needed to know how I felt in case one of us died.
Stalker's face brightened for a moment. "I love you, too, Jojo."
When he lowered his face to kiss me, I thought he was insane until his lips touched mine, and then I didn't care about anything going on around us. The world faded away, my present filled with nothing except my mate and the love I had for him and the knowledge that he returned that love.
Nothing else mattered.
When Stalker finally lifted his head, it took a moment for the world to return and for me to realize that we were surrounded. I swallowed tightly as I looked up past Stalker's head. Several very amused faces stared back.
"Hey, guys. Gunfight over?"
"Oh yes," Sinclair replied. "Gunfight is over. Roger is over. Your father is over. Daytime is almost over."
I frowned. "My father is—"
Sinclair frowned. "I'm sorry, Jojo. Your father didn't survive the gunfight."
"He's…he's dead?"
"Roger killed him." Stone shrugged. "I killed Roger."
I gasped. "They're both dead?"
Stone nodded.
"It's over," I whispered. "It's really over."
"Does that mean we can go home then?" Stalker asked as he stood then pulled me to my feet.
