“I see,” he said, after a few seconds. “We’ll have to discuss that condition. Hang on a moment.”
He muted the call again.
“What is it?” I asked, a nervous churn taking up residence in my stomach. The scent of cedar and woodsmoke wrapped around me, more reassuring than it should have been.
Knox frowned. “He’s agreed to let me relocate him to a more secure facility—but only if you’re there as a show of good faith.” A wry twist tugged at one corner of his mouth. “Apparently, he’s decided you’re on his side.”
Tony let out something between a laugh and a scoff. “Right. Little dude-bro also thoughtLorenzo Vozzinawas on his side.”
“There are bad judges of character, and then there’s whatever the hellheis,” I said, unable to hide the venom.
“I won’t send you in alone,” Knox said. “I won’t send you at all if you say no. Heath will be leading a security team of a dozen alphas for the transfer. If you want to go with them, I’m going to need your word that you won’t kill this little asshole while the others’ backs are turned.”
My teeth ground together as I pictured being in the same room with the slimeball who’d nearly destroyed my life... and who dared to call Knox ‘Matthew’ in that disgusting simper. Then I pictured Lorenzo Vozzina being hauled away in handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit for the crime of trafficking omegas.
“I’m not going to kill him,” I said. “We need him.”
FIFTY
Heath
GAGE WAS SLEEPING AGAIN, which was probably what he needed. Seeing how badly he was hurt had shaken me, but the doctor had been clear that he would heal, given time.
The idiot still didn’t understand how much I owed him for saving Tony, and he probably never would. Hell, he probably would have done the same for a total stranger who just happened to be next to him when the hotel roof came down.
I hoped Tony wouldn’t be too freaked out when he discovered that I wasn’t the only alpha in this pack who wanted him. I honestly wasn’t sure. On the one hand, Tony had a background with packs—or at least, a pack had helped him once before. On the other hand, he seemed to believe it was a fluke thatanyonewanted him, which was crazy as hell.
Between him and Jez, we had a lot of making up for things to do.
And speak of the devil...
The sense of Jez getting closer to me had me straightening from my slouch in the uncomfortable plastic chair by Gage’s bedside before the privacy curtain slid open. I had to do a double-take at the sight of her and Knox slipping in, shoulder to shoulder like maybe he’d been leaning on her to walk.
Who would have thought it?
“Hey,” I greeted, assuming they’d come to check on Gage. “He’s asleep. We were talking earlier, though, and he seemed a lot more lucid. Is Tony okay?”
“He’s fine,” Knox said, keeping his voice low to avoid waking the big lump on the bed. “It’s actually you I need to talk to, although I’m glad to hear Gage is doing better.”
“Talk about what?” I asked, not sure if it would be polite to prod at Jez’s feelings through the bond. She’d been pissed as hell at someone earlier, but it clearly hadn’t been at Knox.
Which was good.
“Paolo called,” she replied for him. “He’s agreed to let Knox move him somewhere safe, but only if I’m there as... honestly, I don’t really know why he wants me. Insurance, maybe?”
