“He’s been living in the forest for months, Chase. The last two jobs were fine because he was just the muscle. Stand there, look intimidating, and don’t talk to anyone. They were perfect for him. Butthisis completely different.”
Chase says nothing, knowing full well I’m listening to every word that’s being said. A wolf shifter, and a royal one at that, his nose has already told him I’m in the building, and his enhanced hearing picked up my footsteps and breathing long before his human co-founders will catch on.
“Someone’s life depends on him keeping it together,” Van adds. “We can’t afford anyone messing this up.”
There’s a quiet creak as someone swivels in their chair, and then two thuds as they rest their feet on the desk.
Chase sighs, sounding more exhausted than I’ve heard him before. “You’re right. But he’s still our best shot at getting someone on the inside.”
Not exactly a resounding vote of confidence, but I appreciate the gesture. He’s mated to Natalie, so he has to be nice to me no matter how much of a fuck-up I am, even if she isn’t.
“I don’t know, Chase. If he slips up, and Kozlov finds out we sent him…” Van is worried, the sensible one, the thinker of the trio. And I don’t blame him. The last few months have been… rocky.
“Or if they find out what he is…” Tripp trails off.
The human world can’t find out about shifters. If I lose my shit out on a mission, a giant man who can turn into a grizzly bear the size of a minivan, then the cat will be out of the bag.
“Hopefully, it will be in and out,” Chase says, but there’s a hint of doubt in his voice. He’s not convinced it will be that simple. And as I contemplate the idea of being stuck in human form for potentially weeks on end, my skin itches with the urge to shift and run.
“If he can do it…” A new voice cuts in, one I don’t recognise, rough with emotion.
I pause, subtly sniffing the air. Human. Male. Wearing the same clothes for a couple of days by the smell of him.
“Please try. Whatever it takes to get her out of there.”
His voice cracks at the end, and there’s a loud thud as soft flesh bangs down hard on the table.
Chase’s tone is grave. “We’re looking at all the options, Jake, I promise.”
A chair slides back along the tight office carpeting with a hiss as boots hit the ground.
“I’ll work for you forever, no pay, cleaning toilets or anything. I sold my medals…” Something lands on Chase’s desk, and he sighs. “I don’t care what happens to me once you get her out of there.”
“Listen to me.” Chase’s voice is gentler than I’ve heard it before with a client. This isn’t a random stranger who’s come here looking to hire private security or help with a missing person. This is someone he knows. This is personal. “We’ve been through this. None of this is about money. I’d give you the eighty grand right now if I thought he’d actually hand her over.”
He lets out an anguished groan before he drops into the chair again. “She’s all I’ve got left.” Jake’s voice cracks. “Our parentsare gone. It’s just us. If something happens to her because of me...”
He doesn’t finish. He doesn’t have to.
“Of course we’re going to help. But before we go too far down one road, we need to know whether we can do this safely or not,” Tripp adds softly, compassion in his tone. “We only get one shot.”
This isn’t another tedious protection detail where I scare people with my size. This one matters.
And maybe even makes up for what I did, even if it’s just a little bit.
“That’s why we need Bodhi,” Chase reiterates. “He can get inside, find out where she is, and break her out. If we attempt a smash and grab, they might get spooked and call this whole thing off. Get rid of the evidence, including her.”
My interest is piqued at that. Call what off?
“The Lennox name still carries weight in those circles.” Chase continues carefully, knowing I’ll be arriving at his door any second. “Kozlov will want the cache of having a Lennox on his payroll, especially after he takes one look at Bodhi. It’s our best way in.”
My father was no stranger to organised crime. If this woman was taken by professionals, there’s a good chance they know Leon Lennox. Before his recent forced retirement, his crew was known to be loyal and dangerous, which is a prize combination in their world.
“What do you think, Jake?”
Chase makes it sound so simple, but whoever has her isn’t going to hand over that information to just anyone. It could take a long time for me to gain his trust. Time this woman might not have.
“If Kozlov hurts her…” The desperate voice cuts off abruptly. I feel his pain deep in my chest, and I know I have to help him. “This guy, is he that bad?”
