“Are you gonna call Jackson?”
“Not yet…and send Reeve in on your way out,” Tristan said, before turning back to his computer. Pulling up the program he’d been using before Oracle appeared, he resumed working while mulling over various scenarios. For sure, he needed more than the enforcers currently assigned to him and couldn’t wait for the High Council to send them.
Closing Tristan’s office door behind him, Heath walked over to Reeve who was sitting on a chair in the hallway. “Don’t you ever go over my mate’s head again or I will personally kick your sorry ass all the way back to San Francisco. Am I clear?”
“He chewed you a new one, huh?” asked Reeve.
“I deserved it for going along with your plan to talk to Jackson without my mate’s approval. My father would skin me alive if he ever found out,” Heath said. “It’s your turn next—Tristan wants you in his office, so good luck getting yourself out of this one.”
After Heath left, Reeve got up and headed to the Alpha’s office. It had been a long time since he had seen his friend as shaken as he’d been after his meeting with Tristan. Knocking, he waited until he was granted permission to enter and then, bracing himself for a dressing-down that would probably match the one that Jackson had given him, he entered.
“Have a seat,” Tristan said, not looking up from his computer screen.
Reeve did as ordered and sat down in front of Tristan’s desk. Waiting for Tristan to begin, he took advantage of the time and studied the man who was now Alpha. After the High Council had met Jackson’s demands, nothing was left to block Tristan from assuming the position his father previously held. And for the first time since Tristan had taken the Alpha oath, Reeve realized there was something very different about him.
After clicking the print button, Tristan looked over at Reeve, and asked, “What’s your best guess for when Rudy will be here?”
“If it’s just Rudy and his three flunkies, then a couple of hours,” Reeve replied. “I can’t pin it down more than that because the Council doesn’t know exactly when the escape occurred. If he’s bringing the rest of the inmates who escaped with him, then maybe eight to ten hours.”
Nodding, Tristan said, “Since you know my enforcers better than I do at this point, I want you to make a list of who are the strongest fighters among them.”
“I can do that, but there won’t be enough to protect your pack and yourself. Even if I add those enforcers who stayed with me, you’re still going to be outnumbered, especially since Rudy and his gang have nothing to lose. But if Jackson will add…”
“I intend to call him shortly,” Tristan said, curtly. “What steps are you taking to protect my brother, Kahn, his sisters, and their mother?”
“They’re all together in Elenor’s condo with my men guarding them and the building.”
“How many entrances are there?”
“Two…the main and the service entrance. I have men watching both of them for now.”
“Okay…get me the list of enforcers…and I asked Heath for a map of my lands…see if he’s found one yet and if not, help him get one,” Tristan ordered, turning back to his computer screen.
Tristan’s abrupt dismissal stung, but Reeve understood why. Hesitating for a moment, he thought about the unfinished business between them that needed to be addressed sooner than later. And if Tristan didn’t wantto bring it up, then he would. “Tristan, about my call to Jackson…”
“Let it go, Reeve.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea…not with what’s facing us.”
Slamming his fist down on the desk, Tristan growled, “Don’t you mean facingme? Or are you the Alpha of the Silver Point Pack?”
“No…that’s not what I meant.”
“I know that, but you act as if you still are, or at the very least, a co-Alpha with me. Is that why you thought you had the right to call Jackson before telling me?”
“I know you’re the Alpha…I was just trying to…”
“Stop. I know you thought protecting me was more important than anyone else, including my pack. But let me disabuse you of that notion. The welfare of my pack comes first, above anything or anyone else. I took an oath to do just that and I will keep it no matter what. Your role is to advise, not make decisions for me. If you can’t understand that, then you should leave.”
“You’re right and I’m sorry for forgetting it. It won’t happen again, Alpha.”
“I accept your apology, now go.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” Reeve murmured before leaving. Closing Tristan’s door behind him, he paused for a moment, remembering the man who burst into his office to issue a challenge. Brave, but stupid was Reeve’s first impression of Tristan, but after finding out he was the first-born son of Josiah, he had set that impression aside and spent time getting to know him. Now he realized he’d missed the powerful Alpha spirit hidden insideTristan—and which had suddenly been revealed. Finally, the Silver Point Pack now had an Alpha they could be proud of. He could feel Tristan’s newly found Alpha Power even through the closed door and he had to smile; Rudy was in for a surprise when he finally arrived. Chuckling, he left to make the list and find Heath.
~/~/~/~/~
Digging through her closet, Sofia found the clothes she’d bought for David and after gathering them up in her arms, she walked out into her bedroom. Setting them down on a chair, she looked at Cain and said, “I have more, but you can start with these.”
