“You’re a pain in my ass, Adam, but you’re efficient.”
His PA beamed.“It’s nice to be appreciated.”
Ryan grinned.“Only you’d take that as a compliment.”
“To be fair, Ryan, only I would be stupid enough to put up with you.”
He clapped the other man on the back and declared, “True enough.Anyway, you’ll find on my desk a list of the shit I need handling today.I’ll create a list each morning that I need you all to work through.On an evening, I’ll review what you’ve done and get back to you if I need further help.
“I’m not disappearing entirely.I’ll still be working; so, if anyone even dares mention that I’m shirking my duties, you can tell them where to go.”
“As if anyone would!”Adam gasped, shocked.“You’re mated.This is a vital time.Not just for you, but the Pride too.A Pride leader with a mate ensures for greater stability for his people.We all know that.No one will criticize.”
Ryan huffed.“Tell that to Konrad Jones.”
“Konrad’s a dick.No one listens to him.Anyway, we all know if it boiled down to it, and he actually challenged you, he’d be the one who failed.”
“He wouldn’t dare challenge me,” Ryan countered with a tone that was devoid of ego but also devoid of humility.It was simply a statement of fact.
Ryan was the strongest male in the Pride in this region, hell, probably this sector of the continental US.Everyone knew it.Himself included.He was young too.Ridiculously young to have this much power at his fingertips, and though he didn’t particularly want it, he’d had it placed on his shoulders from the instant he’d made Triad with Marc and Trip.
“Well then, that’s all we need worry about, isn’t it?”Adam retorted.“Whispers in the dark do shit.No one is going to make waves.”
“I know, but he winds me up.I’ll end up challenging him before late just to get him off my hands.”
Adam’s nose crinkled.“Let’s not do that.I really hate having to liaison with the PR department.”
Ryan chuckled.“It’s all about you, buddy, huh?”
“Of course.”Adam grinned.“So, Santiago and Erickson confirmed they’ll be here before lunch.They handled things down at the precinct, and their captain is aware this is a Pride investigation.He’ll only stick his nose in if this somehow disperses into human society.”
Ryan pursed his lips as he stared down at the white pebbled path that led from the driveway of Pride House up to the lodge.“That makes no sense.”
“Huh?”
“How does that make sense to you?El’s human.So is Shawn.It’s already trickled into that society.”
“Yeah, but they’re under our protection.It’s different.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes.“The death of Pantera is a case for Santiago and Erickson, but the kidnapping isn’t.We don’t know yet if it was organized by the Pantera or not.It could have been a wholly human operation.”
“I think the captain is cutting his losses until we have more leads.As it stands, we know less about Pantera than I’m happy with,” Adam admitted.“I eyed the prelim reports Santiago emailed over this morning, and I’m really unhappy with how little information we have.”
Ryan shot him a look.“This is Erickson and Santiago’s priority, right?”
“Do you even have to ask?”Adam retorted.“This involved you, Ryan.Of course it’s priority.”
“It’s come to my attention that El has been under recent, severe threat from kidnappers.I want you to burrow into her family history, Adam.I want to see if there’s a reason, a legitimate one, as to why she’s being targeted but other members of her kin aren’t.
“Naturally, I can’t say any of this in front of El, and as she’ll be attending the briefing with Santiago and Erickson, I want you to make it known to them on my behalf where you’re snooping.”He sucked in a sharp breath.“Things are up in the air enough.I don’t want to make waves where there are none, but we need to get to the bottom of this.It’s ridiculous.”
“She’s a very rich woman,” Adam said softly.“I mean, she’s richer than the Pride as a whole, Ryan.That’s as an individual.I did some digging into her last night, just to make sure everything was copacetic.I know you hadn’t asked me, but I can usually predict where you’re heading on something.I’ll let you see what I’ve gathered so far, but everything looks kosher.
“It’s just her wealth is far vaster than you can even imagine.”
“Money isn’t everything.Her brothers and parents are just as rich.”
Adam grimaced.“It’s more complicated than you think.Her paternal grandfather left her the largest chunk of the family fortune in a few trust funds he dotted around so that she’d never want for anything basically until the end of time immemorial.”
