Tom intervened before this went sideways.
“What if we stationed guards outside your boundary, Alpha Urban?” he asked. “That way we’d be satisfied it was locked down, but we wouldn’t be on your territory.”
Matt met his eyes. “That sounds workable.”
Tom had to admire the gall of the man. He knew as well as Tom that, if that was what they decided to do, he couldn’t stop them.
“My pack will do the security sweep before the councilors arrive,” Matt added.
“And your pack have the same sort of training my guys have? I don’t fucking think so,” Jax spat.
Tom sighed. Diplomacy was wasted on Jax.
“I don’t care what you think,” Matt said, sounding as if he meant it. “It’s your councilors that want this meeting, and I’ll guarantee their safety while they’re on my land. I’m prepared to let you look around the place today but I willnothave a full, armed security detail roaming my pack’s territory.”
“Fuck that.” Jax was on his feet, his fists clenched on the table in front of him.
“I believe Councilor Steadman will find those terms acceptable,” Tom said swiftly, seeing this whole thing about to explode. “Should I check with her, Jax?”
Jax relaxed slightly, Tom’s recognition of his status soothing his ego.
“No need, Barrington,” he said. “I’m going to look around the property myself, then I’ll make a recommendation.”
“I’ll show you around,” Urban said, rising smoothly to his feet.
Disaster averted for now, they left through the back door, and Tom wanted to bang his head on the table. When he glancedup, Bryce’s blue eyes were full of laughter. “I can see why your colleague didn’t join the diplomatic corps,” he said.
Tom snorted. “You havenoidea. That was him on his best behavior.”
“Well, I guess the unstoppable force met the immovable object in Matt. Are you sure you don’t want to accompany them on their tour for the entertainment value?”
“Seriously?” Tom’s horror at the thought echoed in his voice.
Bryce laughed, the sound rich and easy in the quiet kitchen. “Come on,” he said, jerking his chin toward the back door. “Let’s get out of here before Jax realizes he’s never going to get the better of Matt.”
Outside, the sun was high and the breeze strong, sending fallen leaves swirling. They meandered without aim or urgency, in step with one another, like they’d been doing this for years. They were close enough for Tom almost to sense the heat of Bryce’s body. He shoved the thought away before it could catch fire—how Bryce would feel above him, warm and heavy, pressed skin to skin.
Instead, he concentrated hard on the path in front of him, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, and Bryce’s soft breathing.
After a while, Bryce asked, “Do you know which councilors are coming? Tristan’s been bugging me to ask you.”
Tom glanced sideways. “So far, it’s looking like Bennett, Steadman, Hart, and Thompson. Final confirmation tonight.”
“You think Bennett and Steadman can be in the same room without killing each other?”
Tom gave a dry huff of laughter. “It’s always interesting. Steadman plays the long game, while Bennett likes shock and awe. Neither of them likes to lose.”
“Which one pushed hardest for the visit?”
“Depends who you ask.” Tom nudged a stone with his shoe, watching it skitter ahead of them. “Officially? They both signed off. Unofficially, I think Steadman’s doing all she can to manage the narrative about Jesse being an Argent before Bennett simply unleashes it on the world like a wayward nuke.”
Bryce frowned. “And Jesse? What do they intend for him, other than simply acknowledging that Argents still exist?”
“That’s the worry,” Tom admitted. “If Bennett thinks he can use Jesse’s support to force through a shift in policy, he won’t hesitate.”
They walked a few more steps in silence.
Bryce said, low and serious now, “You think Steadman would use him too?”
