Dammit, he was taking all the risk while those assholes played with their dicks, away from any danger of discovery. It was his life on the line if he was ever caught. Fuck them. No more until he got paid what he asked for.
Sitting on his dirty couch, he drank the beers wondering if he should take a shower. No, if he went out, he’d just get dirty all over again. Flipping on the TV, he watched the latest soccer match. It was a piss-poor game, but he wasn’t doing anything more until he heard back from them about his demand. He sat there staring at the screen.
Dozing, he was jolted awake by his phone beeping—an incoming text message. A big smile covered his face as he read it because his bluff had worked. He’d now be paid twice as much as long as he obeyed all their orders. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but it didn’t matter; all he cared about was he was getting twice the pay now. Time to go to work.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate knew his brother wouldn’t like it, but he was between a rock and a hard place. And shit, this was Friday afternoon. Short notice—duh, yeah, but he didn’t have any choice.Well, let’s see what Steel says. Tapping his pencil on the desk, he waited for his brother to answer the call.
“Okay, brother, what’s the crisis this time?”
“Who said it’s a crisis?”
“Well, we talked this morning at length and you told me you were leaving the office early for a hot date. And now it is eleven thirty at night in Scandinavia and you’re calling me. So, either you’ve found your mate or you never made it to your date tonight because you’re trying to solve a crisis. Somehow, I don’t think you’ve found your mate. So, I ask again. What’s the crisis?”
Shit,his brother knew him all too well. “Okay, okay, yeah it’s a crisis. You know I’ve been working on solving the medical needs for the Mexican Wolf shifters, right?’
“Uh-huh.”
“Well Monday, I have all the equipment arriving there and the dude who was going to oversee the installation got sick and can’t make it. I’ve spent the last ten hours trying to find a replacement, but no dice.”
“Okay, I understand. Can’t you delay the installation until your guy recovers?”
“Normally I would, but in this case, I can’t. Last night, a fire destroyed most of the old medical clinic and hospital. Dr. Luna told me it’s critical to have the new facilities up and running as soon as possible.”
“What caused the fire?”
“Don’t know yet, but it looks suspicious.”
“I don’t like it, Slate. What’s going to prevent it happening again to the new clinic and hospital?”
“I know. I don’t like it either. But I put in a fire suppression system so it won’t happen in the new building. I sent you pictures of the old building…hell, it’s amazing it was still standing.”
“So, what do you need from me?”
Slate took a deep breath, knowing what he was asking for would push Steel into a very uncomfortable place. “I need …”
“No, no, no. I can’t do it. I will not leave my pregnant mate, Slate.”
Slate broke out laughing. “No, not you, dumbass. I need Colton.”
“Colton?” Steel repeated, wondering if he heard wrong.
“Yes, Colton. He did the floorplan and drew up the equipment list. He’s the most familiar with everything and I need someone who doesn’t need a learning curve to get this done.”
“Oh shit, Slate. You know the problem Colton and the rest of the pack are facing with Silver Point. To send Colton off to Mexico by himself? Are you crazy? Jackson would never permit it.”
“I know. But please, hear me out. I’ll fly out to pick up Colton and stay with him while he’s in Mexico. I promise to protect him with my life, Steel. I would never ask this of you and Jackson, much less Colton, but this is an emergency. The shifters are in desperate need and I’ve nowhere else to turn. Look, ask Mom if she knows of any danger to Colton if he goes with me to Mexico. Please!!!”
Steel sat back in his chair. He knew this was Jackson’s and Colton’s decision. And while he didn’t even want to bring it up, he had to, because if there’s one thing he’d learned, Jackson demanded to know everything pertaining to the members of the pack. And he wasn’t going to sleep on the sofa just because he kept Slate’s request a secret. No, no, no. Even though he wasn’t happy about it and wanted to save his mate from getting stressed out, he really did trust Jackson to make the right decision.
“Okay, I’ll ask Mom and see what she says before taking your request to Jackson.”
“Steel, I appreciate it. I really do know what I’m asking of you.”
“I doubt it. You won’t understand until you find your fated mate and he’s pregnant.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let me know as soon as you can.”
