“The couch looks good right where it is,” Jake said firmly, walking into the room. The sofa was one of the last pieces of furniture they’d been waiting to get delivered. “I’m sure these guys have someplace they’d much rather be than moving furniture for two eighteen-year-old girls.”
Jake might have been talking to the girls, but he was looking straight at the two men, who went pale beneath their tans at the expression on his face. As one, they set the couch down.
“Oh hey, Jake.” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, Zoe turned to give him a smile. “We didn’t hear you come in.”
Yeah right.
“This is Austin Dunn and Colt Holland,” Chloe said, mirroring her twin’s smile. “They both work with us at the FBI and were nice enough to come help with the furniture that was delivered today. We didn’t even have to twist their arms.”
Jake resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Chloe was scary smart, but sometimes he worried about how naive she could be. She had to know why these two guys had jumped at the chance to help her and Zoe. And it wasn’t to get out of chasing down forgers or whatever they did at the FBI.
He needed to make it clear Zoe and Chloe were off-limits. Since they weren’t STAT, Austin and Colt didn’t know he was a werewolf, but they’d quickly learn he wasn’t someone to piss off if they messed with the twins.
McKay had gotten the twins part-time jobs at the FBI headquarters building while they attended college. Though he’d done it as a favor, Jake suspected McKay hoped to recruit Zoe and Chloe into STAT. McKay didn’t seem to know a lot about betas, so to him, one werewolf was probably as good for covert work as the next, but there was no way in hell Jake would ever let the twins do anything dangerous.
No more than he’d let them hang out with two guys who were way too old for them—and not nearly good enough.
“Then I guess thanks are in order. I appreciate you helping them out,” Jake said, moving past the twins to shake both men’s hands in turn, squeezing hard enough to make sure Austin and Colt got the message. “I’m Jake Huang, the girls’ legal guardian. Zoe and Chloe are more important to me than anything, by the way,” he added, lowering his voice. “Which is why if I heard someone did something to make them unhappy, I’m not sure there’s a limit to what I’d do to that person.”
Jake had no doubt the twins heard him but didn’t care. As long as Austin and Colt got the message. From the fear in their eyes, he was pretty sure they had.
Before either man could respond, Jake chuckled and good-naturedly slapped them on their shoulders, telling them they should grab a beer sometime.
“Anyway,” he added with a grin, “it’s been a long day and I’m sure you two need to get out of here.”
Austin and Colt exchanged looks before nodding.
“Um, yeah.” Austin looked at the twins. “We’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
Colt echoed the sentiment, giving Zoe and Chloe a nervous smile as he and Austin headed toward the door. Jake followed, closing the door behind them. When he turned around, it was to see both girls standing there, Zoe with her arms crossed, Chloe with her hands on her hips, disapproval obvious on both their faces.
“Was threatening them really necessary?” Zoe demanded. “They were just helping us move furniture. They didn’t try anything.”
“I’m sure they didn’t, but believe it or not, I was once those guys’ age.” He walked back into the spacious living room, ignoring the synchronized eye roll they gave him. “I know what they were thinking when they volunteered to help.”
Zoe and Chloe opened their mouths to argue, but he spoke before either could get a word out.
“Look, I’d love to stand here and discuss in detail why all men are pigs, but that’s not why I came home early. I’m going on a mission.”
The twins both tensed.
“Already?” Chloe asked, her blue eyes widening in obvious trepidation.
He sighed. “I know. I didn’t think I’d be in the field this soon either, but unfortunately, I have to leave immediately.” A glance at his watch had him adding, “In fact, I need to be downstairs to catch my ride in fifteen minutes.”
Chloe chewed on her lower lip. “Where are you going? Is it dangerous?”
Jake carefully schooled himself before answering. Betas could sense when their alpha was anxious, angry, scared—everything. The girls would freak out if he gave away even a hint of how dangerous this mission might be.
“I’m going to London. And no, it’s not dangerous,” he said.
The twins relaxed a little at that, although Chloe was still regarding him with an expression that suggested she knew he was holding something back.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked quietly.
He opened his mouth to tell them a couple days, but it would only make them worry more if it took longer.
“I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “But I promise I’ll Skype as often as I can.”
