The video ended and the room remained silent as each occupant came to grips with what they witnessed. Jackson could hear Steel’s thoughts and emotions—relief that Daniel was safe and his mate, along with the rest of the brothers, would be able to provide an alibi. He understood it because he felt the same way. He was eager to tell Cody and Dylon that the threat hanging over Jake and Jessica’s head was gone. And Colton would also be able to enjoy Ian’s pregnancy along with the birth of their pup. The pups will be safe and they would be able to clear their names.Doesn’t get much better than that!
Zane finally opened his eyes when the video had stopped. From the time he found all the clips needed to prove their innocence, he’d struggled to figure out how to process his emotions that had come flooding back from that day. His face first showing worry and then fear, he watched as Dakota told him Jackson ordered them to remain where they were. His brother had no further information why the plans had changed and that caused Zane’s mind to go wild with all the possibilities, but never in a thousand years did he ever think Jackson would tell him his family was dead.
Glancing up, his eyes met Jackson’s and he saw compassion, and worry. Then something else—the love between the brothers which was the glue holding the pack together. Zane gave a half smile, wanting to reassure his brother he was okay. He knew this was the first step he’d taken to reclaim his life since that fateful day. “Are you going to tell the rest of the pack we have the proof needed?” Zane asked Jackson.
“Yes, but first I want to talk to Penn.”
Zane nodded, then glanced at his watch. “Fuck, I gotta go. I told Dakota I’d help him with lunch.”
“Why does Dakota need help?”
“I don’t know but I owe him. He excused me from KP duty several times when I was serving my punishment and I promised to make it up to him. I have more to tell you about the missing enforcers. Can it wait until this afternoon?” Zane asked, shutting down his computers before standing.
“Sure. How about two o’clock? Daniel will be napping…fingers crossed…and I’ll see if Dylon and Cody can join us.”
“Cool. Gotta run.”
With the evidence in his hand, Jackson grasped Steel’s hand and intertwining their fingers, he pulled his mate in for a kiss before heading back to his study.
“Happy,mo chroí?” asked Steel.
“In a way, yes. Surprised Zane found it so fast, and a lot of pressure off because now none of my brothers…or their mates…will feel the need to take any violent action against Josiah. So in that way I’m happy. But I’m wondering once we prove my uncle’s complaint is bogus, what else will he throw at my pack?”
“You think he’ll come up with something else?”
“Yes I do. Look atwhat he’s done so far…arranged for the kidnapping of Colton…”
“We haven’t been able to find any link between him and Pablo,” Steel reminded Jackson.
“Yeah, but that’s only because we haven’t found it. Pablo had instructions to kill my brother and only his greed prevented it. So we got lucky there. Now this boguscomplaint my uncle filed with the High Council. I’ll bet anything my uncle thought we’d attack him to protect the pups. Thank the gods we didn’t fall into that trap. So now Penn hands over the video showing we were in Las Vegas at the time the massacre happened and the High Council dismisses the complaint. What do you think my uncle is going to do? Sit there and wait to see what happens concerning the complaint I filed against him? I don’t think so.”
“So what do you think he’ll do next?”
“Not a clue but I know he won’t quit. C’mon, let’s see if we can sneak in a quick call to Penn before lunch.”
~/~/~/~/~
“Macushla,”called Kieran to Logan who was in the bathroom shaving. “I’m going to see how Fionn is doing this afternoon, okay? I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Logan stuck his head out and said, “Good. Tell the rest to meet us in the sitting room in about thirty minutes.”
“No problemo,” Kieran said as he left their suite. Walking down the hotel’s hallway, he hummed to himself as he relived their early morning. First, seeing the sky turn his favorite color as sunrise broke and then the fabulous sex—what a way to start the day. Kieran decided from now on they’d start every day that way. He giggled, thinking how their pup might change those plans, but he’d figure out something else. Reaching his friends’ suite, Kieran knocked, then opened the door. Hearing voices in Theo and Norman’s bedroom, he decided to head there first. “Hey, Theo, Norman, are you decent?” he yelled, unwilling to walk in unless they were.
Theo answered, “In here, Ki. We’re trying to find some clothes for Fionn.”
Clothes? Kieran hurried to see what they were doing. Entering he said, “Hey Fionn. Do you need clothes? We can go shopping and I can help you because I have an eye for that kinda stuff and my mate is proof of it. You should have seen him before I worked my magic on him. Oh, his clothes were all right if you catch my drift but they didn’t show off his best assets. After I took him clothes shopping you should see him now, sexy, dreamy and hot in all the right places. Not that I want you looking at my mate, mind you. I did that for Theo and Norman too. You should have seen their choices but I put a stop to that right away didn’t I guys? Yup. I got them the right clothes so now they can look their best. Oh goody, we’re going shopping!”
“Ki, Fionn wants to go to his home and pack up his clothes and stuff,” said Norman.
Kieran looked at Fionn who nodded. “Sure, that works too. But we need to talk to my mate first. That’s a good idea because then we can go through your clothes and see what you have.”
“I don’t have much. My father didn’t believe in spending a lot for clothes and stuff. That reminds me…I want to buy my bed and ship it to California. Do I need to talk to Logan about that too?”
“Yeah, but you know there’s a bed for you in California, I promise,” replied Kieran.
“I know, but this bed is the best one I ever slept on, so I want it.”
Kieran shrugged. “Makes sense to me. Okay, we can include that when we talk to my mate about getting your stuff.” Glancing down to the clothes on the bed, he exclaimed, “Oh, these will work for you in the meantime.The colors will be perfect for your complexion. Do they fit?”
