Theo arched an eyebrow at Ginny, who shrugged. “I’m not buying it. I bet I’ll have it cracked by tonight,” he said.
“Irrelevant,” Saul said. “Here’s the deal. I want Ginny and the Benjamin file at the meet. Not you. Not your brothers—assuming Jared survived last night. He wasn’t moving after the explosion, now was he?”
The bastard had had cameras watching them. Theo forced a bored tone into his voice. “Dude, it’s Jared. He’s fine and now thirsting for your blood. You know. It’s a normal Tuesday for him.”
“If she’s not alone, I kill her father,” Saul said, his voice rising imperceptibly.
Theo moved to stop her from speaking, or to comfort her, but she stared at him calmly. Oh, sometimes even he forgot what a badass she could be. “It goes without saying, and yet I’m saying it anyway. If you hurt Elroy in any way, I’ll hunt you to the end of my days. For sport.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Rumor has it I have a knack for hunting.”
Saul audibly swallowed. “I want the file, Theo.”
“Why?” Theo eyed the program running rapidly across his screen. “It’s just family information. Some land ownings, other stocks, some secrets but nothing all that interesting.”
“Oh, Theo.” Saul chuckled, low and loud. “I know what’s in there. The Green Rock file.”
Fuck on motherfucker. Theo tensed but kept his voice level. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.” How had word gotten out, especially to a fucking shifter like Saul? Shit. Even if Theo somehow kept the file under wraps, he’d have to tell Chalton. Just so his brother had a heads-up. “You’re inventing rumors.”
“You know I’m not. I know about the file, and I want it. In addition to the rest of the information on Benny and the family. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t come for your head yet,” Saul said.
Oh, Benny was on his way, probably with his knife already sharpened. Or sword. Benny did love his swords. “Ben is family. That trumps everything.” Theo shook his head at Ginny’s inquisitive look. Benny would easily slice off Theo’s head if given the opportunity. The guy really did see things in black and white, and sometimes family became too much of a pain in the ass for him.
“Tell Ginny I want her at midnight. I’m tired of dicking around here, Theo. Either she brings the flash drive or I’m letting the anklet finally do its job. Your mating is too new to protect her from the planekite, so I have to strike now before she can survive it. Tell the bitch she should’ve mated me.” Saul clicked off.
“He is such a complete dick,” Ginny said, glaring at the anklet.
Theo tensed for Saul to push whatever button he used, but nothing happened. Maybe the guy wanted Ginny at full strength for the night? Or maybe he didn’t want to tip his hand that he could hear them. Sick asshole.
Theo’s phone rang, and he glanced at it, seeing the queen’s face on the screen. “Hello, Emma,” he said by way of greeting, walking out of the room so Saul couldn’t hear whatever was said. He gave Ginny a calm smile as he left, but she didn’t look much reassured.
“Hello. Why is Saul Libscombe going through back channels to reach me about Virus-27?” Emma said, her voice short. “I asked Dage, and he told me to give you a call.”
Damn it. Theo’s chest filled. “I assume Saul wants to try and negate the mating bond I just formed with Ginny O’Toole last night.” The virus could negate a mating bond if one’s mate was dead, but it hadn’t been attempted in a living mate yet. So Saul still had plans for Ginny. Yeah. Theo was going to have to kill him. “Hey, how did Dage know about the mating?”
“He’s the king,” Emma said simply, her voice already distracted. “I’ll make sure Saul doesn’t get his hands on the virus. Say hi to Ginny for me.” She ended the call.
Theo lifted his shirt to look at the perfect swirls of a Celtic knot right over his heart. Ginny had marked him but good. He smiled and turned to head back into the kitchen, where he arched an eyebrow. “You know the queen?”
A small smile played along Ginny’s mouth. “I may have done a job or two for her through the years. Stealing proprietary information she could use in her work. Maybe.”
Jesus. Sometimes the woman really caught him off guard. He grinned. Yeah, he liked that.
The front door opened, followed by footsteps as his brothers moved into the living room. Theo winked at Ginny and grabbed his laptop, motioning for her to stay in the kitchen. They had to keep Saul out of this plan. She blew a kiss at him as he left, warming his entire body.
He could feel the goofy smile on his face as he approached his brothers, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“Jesus. You mated. I can smell her on you.” Jared clapped him on the back, a smile creasing his wide face. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.” Theo glanced at Chalton, who was grinning. “What?”
“Nothing. Just congrats.” Chalton unpacked computer equipment and sat on the sofa. “I’ve figured out and have hacked into the anklet. The only way we can get it off her is to deactivate Saul’s controller. Otherwise, the thing will explode and release enough planekite in her blood to kill her.”
Theo sat on the leather chair and motioned for Jared to take the other one. “So, I didn’t want to tell you this, but included in the Benjamin file is a series of data called the Green Rock file.”
Jared groaned. “I thought we destroyed all of that information.”
Chalton stiffened. “What’s the Green Rock file?”
Theo searched for the right words. “Benny couldn’t destroy the information because parties on the other side have it. It’s a mutual opportunity for everyone to be protected from extortion and blackmail.” He’d agreed with Benny. “But here’s the deal. Ah, during the war, Benny might have, well he did, ah—”
