“Tyson!” I hiss angrily, but I’m pissed. King doesn’t let me sit up, his arm around me tightens and his scent becomes more pronounced as he tries to soothe. “That’s against the law. I won’t have you risking your career so we can track down some nutter. This was ages ago.”
“Tristan,” he says quietly, silencing me with a look of challenge before he takes a deep breath to stop the rising tension. He nabs my hand. “I know the risk associated with accessing a patient’s files, but I’ll use any means at my disposal to deal with what I perceive to be a threat.”
Without waiting for a response, Tyson returns to where he was sitting and takes another shot looking unfazed, unaware of the impact of his words. My insides are like jelly and my heart is beating a hundred miles an hour. King drops a hand on my leg. “You’ll get used to having a pack, killer.”
“I don’t want people…”
“It’s not how it works, Tristan,” Maverick interrupts quietly. “Besides, pretty sure you’d be the first to go postal if any of us were side eyed by anyone.”
I look wide-eyed at him, before his words sink in and despite our pack being only days old, I completely get what he is saying. “Okay, I get it. But at the same time…”
“No ifs and butts. We are what we are and let’s make no bones about the fact we’re sitting here today because when we leave tomorrow we’re sorting every small thing out so we can come together properly and live like pack.” Tyson leans back on his arms, looking relaxed and a little smug. It’s a good look on him. Of course, he obliterates me once again when he winks. “I keep telling you I’m not as obvious as King is, but I will do anything to keep you safe. Okay?”
“Okay,” I say, my eyes dropping away, needing a break from the sudden devotion in Tyson’s stare. It’s not that I don’t love it, it’s just a lot managing such big personalities who are ready to do whatever it takes to keep me safe. Tyson clears his throat although it’s as obvious as ‘look at me’. My eyes lift and I’m blown away by how so relaxed, yet so self-assured he is. But then I look at Maverick and Steel, and they have very similar looks on their faces. “I’m not usually a slow learner but obviously it’s taking a while for the fact I now have four bossy Alphas to keep me safe to sink in. Now, what do we do about Rex then?”
“The cunt’s gonna die. That’s what’s going to happen,” King says coolly before taking another shot. I lean forward to nab the bottle and refill his glass but then I have to do the same to the others who seem to have all jumped on board with King’s point of view, sealing the deal with a shot as opposed to a handshake.
“I think I know a way,” Steel says, playing with one of his thick silver rings. He takes a moment, like he’s running through his plan in his head before he takes another shot. “He’s down with El Demonio at the moment.”
King grunts. “Dirty cunts.”
“Like attracts like though,” Steel says softly, taking a slow exhale before he starts to share his plan. “We’re gonna have to split up to make this happen. And that’s what has me second guessing everything.”
“We’ll be right,” King says with a nod. “Tristan is going away for a few days anyway.”
“Huh?”
“Check your phone,” he suggests. And I don’t need to turn around to hear the smirk of satisfaction on his face. “Siderno asked if I wanted to visit. Apparently Raney needs some girl time and we were going to do some business, but if you’re with Siderno, that means Heidi will have her guards with her. You take Big Tom and Tonka, and you’re adequately protected.”
“Making decisions without me again?” I scowl up at him but his mood dips again.
“Something like,” he says quietly, “Just wish we were going to let her know me and you were packed, and you had a pack for the girls to meet. But it’s not safe, killer. I’m asking a lot but if you give us this chance, I’ll make it up to you.”
I can feel his sincerity, through our bond. Like I can feel Tyson’s own encouragement, and Maverick’s pleading in my other connection. I don’t need to look at Steel to know he’s also silently asking for me to accept the opportunity fate has thrown our way.
Still, I nab my phone and read Koz’s invitation to visit my bestie and I’m halfway through my acceptance when I get a booking sheet from the agency. When Maverick’s phone goes off a couple of seconds later, it really is the confirmation of fate having a hand in our plans. I finish off my message to Koz before accepting the job of a day’s work.
“Looks like Mav’s with me,” I say, not bothering to hide the smile on my lips. It will be our first photo shoot as packmates.
“Good,” Steel says and it’s not hard to read how relieved he is that both Maverick and I are out of the picture. His attention moves to his brother. “And you’re gonna have to work like usual, Ty. If this fails, I’ve gotta know you and Mav will be together with Tris. Yeah?”
“What are you thinking?” King asks.
“First up, there’s no way I’m getting El Demonio involved. And we don’t need to because there’s this beautiful deep gully on the way back from the border where they are. It’s the only road really. A tip off to the Feds and half of Rex’s crew are taken out since most of them have warrants out for their arrest. Or they’ll be off their heads still and try to shoot their way out of a bad situation, either way if the number of Rex’s crew is dramatically reduced he’ll be vulnerable, since he relies on them so much. He’ll have no option but to gun it home or stop at a safe house or wait until other members ride back with him.”
“He never rides alone? What a gutless piece of shit.” King laughs, snatching the bottle and having another shot. He holds it out to me. “Lots can go wrong with your plan, Steel. Feds might be in his pockets or even El Demonio’s since it’s so close. But I’m not going to waste an opportunity either. We got a map around here?” he asks, lifting me off his lap so he can go in search of one.
The rest of the night passes with us making plans. Not just plans for Rex but plans about our future too. I feel mostly confident with our way forward by the time we all climb back into my nest, my only real worry is surviving telling Raney and the girls.
Chapter
Forty-Six
TRISTAN
“Will you please stop! Turn around, Mav.” It’s a waste of time since he’s ignored my request a hundred times already. For the last couple of hours, all he’s done is sit resting with his back against the passenger door and watch.
“Sue me, I’m worried,” he says, completely unfazed by my request.
