“I can venture a good guess, but it’s kind of complicated. Ed Taylor is Brian’s dad. Brian works for Faythe and Marc, and he was engaged to Abby Wade for several years. For a while, that led to a strong three-way alliance between Ed Taylor’s Midwest Pride, Rick Wade’s East Coast Pride, and our South-Central Pride. But then Abby dumped Brian for Jace, who—along with Faythe and Marc—helped your brother start the Mississippi Valley Pride. And that alliance kind ofsplintered.”
“Wow. Okay. So, he wants to execute me because back before I was even a shifter, some girl I’d never met dumped his son for some guy I’d never met. That’s not quite how the human justice systemworks.”
“To be fair, we don’t know that he actually wants to execute you. But that’s not how our system is supposed to work either.” I stuffed the last of my taco into my mouth and unwrapped a second one while I chewed. “It’s possible that this is as simple as reminding Taylor of that. Of his duty to thecouncil.”
“Considering the broken alliances and grudges you just rattled off, I can’t imagine that any part of this will besimple.”
“Valid point. But it’s worth a try.” I plucked my cell from the drink holder and sent Faythe a text asking for Ed Taylor’snumber.
She replied half an hour later, as I was finishing my third taco. I smiled when I read hermessage.
“What?”
“Faythe sent me Taylor’s number and told him to expect a call from me. I guess there’s no backing outnow.”
“And there’s no time like the present.” Justus dropped his empty burrito wrapper into the paper bag and challenged me with a grin. “Why don’t you show me just how badass my brideis?”
Something fluttered deep in my chest. “Stealing a car wasn’t enough foryou?”
“Eh.” Justus shrugged. “Any good wife would get her husband’s murder chargedropped.”
I laughed. Then I dialed Ed Taylor’snumber.
Eight
Justus
Kaci’s heartraced as the phone rang. She stared out her window while she waited for Ed Taylor to answer, but I could see how nervous she was in her tight grip on the fast food bag. I could hear it in the rush of herpulse.
On sudden impulse, I pulled onto the side of the road and punched the button for the hazardlights.
She turned to me with a question in her archedbrows.
“He doesn’t have to know we’re driving,” I said. Then I leaned across the center console and kissedher.
“Hello?” a man’s voice said from her phone, and Kaci pulled away from me with a startledexpression.
I stifled alaugh.
“Yes. Hello? Mr. Taylor? This is KaciDillon.”
“Hello, Kaci. Faythe told me to expect your call, but I have to say, I’m not sure what it is I can do for you. I assume this is about JustusAlexander?”
“About his trial, yes.” She looked nervous, but that wasn’t evident in hervoice.
“I was under the impression that his attempt to flee the country just days before the trial meant he wasn’t going to showup.”
Kaci flinched. “He didn’t flee. We…eloped.”
“You…?” Taylor sputtered in shock. Clearly Faythe hadn’t passed that bit of newsalong.
“Yes. We’re married. But we’re still very much in the country and of course we’re coming to his trial. Justus is less of a flight risk now than he’s ever been,” Kaci said. And she probably had no idea how right shewas.
I didn’t want to leave, if she wasn’t coming withme.
That didn’t mean I wouldn’thaveto leave. But I no longer wantedto.
“So, what is it I can do for you…Mrs.Alexander.”
