WasI really doing this? It was a smart plan. If Kai made some big plan with tonsof wolves, the vampires might not come. But with just Brett … we had a chance.I needed Max to leave.
“Hmm,you know, normally I would,” Max said but sat there. I turned around and staredat him.
“Max!Get out of my car. That’s an order.” I glared, pulling dominance into my voice.
Hestared back with suspicion. “I would, but my Alpha just texted me and told meto keep an eye on you.Healso made it an order. Why are you going toyour mom’s at ten at night?”
Isighed and threw the car in reverse. “Fine come with me. She needs her nightclothes and things.”
Ipulled out of the driveway. I needed to come up with a plan. Either I go to my mom’s,get Max inside the house and try to ditch him or… I looked into the rearviewmirror and met his eyes. He knew something was up. Frick. I pulled over, putthe car in park and turned around to face him.
“Doyou love Tara?” I asked him seriously, giving him the stare down.
Helooked caught off-guard and chewed his lip nervously. “Yes, but I never got totell her.”
Inodded. “What if I could give you the chance?”
“Aurora,what are you saying?”
Iput my hands out. “Don’t tell Kai. Just hear me out.”
Maxcould send Kai a mental message and have the whole pack on my ass in minutes.
Henodded.
“Okay,Kai called from Arizona. Layla isn’t there and she isn’t going to show. Sheisn’t stupid. She wants me. Brett contacted me and they’re hurting Sadie.”
Fearflashed across Max’s face. “Did he say anything about Tara?”
Ishook my head. “No, but Brett is a good tracker. He wants me to meet him rightnow. We can lure Layla out and she will take me. You guys follow and when youget the location, you call for backup.”
Icould see him considering it.
“Kai’smy best friend,” he declared.
Inodded. “And he’s the love of my life but if we do it his way, then Tara andall of the females will be implanted with vampire spawn and I will be safe andcozy on my mountain. I need to end this. I’m the only one who can.”
Maxmet my eyes and was silent for a long time. Finally he exhaled deeply. “Okay,God help me when Kai finds out, but okay.”
“Okay.”I nodded. Holy shit, this was happening.
Alone
Puttingthe car into drive, I went to meet Brett. It was either the smartest orstupidest decision of my life. But it was better this way. Without Kai, I couldfocus on my life’s purpose, bring balance to the supernatural species and trynot to die in the process. I could make a better world for Avery and this babyinside my belly to live in.
Itwas a silent drive downtown, both Max and I were lost in our thoughts. I pulledmy car up to a meter in front of the coffee shop that I had been to dozens oftimes while studying for exams in college. Downtown was pretty dead; it was aweeknight. A few bars had their lights on but otherwise we were alone. Brettstepped out of the shadows of the coffee shop’s side building. When he saw Max,he recoiled.
“It’sokay, he’s in on the plan,” I told him quickly, trying to whisper. I wasn’tsure if we were being tracked by vampires or what.
Brettnodded. “Let’s split up. She will have had her trackers smell you by now. Weshouldn’t be seen together. I won’t let you out of my sight. I promise,” he said.
Maxnodded to him. “If Kai finds out we helped, you and I are dead men.”
Brettshrugged. “Better than our women being dead.”
Ouch.The man had a point. Brett walked fully out of the shadows and right past me asif he didn’t know me.
Lookingup at the surrounding high tower buildings, I sighed. Okay. Here we go.
