I hate feeling this conflicted.
Hate it.
Jet is my friend, part of my pack, but Morgan is...
Trouble.
That’s what he is, and I need to deal with it before it escalates. “He told Ash he needed to leave town and disappear for a while, so we make that happen. Take the next few days to convince him it’s in his best interest to keep our secret and then escort him far enough that the FBs won’t follow.”
“What about the hunters?”
“Hopefully he’ll be gone before they decide to pay us a visit. If not, we say he’s a prospect who we have no intention of patching in.”
Callum looks less than convinced. “You think they’ll buy that?”
“We have to appear like a normal MC. They know that.” It’s thin at best, but we’re not due a hunter visit any time soon. Maybe we’ll get lucky.
He sits back in his seat and folds his arms. There’s a glint in his eye that I don’t like. I like what comes out of his mouth next, even less. “So some lucky bastard has to babysit him for the next few days and persuade him to keep quiet about us. I vote Jet.”
Mal laughs at the look of disgust on Jet’s face.
“Fuck off,” Jet grumbles. “I’m not babysitting anyone, but I can make sure he’s sufficiently terrified into keeping our secret.” He grins, dark and menacing.
Yeah, that’s not fucking happening.
It takes all my considerable control to keep my voice even and void of any alpha power. “Since I brought him here, he’s my problem. I’ll deal with it.”
None of them look all that surprised. Callum’s even smirking.
Fuck it.
I let loose the growl that’s been steadily building all meeting. “Morgan is off limits.”
They know better than to push.
“Let me know when you get the info for the handoff.” I direct that to all of them, then stand. Meeting over.
Or maybe not, because Callum lingers as the others file out. He closes the door behind them and leans against it. “You sure about this?”
“Nope.” I join him and fold my arms. “I don’t want him here.” He has the potential to jeopardise everything.
“But?”
Knew he wouldn’t make it easy for me. “But I also need to keep him safe.” I hate to admit it, even to Callum. “And sending him out there—” I point at the window and the forest beyond. “—isn’t fucking it.”
He’s quiet, which means he’s thinking, and nothing good can come of that. “You could always tell him the truth,” he says after a beat. “That might change his––”
“Fuck off,” I snarl, not bothering to dial it back. “There’s nothing to tell as far as I’m concerned.”
“Lynx—”
“No.” The word echoes around the room, the silence heavy in its wake. “Don’t bring it up again. With me or anyone else.”
“Fine.” He pushes off the door and matches my glare with one of his own. “But for the record, I think you’re making a mistake.”
“Noted.”
Doesn’t matter if he’s right or not, I’m never going to act on it, so it’s pointless discussing it further. “Any news on when the next fight ring’s taking place?”
