“How do you figure that?”
“We,” she said, circling her arm to encompass her two friends, “are military trained. “You”—she actually pointed at me so I wouldn’t misunderstand—“are not. A reconnaissance mission isn’t any place for an injured CEO.” She held up her hand when I tried to speak. “I know you work out and keep fit, but this isn’t a run in Stanley Park. This is basically a military operation. It’s best to leave it to the professionals.”
I pressed my lips together before saying, “I’m not as useless as you think I am.” My shifter senses would be an asset.
“I didn’t say you were useless, I said you were recently shot and weren’t trained for something like this.”
“Fine, I’m not,” I admitted, ignoring her first statement but giving her the second. “But I’m also serious about coming along.”
At a stalemate, we stared at each other, neither of us giving in. I could tell she wished to say more, to argue, but there was hesitancy too, like she didn’t want to fight me. I wasn’t too proud to admit I’d use that to make sure I got my way in this scenario.
Alina leaned closer to Marley and loudly whispered, “Is it just me or are they arguing with their eyeballs?”
Her fist on her chin, Marley hummed a sound of agreement.
15
JOLYN
The back doorburst open and Emerson staggered inside. I jumped up from my place at the kitchen counter, trying to catch him before he fell. Blood dripped down his face, a huge scratch near his ear.
“What happened?” I asked, leading him to my stool.
“It attacked me. One of the beasts.”
“Who?”
He shook his head, not answering as I passed him a glass of water. “We can’t stay here anymore. Dad wants us in Toronto anyway.”
I blinked, not wanting to process that right now. “But what about the beast? What happened? I thought you went duck hunting with Cory.”
He looked me straight in the eyes. “As soon as they understand you know what they are, they’ll try to kill you.”
* * *
I was pretty sure I should be worrying. Taking Landon on this op was a bad idea to begin with, especially when I knew Emerson was in Detroit, but he wouldn’t be talked out of it.
Alina, Marley, and I stood by the freight elevator, waiting. Each of us wore full tactical gear: black bulletproof vests, helmets, night vision goggles, and utility belts chock-full of useful objects. My Glock was in the holster at my hip, and I held a M4 carbine in front of me, the strap over my shoulder. I’d corralled my hair into a ponytail as best I could.
I didn’t know why any of us had agreed to take him along. Sure, he was a tall, fit guy, but he wasn’t military trained, and Emerson’s goons liked to carry big guns. I’d already gotten Landon shot once for fuck’s sake.
How was he so mobile after his gunshot wound? The idea of ripping off his shirt to examine it more closely had crossed my mind.For health reasons only.
The longer we waited, the more my stomach swirled with dread, making it impossible for me to stand still. I couldn’t get the image of the woman transforming and dying in her doe form out of my head. My brother must be stopped, but I also didn’t want Landon racing into danger.
Finally, after what seemed an hour, the man in question stepped into the hallway from my bedroom where I’d told him he could change. Marley let out a snort. Alina tittered.
None of us were close to his height. We had no extra clothing for him, and told him he couldn’t come with us in a gray suit and glaringly white dress shirt. He’d said he had a change of clothes in his car.
But this…he wore one of his expensive black silk shirts, matching dress pants, and what looked like brand-new loafers. I shouldn’t have been surprised. When we were together, I’d rarely seen him in anything other than business attire.
The icing on the cake had to be the Kevlar vest. The way it fit over top of his shirt made the sleeves billow out a bit, lending him a pirate-like appearance.
“This is what you’re wearing?” Alina gasped like she was trying not to laugh outright. “A black suit? We’re not off to a funeral.”
“I was told to wear all black. This is what I have that’s all black.” He glanced at his feet. “I’m even wearing my new shoes.”
“Yeah, shiny as fuck too,” Marley grumbled.
