“Ronan is smart,” Sloane added. “And Garret did the deed personally. Cleaner that way. And if they hired or had anyone else on the crew do their dirty work, Garret took care of them too. All the dead bodies lead back to Garret.”
Jacob continued. “The High Council is also offering leniency to anyone who comes forward and confesses to any crime they committed against fellow Lycans, especially if they can prove that they did it under duress.”
“O’Grady, McGill, and Mickey will definitely say Ronan made them do it if it’ll save their asses.” Sloane crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s too bad you can’t be exiled to Siberia for being mean assholes.”
Eli nodded in agreement. Both he and Sloane had seen some truly terrible things over the years.
“So, for now, we can’t let anyone know we’re there on council business,” Jacob reminded them. “We don’t want to spook those three or anyone who might still be loyal to Ronan.”
“How about who could lead the clan?” Olivia piped in. “Do you know any good candidates?”
Sloane breathed out a sigh. “That’s the tough one. To be honest, I don’t really know. Eli?”
He shook his head. “Way above my pay grade.” And it was true. He had been a foot soldier and wanted nothing to do with politics or leadership of the clan. All he had cared about was protecting Sloane and keeping his own head.
“That might be something the council has to work out.” Jacob chewed at his lower lip. “We can’t decide the fate of one clan in just a few days. We’ll have to tell the Alpha and the High Council our honest opinion, including if we think there’s no one who else who can lead the clan.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Eli said.
“There’s one more thing.” Sloane tapped her finger and her chin, her eyes moving from Eli, to Olivia, then back to Eli. “This”—she wagged her finger between the two of them—“isn’t going to work?”
“Excuse me?” Olivia said.
“Whaddaya mean?” Eli asked at the same time.
Sloane smirked. “You’re supposed to be a happily True-Mated couple about to have your first kid, yet you’re both acting like strangers on a blind date.”
Both he and Olivia shifted in their seats uncomfortably.
“To be fair, they are essentially strangers,” Jacob pointed out. “But, Sloane’s right. You’re gonna have to act more … couple-y than that. Especially when we’re in front of our suspects.”
“You know that sonofabitch O’Grady’s gonna start sniffing around if he realizes anything is off,” Sloane pointed out.
Olivia glanced at him, a worried expression on her pretty face.
“We’ll make it work.” Despite the confidence in his tone, Eli cursed to himself.I should have insisted she stayed in New York.
Initially, when they agreed they would give things a try, he thought there’d be time to get to know each other. Sure, when he was around her all he wanted to do was kiss her senseless and take her on the nearest horizontal surface, but he kept himself under control. But now they would have to move things along and act like they were a couple for this mission. Which meant touching her and pretending they had deeper feelings than just that initial spark of attraction.
She deserved so much more than me.
The truth was, he had no plan as to how to move forward with this “getting to know you” bit. He had an idea of course, but with his fucked-up life, he didn’t have a clue as to how to even begin a relationship.
“How will you make it work?” Sloane prodded.
“We will, okay?” Eli sent her a look that silently told her,drop it.
There was no more talk of tomorrow’s plan, and as soon as they finished all the pasta, they cleaned up after themselves.
“I’ll take first watch,” Eli said once they were first done.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Jacob said. “We’re a long way from Boston territory.”
“It’s fine.” Before they could argue any more, he trudged out of the kitchen door which led to the spacious yard. A cold breeze came in from the sea, but thankfully as a Lycan, it didn’t bother him too much.
He spent the next hour familiarizing himself with the property, checking at all the possible points of entry and vulnerabilities, and made mental notes of things to watch outfor. The process of securing the perimeter had become a habit for him, even back when he was in Boston. It also allowed him to take his mind off of tomorrow and Olivia. Sloane was right, after all. If anyone, especially O’Grady, even had a hint that there was anything wrong, it might tip them off. Unfortunately, the former crew captain was impulsive and unpredictable. He could lash out and hurt others in the process, including Olivia.
For the next few hours, he continued his watch, patrolling around the house and the beach area. He was making his way across the front yard when his enhanced hearing picked up a noise from the inside. He glanced down at his watch.
