Page 65 of Bad Blood Alpha

That would normally have gotten a few smiles, but tonight it didn’t.

His gaze swept the room, looking at each one of them, and then finally at Tank. “I’ve set things up so that the business and the territory go to you, if anything ever happens to me. Israel can transfer the territory magic. I know you’ll protect the crew with your life, and be a good alpha to them.”

Still no one spoke. Flynn added, “We leave as soon as we can get geared up. So…I guess that’s all.”

No one moved. Finally, Xander spoke up. “That was a really nice speech,” he said. “Kinda made me all fuzzy inside. I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Fuck that shit.’”

Flynn opened his mouth, scowling, and Tank shook his head. “You don’t really think we’ll let you go off and do this alone, do you?”

Jasmin snarled. “What part of ‘We’ll back you in anything’ did you not understand?”

Flynn said, “This isn’t your fight. You all have mates. Families, some of you. Lissa is pregnant. Do you really think I went through all this trouble to make you into a crew just to get you killed?”

“Crews fight for each other,” Caitlyn said. “We’re family. You’re our family.”

Flynn shook his head. “You all aren’t the fucked-up shifters you used to be. You’ve settled down. You have mates, and cubs coming. You don’t need me.”

“The hell we don’t,” Xander said fiercely. “You’re the only alpha who’s ever been able to handle my shit. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead.”

Tank said, “You fought for me and Lissa. For all the rest of us. You’ve always been there for us.”

They were making it too hard for him. Kira said, “It’s not that we don’t appreciate it. But this is a ninja stealth assault. It needs a small team, and specialized skills.”

Sloan was exchanging glances with Caitlyn, silent communication going on. She gave him a nod. “We’re going,” he said. “I have all the ninja skills you need, plus sniper and explosives training.”

“I’m going too,” Caitlyn added. “I can fly—and I’m Intelligence trained. You don’t know anything about that place—the layout or the defenses. I can help.”

“You could get crisped by evil sorcerer fire, too,” Flynn snapped.

“So could you, hotshot.” Caitlyn narrowed her eyes and hardened her mouth. “This is my determined look. Nobody can stand against the determined look.”

“They can’t.” Sloan shook his head. “She followed me around for six weeks just so she could keep me from falling off a cliff.”

“You fell off cliffs anyway. I fucking had to mate you to make you stop. But I did it.” She turned to Flynn. “And you’re not going without us.”

“Then the rest of us are coming too,” Xander said stubbornly.

“The rest of you are not coming. You especially. You have a kid.”

Xander opened his mouth again, and Flynn resorted to yelling. “I’m the alpha, for fuck’s sake.” Dominance rolled out into the room. “Why won’t any of you ever fucking do what I say?”

Xander narrowed his eyes, opened his mouth, then closed it again, looking thoughtful.

The rest of the crew, still grumbling, helped them prepare. Food, gear, weapons. Kira noticed that Xander pulled Sloan aside for a private conversation at one point, and wondered what that was about.

Kira whistled when saw the stash of weapons and military gear Flynn kept in a secret room under the floorboards in the dining room. Handguns, rifles, machine guns, grenades, explosives, body armor—even a grenade launcher.

“Damn,” she said. “I want that.”

“Who doesn’t?” Xander said.

When they were all geared up, it was time to say goodbye. Kira, surprisingly, got hugs from most of the crew. Flynn got hugs and cat-kisses, and claps on the shoulder.

Xander was the only one who refused. “I’m not kissing you,” he said to Flynn, his face still sulky. Kira saw Flynn hesitate, but finally he gave Xander a short nod. “Because we’re not saying goodbye.” He tossed Flynn a sheathed knife. “It’s my favorite,” he said. “Don’t lose it. I want that back.”

Flynn nodded again, a small smile curling the corner of his mouth.

Xander did hug Caitlyn, and smacked Sloan on the shoulder.