“No.” Then I added what we were all thinking. “Not yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. He’s fucking dead.” We all turned, but Gareth had already walked past us up the ramp toward his Harley.
“Meet us at the ranch.”
The roar of his bike was the only answer.
…
When we got to the ranch Sasha was outside waiting. As I approached her she kept her arms crossed, protecting herself. “I never should have let Nadya get involved. I did everything I could, but I couldn’t get her away from him.”
Adam and Lana pulled in the driveway. He got out and came over to us, his head down. “I’m sorry, Sasha. He must’ve stayed in his car until the wind picked up. I never caught his scent.”
I expected Sasha to rip into him, but she surprised me. “I was there. You did all you could. I should’ve just taken my shot, onlookers be damned.”
Adam shook his head. “The full moon is only a few days away. We’d be screwed if we ended up behind bars. You made the only choice you could.”
I took Sasha’s hand, grateful that she didn’t pull away. “Let’s get inside.”
Chapter Forty-Four
The General and Adam headed up the discussion around Adam’s dining room table, working on strategies for the meeting with Fonthill tonight, but I barely paid attention. Aren caught my gaze. My heart clenched. I did my best to paste an encouraging half-smile on my face. It must’ve looked convincing because his attention shifted to planning the exchange again.
The exchange he had no idea I wouldn’t be attending.
I rubbed my sweaty palms against my jeans. During the drive back to the ranch, I’d gotten another text from a blocked number:
Sorry to change our plan, kitty, but I’ll be seeing you at the lumberyard at 8 instead. No wolves or baby sister dies.
Sister dies? No way.
From the map Adam had laid out across his table, the lumberyard was next door to the abandoned movie theater.
Fonthill had probably planned this from the start. Keep the wolves busy at the drive-in while he conducts his business so close they wouldn’t suspect it. I couldn’t tell any of them about the venue change or they’d insist on coming along. Their help was appreciated, but this was my problem, not theirs.
I never should have let Nadya get involved, and I needed to make it right. If I could get out alive, I would.
And watching Aren’s chiseled profile as he worked alongside his brother… I’d never wanted to live more. I could finally see a future worth fighting for.
But Nadya came first. I got her into this mess, and she was not dying for it.
Aren handed me the keys to the Lotus. “Doesn’t matter if he recognizes the car this time, right?”
If this was my last chance for speed, I couldn’t have asked for a better car. “Thank you.”
He bent to kiss my forehead. “I want it back.” His thumb brushed along my jaw. “In case you and Nadya need to make a quick exit, it’ll be the best vehicle.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Adam and Lana ordered pizzas, but it was all I could do to finish one piece. I kept mentally running through my options. If I convinced Fonthill let Nadya go, she could take the car and head for the drive-in to get the Pack. I’d take my chances with Fonthill until the others arrived.
Fonthill would probably check me for weapons and confiscate my Glock, but maybe I’d get lucky and he’d stop there. If I he didn’t find the Ruger on my calf, I’d just need to keep my head and wait for my shot.
Once Nadya was safe, Aren could lecture me about how I should have confided in him.
If I was still alive.
He leaned over, squeezing my thigh under the table. “You should eat.”
“I had a piece.”
He met my eyes. “I know you’re upset, but we’re going to get Nadya back. Once she’s clear, you’ll give us the signal, and we’ll take him down from there.”
I nodded, wondering how long they would wait for the signal before they moved in anyway. I hoped it would be long enough for me to get Nadya in the car at the lumberyard.
“I’ll feel better when it’s over.” Which was true. Either way it went down, dead or alive, would be better than sitting here while my sister was alone with a psychotic werewolf soldier.
…
Twenty minutes until eight o’clock, and I was behind the wheel of the Lotus. Aren leaned down to kiss me through the driver’s-side window. He smelled like a forest at dusk. It wasn’t some sort of fancy cologne, just him. Closing my eyes, I breathed him into my lungs as I savored the taste of his lips, the way his teeth brushed against my skin. Memorizing every touch.
He pulled back with a barely there, sexy smile. “We’ll have to continue that later.”
I rubbed my lips together and nodded.
“Be careful.” He sobered as he straightened up. “I’ve got your back.”
“I love you, wolf.” I fired up the engine, surprised to find my eyes brimming with tears I refused to let fall. I left the window down, drinking in the night air as I gunned the engine and hoped that wasn’t our last kiss.
Chapter Forty-Five
Something was wrong.
I pulled out the keys to Jason’s Lexus and headed for the car.
“Where are you going?” I heard Adam say, following me.
“She said she loved me.” I opened the door and sat inside.
Adam leaned on the car. “What’s that got to do with you abandoning our plan?”
“I haven’t abandoned anything.” I looked at my brother. “You guys can make it work without me. Or I’ll already be there.”
Adam shook his head. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’t think Sasha has any intention of following through with this, and there’s no time to explain. I’ll call you if anything changes.”
I didn’t wait for him to reply. I started the car and tore off after Sasha. I’d never be able to find the Lotus if she got on the freeway before I caught up with her.
She finally told me she loved me. And it felt like goodbye.
The past few hours kept replaying in my mind, the way Sasha sat back and let us formulate the plan instead of taking charge like she usually did. The half-hearted smile she gave me at the table. And then a kiss that said me she loved me before I heard her say the words.
I gripped the wheel tighter, sliding through the side-street traffic. When had she made this alternate plan? We had been together the whole time. I mentally retraced our steps, trying to find any point that Sasha wasn’t with me.
Then I remembered. Her cell phone.
On the drive back to the ranch, I’d seen her pull it out once. She didn’t make a call or receive a call, just
