“I try. What’s up?”
“I talked to Marchman a few hours ago. It’ll take longer to move everyone here than he first anticipated. They’re worried they’re still being hunted and don’t want to risk their safety or ours.”
My blood chills. “Okay?”
“Father and Dad will stay with Marchman’s group, both as advisors and as security, but they’re sending Elliot and Bobby out to Owen’s ranch in Montana.”
Those are Jax’s two youngest brothers, who still live with Mike and Pavin. Elliot’s a gamma, and Bobby, the youngest, is an omega. Owen is an Alpha and Jax’s next youngest brother.
“That doesn’t sound good,” I say.
“It’s not. I don’t like that this means extra risk to us, but I still believe this is the right thing to do.”
“I agree. So…where do I come in?”
“Can you come over tomorrow and help me and Shawn at the rec hall?”
“What?”
“Yeah. We need to start prepping it and I only have a couple of other Alphas who’ve volunteered to help, or who are available to help. I don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute. And I could use your presence tomorrow night at the open pack meeting.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll announce their arrival and ask for volunteers for sentry duty. If they see you on board, it might help sway others.”
I scrub my face with my free hand. “Can we not advertise that I’ve been doing business with them? I’d rather that info get out on my terms.”
“Sure.”
“Do you want me to bring Mal?” I’m hoping the answer is no.
“I don’t want him anywhere near here,” Jax says, relieving me. “In fact, I want him confined to your property for the duration. Which leads me to my second ask, that you bring clothes and shower at my house first before coming to the rec hall tomorrow.”
“Why—oh. So his scent’s not around the building.”
“Exactly. I don’t know that we can protect him if they scent him. Unless we’ve managed to destroy his father first.”
I think about that for a moment. “Are we sure Sterling’s behind all this?”
“I’ve seen enough proof that yeah, I am.”
I slump against the counter. “Crap,” I mutter.
“Yeah. And that’s another reason I don’t want to send Mal away. If I do, and he accidentally crosses paths with any of the people amassing to deal with this, then he’s probably dead.”
“Fuck.” I sigh. “That means I need to bring a few changes of clothes over to your place and keep and wash them there for the duration, if I’m having contact with the vamps and others.”
“Not a bad idea.”
“What about my truck? Mal rode in that.”
He grumbles. “Shit. Thanks for reminding me. Mal rode in my truck when we brought him over. You can borrow Shawn’s car and I’ll have him take our trucks into Brooksville tomorrow and get them detailed, have them completely gone over. Pack’s expense. That should be enough to disguise Mal’s scent. But don’t let Mal ride in your truck again until this BS is over.”
“No problem.” I have a thought. “Did Marchman scent him on you when he was in your office?”
“No, but Mal rode in the backseat, not the front.” Jax sighs, and it sounds weary in a way I rarely hear in him. “Will Mal give us any problems about being restricted to your property?”
“I doubt it.” Finally, something to chuckle about. “He asked me after we finished in the fun room if he could stay here even after initiation.”
