Trevor set the box on the table and rushed out the door. “William—”
His voice cut off and he stopped within eyeshot. I realized William hadn’t left after all, but had been standing in the hall near the door. Trevor’s eyes were downcast, staring at the floor before looking back up. “Thanks, man.”
William reached out and patted Trevor’s shoulder before he walked off.
Trevor kept his eyes steady for a moment before he swaggered into the room. “So what kind of trouble are you in?” he asked in a blustering voice. He noisily wadded up the wrapper and tossed it into the wastebasket.
I stood up. “I suppose you’ll find out soon enough. I’ve been summoned to your game room, and I’m guessing it’s not for drinks and a lap dance,” I said with a sullen smile as I left the room.
I hadn’t even seen Wheeler walk by, but he was already in the room, sitting at the bar with a shot of liquor in front of him. I sat to his left and tasted a sip.
“A whiskey man,” I said softly, licking my lips. “Why didn’t you use your weapon back at Delgado’s? Seems like a lot of trouble to strangle a man.”
His eyes flashed up and he looked at me in the reflection of the mirror. “You once said I didn’t enjoy doing laborious things with my hands. I disagree.”
“Touché.”
I still had my fingers wrapped around the glass when he suddenly reached for it. Wheeler held his hand over mine, lightly stroking my thumb with his pinky finger. My heart spontaneously reacted whenever he touched me, and the slightest connection sent goose pimples all over my body and a flutter of nerves to my belly. And it took a whole lot to make a woman like me nervous.
Shuffling feet sounded behind us as the pack entered the room. Wheeler pulled the glass away and knocked it back. He quickly poured a refill, spilling a few drops onto the polished surface of the bar.
“Close the door,” Austin said.
Lexi swept her hair back. “Do you want me to wake Mom?”
Denver plopped down in the beanbag chair, and everyone else stood behind Austin near the pool table. I slowly swiveled around on my stool and noticed Denver tapping his bare feet on the floor.
“I have work in two hours,” he announced.
“It shouldn’t take that long.” Austin strolled in front of me and turned to face his pack. “As most of you know, the little girl’s mother is safe. What you don’t know is that Reno and Wheeler drove over to a man named Delgado’s house, took out several guards, broke into the house, and—”
“Saved two lives,” Wheeler added, still sitting with his back turned to Austin.
“Reno’s taking the mother and child to a safe house, so he won’t be back for a day or two. Delgado is a big fucking shark in our world. He owns Breed clubs, deals drugs, and it’s been brought to my attention that he’s also running cage fights.”
“Then we have to turn him in,” William said with a tight expression.
Austin nodded. “I agree, but as it stands, we don’t have evidence. Our star witness is running for her life, and she’s the only one who can testify what went on in that house—or wherever they originally kept her. The higher authority won’t serve a warrant without concrete evidence.”
Lexi looked up at Austin with a quizzical brow. “You said there were two.”
“The other is a young wolf who’s too traumatized at the moment to think straight. But yeah, he’s our best bet. I don’t know how much he knows about the cage fights—how much he’s seen.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Wheeler volunteered, polishing off the rest of his drink.
With two fingers, I pushed Wheeler’s shoulder to encourage him to turn around and face Austin. He held a submissive posture, afraid of the Packmaster’s judgment.
Wheeler turned just enough to face me, but no more.
Austin stuffed his hands in his pockets and gave him a brisk nod. “I’d appreciate that.” Then he gave everyone else his attention. “I spoke with Wheeler briefly in private, and while I don’t condone anyone defying my orders or keeping secrets, he’s not getting the boot. He’s still on probation, but he saved two lives, and a little girl has a mother to tuck her in tonight. I’d say our job is done.”
“So why are we here?” April asked. A worry line formed between her eyebrows—the kind a girl gets when her man is on the road and not safe in her arms.
“Things won’t be safe for a while,” Austin said in a rough voice. He cleared his throat and lowered his chin. “Delgado is a human, and he’s become a parasite in our world, hiding in dark corners and leeching off our weaknesses to expand his wealth. If we’re going to bring him down, then we’re bringing him down hard. But not at the expense of our family. One stupid move and the Council could dismantle our pack or throw us in jail. Let’s keep cool heads, and from here on out, we leave the house in groups of at least two. I don’t want anyone going out alone.”