I can’t exactly fault him for that.
And… “I’m guessing this is where some of your blackmail comes from?” The thought leaves me on a question, one I direct at Caius.
He grins. “Yes, among many other things. Typically, when someone deals in death, they’re playing with other darker schemes as well.”
“Which you use to extort money from them,” I translate.
“Not exactly. We mostly use it to maintain our favor for other business dealings.” Caius must read the confusion in my features because he continues speaking. “Say there’s a company we want to purchase and it’s going to the highest bidder. We may find ourselves as that highest bidder, except it’s the blackmail inflating the cost.”
“Or we don’t pay at all,” Volt says. “And it’s given to us as a gift for our continued silence.”
“That, too,” Caius murmurs.
“Why do you inherit companies?” I ask. “What do you do with them?”
“We repurpose them into legal organizations that we funnel money through,” Tieran explains. “And we employ people who need it.”
“Or keep the employees who were going to lose their jobs,” Caius adds. “It’s all a numbers game, but we make sure those who need our assistance receive it, all while funding our pack and keeping everyone comfortable.”
“But they all have jobs on the island, too,” Tieran points out. “And some of them help us run a few of the smaller corporations we’ve acquired. Nothing major, just business oversight and general management.”
“That’s in addition to the roles we talked about?” I ask Caius.
He shakes his head. “No, those roles are handled by select wolves on the island. But there are more who help with external affairs. For example, Alpha Dirk’s clan handles telecommunications both with our companies and on the island.”
“We have a whole security division as well that reports up through Alpha Duncan’s clan here,” Tieran adds.
“Duncan’s office is wicked.” Volt grins. “It’s where I go when I want to do recon because he has all the fun toys.”
Tieran shakes his head, but his lips are curled in amusement. “You’ll meet them all this afternoon, Clove. I’m sure they’ll tell you all about what they do.”
Volt nods. “And then I’ll show you what I do later this week or early next week. The timeline is still being evaluated.”
“Her going with us is still up for discussion,” Tieran tells him.
“She needs to see who we are, T.”
“Yes, but there are safer options than taking her to Virginia for an assassination,” Tieran returns.
Volt grunts. “The Senator’s house has three guards. He’s cocky and an idiot. It’s a cake walk. And I’ll have the whole thing under surveillance anyway, so she can watch from the car.”
Tieran’s jaw ticks. “Which means she could watch safely from here.”
He sighs. “Not the same and you know it.”
Tieran runs his fingers through his thick blond hair and sighs. “I’ll think about it.”
Volt doesn’t push, just smiles and focuses on me again. “If he says no, I’ll show you how I play with knives another way.”
Caius and Tieran both glare at him saying “No” at the same time.
But I find myself smiling instead of shivering. My wolf innately trusts Volt, and he’s been rather sweet to me since I arrived. Sure, he may be a killer with some psychotic undertones, but I’m not sure I mind.
Actually, I find myself intrigued.
Which is why I say, “I look forward to learning more.” Because I do. I want to understand him, to know him. Even if it’s dangerous. Because my animal says that while he may be deadly to others, he isn’t to us.
He isn’t to me.
Something his eyes seem to display now as his dark irises meet mine with a smile. “I think she’s ready to meet the pack,” he says, his smile reaching his mouth now. “She’s going to slay them.”
“No,” Tieran replies, causing all of us to look at him. “She’s going to rule them.”
He utters it with confidence.
Something I didn’t realize I needed to hear until he said it because we’re not mated yet. He hasn’t even touched me since he knotted me during my heat. A part of me had begun to question his interest. Yet he slept in the bed each night in wolf form, and his gestures suggested otherwise.
But all of this is just so new and foreign to me.
So it’s easy to let a sliver of doubt creep inside.
However, his words now help wash that way.
As does the kiss he places against my mouth. “They all know I intend to claim you,” he says against my ear. “Own it, Clove. They’re going to love you.”
I shiver, melting into his strength and thanking him for his confidence by brushing my lips against his chin.
“We should go.” He pulls away, his smile still in his sapphire eyes. “It’s time for the pack to greet you and show you what sets Carnage Wolves apart from the wolves of your past.”
20
CLOVE
The Carnage Wolves are nothing like the savage beasts depicted by Alpha Bryson.
They’re intimidating, yes.
But there’s an intelligence to them that I admire. They’re also polite and respectful. Even the Alphas treat me kindly, gazing upon me with an interest very unlike the wolves back in Nantahala Pack.
These Alphas are curious about me, the person. Not me, the woman. Well, there may be some of that intrigue, but several have remarked how they’re looking forward to me mating Tieran’s clan.
It’s formal, yet laid back.
And I feel safe with Caius and Volt on either side of me with Tieran at my back. There’s been a few times he’s possessively placed his hand on my hip or kissed my neck.
Which just makes my wolf preen.
Because Tieran is very clearly the Pack Alpha on this island. His dominance is a blistering heat against my senses that makes me want to kneel at his feet. But he keeps me upright with his soft touches and subtle commentary.