“You’re shitting me?”
Ram smiled. “Dead serious.”
“Why do you need me to leave early though?”
“Everyone is busy, and I’d like to take you home before the sun comes up. I don’t want to leave you on your own.”
“Okay, um…” Siya’s thoughts were everywhere. “Let me think. The nursing supervisor comes on in half an hour. I will ask if I can leave when she gets here.”
“Great. I’ll swing back around.”
Siya said good-bye and turned around. There were several pairs of eyes on her. “Nothing to see here.”
“I was hoping he’d pull you into his arms and kiss you,” Joanne said.
Siya laughed. “This is not television. This is real life. And no man is touching me until I get out of my scrubs and have taken a shower.”
“Oh, yeah, this is true. Too many germs,” Joanne agreed.
“See,” Siya said and went to wrap things up with each of her patients.
If she didn’t leave any work to be done unless the patient hit the nurse button, then hopefully, taking off an hour and a half early wouldn’t be a problem.
She threw herself into her work. She didn’t bother to see who was on as nursing supervisor that day, and she lost track of time. Ram came back around, and she held up her finger to tell him one moment. Then, she went to talk to the nurse in charge.
She knocked on the door of the office, and when the door swung open, her hopes dropped. It was Lou. Lou hated her. To be fair, Lou hated everybody, and the only way he’d okay someone going home early was if they had a limb falling off.
“Can I help you with something, Siya?”
She hated even asking this jackass anything, but she didn’t have a choice. “Would it be okay if I left early?”
“Why?” Lou’s eyebrow rose in a look that said, You’d better make this good. “Are you ill?”
“No.”
“Is it an emergency?”
“Not per se. But it is important.”
“Hmm,” Lou said and tapped his chin. As if he were actually thinking about it. “We’re full of patients, and didn’t Lindsey call in sick last night?”
Shit. “Yes.”
“Then, no. Sorry.” Lou took a step back and shut the door.
“Dick,” Siya said under her breath. She reluctantly turned around and headed back to the nurses’ station. She shook her head as she approached Ram. “My boss said no. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You tried.”
“I’ll just grab an Uber when I get off work.”
“No, Siya, I’ll wait.”
She shook her head again. “No, I don’t want you to get sick or whatever it is. I’ll be fine.”
Lou came around the corner. He’d probably give her extra work if he caught her talking.
“Look, I have to run. I’ll see you when I get back to the bunkhouse.” She turned and walked away. “Bye,” she said over her shoulder and quickly moved down the hall and out of Lou’s view.
The last thing she saw was Ram pulling his phone from his pocket, hitting a few buttons, and putting it to his ear.
Lou handed out extra assignments anyway. By the time Siya went to the locker room, it was half an hour after her shift. Thank heavens she’d told Ram to go on without her.
Siya quickly grabbed her food from the fridge and her purse from the locker room. Thankfully, she was done for the weekend, but she wanted to get out of there.
She pulled her phone from her bag as she made her way to the front door. She pulled up her Uber app, put in her info, and went to check her texts to kill some time.
There was the one from Demi telling her about Kendall being back. It was such a relief. And there was also a text from Ram.
Ram: Call me when you’re done. I’ll be waiting for you.
Siya quickly dialed him.
“Hello?”
“I told you not to wait for me.”
“Are you done?”
“Yes. Where are you?”
“Headed your way.”
Siya turned and saw Ram striding down the hall. Damn, he looked good even if she was supposed to be mad at him for waiting.
She quickly canceled her Uber and looked up at Ram when he reached her. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
He put his arm around her. “Nah. I just don’t want anything happening to you.”
“What about the sun?”
“I got it taken care of.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Chapter 38
Eldon sat in a room with his cat-shifter alpha and the wolf-shifter alpha and explained why he should be allowed to take his brother into the police. He’d thought about it all night, and he knew he had to try to plead for Gavin’s life.
“I don’t know if I can do that, son,” Vance said.
“I think the asshole deserves everything that’s coming to him,” Damien said. “He kidnapped one of my sentinels.”
“With all due respect, he kidnapped me, too,” Eldon said. “And, if I bring him in, that’s one of the things I’m going to charge him with.”
Damien crossed his arms across his chest. “How exactly do you see this going down?”
“I’m going to tell my captain that I discovered my brother was behind the shooting and the bombing, and when I found out, he locked me up in a room.”
Vance rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “And what are you going to tell them when they asked where your brother kept you?”
“The truth,” Eldon said. “Reid and Lachlan said that the building is owned by some holding company. It’s a piece of shit. I’ll let them think it was abandoned.”
“If it was abandoned, then how did you end up there?”
“Gavin found it when he needed a place to hide his crimes.”
“It could work,” Vance said.
“Okay then, why did your brother commit the crime?” Damien asked challengingly. He obviously didn’t agree with Vance.
Eldon shrugged. “I’m sure the DA and prosecution will come up with something. That’s not my job as a detective. I’m just supposed to bring him to justice and make sure he’ll be punished.”
“Oh, he’ll be punished all right,” Damien said. “There’s no need to send him to jail.”
“Oh, and who will know about it? Will everyone in the metro area know? The state of Minnesota? The country?” Eldon shook his head. “I bet not even all the shifters will know.”
Damien opened his mouth but quickly slammed it shut.
Vance turned to the wolf. “He has a good point. If Gavin Conrad is punished in a court of law, we can spread the word to shifters everywhere about why he’s being punished. Humans will think one thing, but we’ll know another.”
“I still think he deserves to die.”
Eldon winced.
“Perhaps that punishment would be too easy for him, Damien. This is a young man who needs to suffer for what he’s done.”
“I don’t like it. He kidnapped Kendall, Vance.”
“I know. He also kidnapped one of my shifters and tried to kill another. Simply because she was born half-human.”
Damien ran his hands through his hair. “You’re right. And I hate that you’re right.”
Vance looked at Eldon. “I will agree to it on two conditions.”
“What are the conditions?” Eldon asked.
“One, you make sure that Demi is okay with this. And Kendall and Siya, too. They might not have been his targets, but they were caught in the cross fire. No pun intended.”
“Done. And what’s the other condition?” Eldon asked.
“You find out where Donald Wright is.”
“But I have no idea. I’ve never hung out with him outside the clubhouse. We’re not friends.”
Vance put his hands on his hips. “I know. But I bet your brother has an idea of where he is hiding. And, if he doesn’t, he’ll know how to find out.” Vance looked at his watch. “No one has shown up at the clubhouse yet to bring you food. Yo
ur brother can call and tell him there’s trouble.”
Eldon swallowed. He wanted this to work. He didn’t want his brother to die. But he didn’t know if Gavin would go along with it. He took a deep breath. “I agree.” He just hoped Gavin would, too. Eldon looked at Damien. “And what about you? What are your terms?”
“The same.”
Eldon’s eyebrows flew up. “Really?”
Damien nodded. “That, and he has to apologize to Kendall, Demi, and Siya.”
Jeez. And Eldon had thought the last demand was hard. “Deal.”
“All right then. You go and speak with your brother. We’ll go break the news to everyone else.”
“Okay.”
“Once you get down there, send Vaughn and Raven up here,” Vance said.
“Will do.”
Eldon slowly made his way down the stairs to where his brother was being held. He met Vaughn and Raven at the bottom. “You two are supposed to head upstairs. I need to talk to my brother.”
“Are you going to tell him his fate?” Vaughn asked.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
Vaughn clapped Eldon on the back. “Good luck, man.”
Raven and Vaughn went up the stairs, and Eldon entered the room his brother was in.
Gavin turned and sneered when he saw Eldon. “Have you come to tell me how fucked I am? Or did they send you to kill me yourself?”
“Your mind has been poisoned way too long, Gavin.”
“Whatever.”
“I’ve actually come to offer you life.”
Gavin’s eyes lit up. “No shit? What are you going to do? Break me out of here?”
“No, Gavin, it’s not that simple.” Eldon explained the things that would be required of him and how he would probably go to prison for the rest of his life.
“I’ll go crazy in there,” Gavin said.
“But you’d be alive.”
Gavin wildly shook his head back and forth. “I’d rather die.”
Eldon’s shoulders slumped. “Okay. It’s your decision.” He turned to go back upstairs. It looked like Vance and Damien should have waited to break the news.
“Eldon?” Gavin said softly.
Eldon stopped. “Yeah?”
“If I do this, would you come and visit me?”
“Of course.”
Eldon heard Gavin take in a deep breath.
“Tell them I’ll do it.”
Chapter 39
Saxon stood, arms folded, as Gavin Conrad was brought upstairs in cuffs and silver bracelets to keep him from shifting. He still couldn’t believe they were working with the asshole. Yes, they needed to find Donald Wright, but this man had almost killed his Demi. And, for that, he deserved to die.
Others were giving Gavin dirty looks across the room, so at least Saxon knew he wasn’t the only one unhappy with this plan.
The one thing stopping him from taking justice into his own hands was the fact that Eldon had rescued Kendall. Eldon had requested his brother not be killed. Saxon hoped that Eldon knew that they no longer owed Eldon anything, and their debt was clear.
Vance clapped his hands together. “Okay, crew, I know that many of you are not happy with the deal Damien and I made with Eldon, but you don’t have to be. You just have to follow orders and do what we tell you to do. Understand?”
Everyone nodded their heads. Even Saxon.
Vance looked at Gavin. “Has your brother explained everything to you? Do you understand that you must do what we say, or the deal is off?”
Gavin nodded and hung his head.
Vance sighed. “I guess it’s time to bring Demi, Kendall, and Siya in here.”
Damien opened the front door of the house. “Thanks for waiting, ladies. Come on in.”
The three of them entered the room, and Saxon immediately went over to them.
“Are you okay? I know it’s not easy, seeing him here.” He pointed to Gavin.
Siya was scared—Saxon could smell it—but she had her game face on. Demi, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to kill the guy. Saxon had to hide his grin; he was so proud.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Demi said, “so he can get what he deserves.”
Saxon nodded and led them over to the couch.
“Please sit,” Vance said.
The females sat, and Vance began to lay out the plan that Eldon had come up with. When he was done, the three women sat there, not saying much.
Kendall spoke first, “Eldon told me his thoughts last night, and I support it. Personally, I think his brother will go a little crazy in prison, not being able to shift and run free.”
There were murmurs across the room.
“You bring up a good point, Kendall,” Damien said.
Saxon had to agree. Maybe prison wouldn’t be such a sweet deal after all.
Siya raised her arm. “I’m okay with it. As a human, I grew up with the human justice system. While I don’t want to judge you on yours, sir, killing him outright does make me uncomfortable.”
Vance nodded. “Demi?”
“As long as I know he’ll never hurt anyone again, I’m okay with it, too.” She looked at Eldon. “You promise not to plead his case and talk the judge down for a lighter sentence?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Eldon said.
“Fine. Let’s do this then.”
“Sorry, babe, but you’re not doing anything,” Saxon said. Before she could protest, he said, “You need to let the professionals handle this. This is our job.”
“Fine,” she said again. “Can I at least stay and listen?”
Saxon looked at Vance, who nodded.
Siya stood. “Thanks for everything, but I’m going to bed.”
Demi stood as well.
“Keep me updated,” Siya told Demi.
Siya left, and Demi sat back down.
“Kendall, you’re more than welcome to stay, but I’m going to ask you to sit this one out,” Damien said. “You just came off your heat, and most of us feel like you already did your part.”
Kendall put her hand up. “I’m going to stop you there. I am okay with it. I am still recovering, and I’m not going to put others in danger for a little revenge.”
Damien looked relieved.
Kendall laughed. “You need to have more faith in me.”
“About a half hour ago, Zane called us and said that someone had shown up at the clubhouse with breakfast. Raven and Zane are on their way here with him now. He says his name is Roy. Do you know who that is?” Vance asked Eldon.
“Yes.”
Vance turned to Gavin. “Young man, I need you to listen now. I want you to call Donny and tell him that Roy called you to go to the clubhouse this morning because he couldn’t make it. And then you’re going to tell him Kendall’s heat is over and that the exchange can happen today. Do you understand?”
Gavin nodded.
“I need to hear you say it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If you try to send him some kind of message to not show, we’ll know. And you’ll live to regret it,” Damien said.
“I understand,” Gavin said.
Eldon stood with Gavin in the clubhouse, waiting for Donny to show up. So far, their plan was going well. Gavin had made the call to Donny, and when Donny had called Vance five minutes later, they knew he’d believed what Gavin told him. But Eldon had no idea what would happen when Donny actually showed.
The sound of a car coming up the drive made Eldon’s heart beat faster. He went to the window and peeked out. It was Donny’s car.
Eldon scanned the area. Everyone was safely hidden from Donny’s view. He just hoped the wind didn’t change direction in the next few minutes.
He turned to Gavin. “I know you’re nervous, but you need to calm down a little. I can smell your fear.”
“What about you?” his brother snapped.
“I’m trying my best to remain calm, too. But I’ve also had years of practice doing it because of my job. I’ll b
e good to go once Donny’s here.”
The car came to a stop, and the engine was cut.
“Showtime, little brother.” Eldon pulled a pair of cutters from his back pocket and cut Gavin’s zip ties. “Go to the door. Greet him. And make sure you say his name, so the others know who he is.”
Gavin nodded and went to the door. Eldon hid behind it as it was opened. Since Eldon had been at the clubhouse for a week, his scent was already expected to be there.
“Gavin,” Donny said after getting out of his car. “Are you as excited about today as I am?”
“Uh…yes?” Gavin said.
Fuck, Gavin, pull it together. Sound more confident.
Donny laughed. “You should sound happier. You’re the one who brought this whole thing together.”
Shit. Don’t feel guilty, Gavin. And don’t do anything stupid.
“I-I guess,” Gavin stammered.
Donny’s footsteps stopped. “Gavin?”
“Yes.”
“Do I have anything to be worried about when I walk into the clubhouse?”
Gavin hesitated for only a moment. “No.” But it was enough.
“You fucking lying sack of shit.”
Eldon came out from behind the door. “It’s over, Donny. It’s time to surrender.”
Donny turned and ran for his vehicle as the sentinels appeared. He stopped short when he saw he was surrounded by big cats and wolves. He must have realized he’d never make it to his car fast enough.
Donny shifted into his cat and took off running in the opposite direction.
The cat-shifter closest to him, with a brown-and-blond coat, went after him. Eldon had a feeling Saxon wasn’t going to let Donny get far.
Eldon grabbed his brother by the collar of his shirt when he went to run after them. “I can’t let you go after him.” He spun Gavin around and put a new set of cuffs on him.
“I’m not going after him,” Gavin said.
Eldon raised his brow.
“I swear. I just want to see what’s going to happen.”
“Suit yourself.” Eldon had a good feeling about what he was about to see. He took his brother by the cuffs and led him outside.
Not far from the building, a naked Saxon stood, covered in blood, staring at the ground. The other sentinels approached and shifted into their human forms, too, but Saxon was the only one dirty.
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