Chapter 6
He yanked open his refrigerator and grabbed three beers. He was dirty and stank of blood, gore and piss. Soon, he had to head out to find more shifters to attack. Fuck, no! He wasn’t going to do it until they met his demand for more money.
Dammit, he was taking all the risk while those assholes played with their dicks, away from any danger of discovery. It was his life on the line if he was ever caught. Fuck them. No more until he got paid what he asked for.
Sitting on his dirty couch, he drank the beers wondering if he should take a shower.
No, if he went out, he’d just get dirty all over again.
Flipping on the TV, he watched the latest soccer match.
It was a piss-poor game, but he wasn’t doing anything more until he heard back from them about his demand. He sat there staring at the screen.
Dozing, he was jolted awake by his phone beeping—an incoming text message.
A big smile covered his face as he read it because his bluff had worked.
He’d now be paid twice as much as long as he obeyed all their orders.
He wasn’t sure what that meant, but it didn’t matter; all he cared about was he was getting twice the pay now. Time to go to work.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate knew his brother wouldn’t like it, but he was between a rock and a hard place. And shit, this was Friday afternoon. Short notice—duh, yeah, but he didn’t have any choice. Well, let’s see what Steel says. Tapping his pencil on the desk, he waited for his brother to answer the call.
“Okay, brother, what’s the crisis this time?”
“Who said it’s a crisis?”
“Well, we talked this morning at length and you told me you were leaving the office early for a hot date. And now it is eleven thirty at night in Scandinavia and you’re calling me.
So, either you’ve found your mate or you never made it to your date tonight because you’re trying to solve a crisis.
Somehow, I don’t think you’ve found your mate. So, I ask again. What’s the crisis?”
Shit, his brother knew him all too well. “Okay, okay, yeah it’s a crisis. You know I’ve been working on solving the medical needs for the Mexican Wolf shifters, right?’
“Uh-huh.”
“Well Monday, I have all the equipment arriving there and the dude who was going to oversee the installation got sick and can’t make it. I’ve spent the last ten hours trying to find a replacement, but no dice.”
“Okay, I understand. Can’t you delay the installation until your guy recovers?”
“Normally I would, but in this case, I can’t. Last night, a fire destroyed most of the old medical clinic and hospital. Dr. Luna told me it’s critical to have the new facilities up and running as soon as possible.”
“What caused the fire?”
“Don’t know yet, but it looks suspicious.”
“I don’t like it, Slate. What’s going to prevent it happening again to the new clinic and hospital?”
“I know. I don’t like it either. But I put in a fire suppression system so it won’t happen in the new building. I sent you pictures of the old building…hell, it’s amazing it was still standing.”
“So, what do you need from me?”
Slate took a deep breath, knowing what he was asking for would push Steel into a very uncomfortable place. “I need …”
“No, no, no. I can’t do it. I will not leave my pregnant mate, Slate.”
Slate broke out laughing. “No, not you, dumbass. I need Colton.”
“Colton?” Steel repeated, wondering if he heard wrong.
“Yes, Colton. He did the floorplan and drew up the equipment list. He’s the most familiar with everything and I need someone who doesn’t need a learning curve to get this done.”
“Oh shit, Slate. You know the problem Colton and the rest of the pack are facing with Silver Point. To send Colton off to Mexico by himself? Are you crazy? Jackson would never permit it.”
“I know. But please, hear me out. I’ll fly out to pick up Colton and stay with him while he’s in Mexico.
I promise to protect him with my life, Steel.
I would never ask this of you and Jackson, much less Colton, but this is an emergency.
The shifters are in desperate need and I’ve nowhere else to turn.
Look, ask Mom if she knows of any danger to Colton if he goes with me to Mexico. Please!!!”
Steel sat back in his chair. He knew this was Jackson’s and Colton’s decision.
And while he didn’t even want to bring it up, he had to, because if there’s one thing he’d learned, Jackson demanded to know everything pertaining to the members of the pack.
And he wasn’t going to sleep on the sofa just because he kept Slate’s request a secret.
No, no, no. Even though he wasn’t happy about it and wanted to save his mate from getting stressed out, he really did trust Jackson to make the right decision.
“Okay, I’ll ask Mom and see what she says before taking your request to Jackson.”
“Steel, I appreciate it. I really do know what I’m asking of you.”
“I doubt it. You won’t understand until you find your fated mate and he’s pregnant.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let me know as soon as you can.”
“Bye, Slate.”
“Bye, brother.”
Steel hung up, sighing at nothing and everything.
How did he feel about Slate’s request? Mmm, tough question.
On the one hand, he knew Colton would jump at the chance.
But Jackson? No. After all these months, he was still nervous about Silver Point and his uncle, the Alpha of that pack.
Their recent history certainly supported Jackson’s concern about the danger Colton could face outside the protective enclave of their compound.
Jumping up, Steel headed out to find his mother.
He found his parents enjoying afternoon tea on the small patio outside their sitting room. “Mom, I need to ask you about Colton,” Steel said.
“Certainly dear, but don’t you think it would be better to have Jackson and Colton here?”
Shaking his head, Steel wondered why he was even surprised at anything his mother said or did any more. Although she was an ‘Oracle’—the voice of the Fates on Earth—that didn’t explain everything about his mother’s abilities. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I’ll go get them.”
Maximus watched Steel leave before turning to his wife. “What are you up to, dear?”
“Just doing my part for romance,” Oracle said, leaning over to steal a kiss.
“You already know what this is about, don’t you?”
“Of course, and it is happening the way it needs to for Colton and Ian to mate. This is so much fun,” she giggled.
Smiling, Maximus said, “I’m happy to see you enjoying yourself, my dear.”
Steel entered the patio with Jackson and Colton in tow. “Okay, I’ve got them. Can we proceed?”
“Certainly, sweetie. Come, Jackson, sit down next to me. How’s my grandson today? Still kicking up a storm?”
“Yes, especially today. I think it’s because his other father hasn’t spent enough time with me today,” Jackson pouted.
“Hey, that’s not fair. You know I was trying to get everything taken care of before this weekend so you would have my undivided attention.”
“Hey babe, I was just teasing you. Jeez, you’re tense. What’s the matter and why did you want to see me and Colton. Oh shit! Is something wrong with the baby?” Jackson glanced at Colton.
“What?”
“No, no, babe,” Steel said. “Shit, no. This has nothing to do with the pup. It’s about Colton.”
“Colton? Oh, my gods! Is he sick? Did your mother tell you something was going to happen to him? Colton, why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” demanded Jackson.
“What? I’m not sick. What the fuck have you been telling Steel?” Colton shot angrily at Oracle. “And why are you upsetting Jackson?”
By this time, Maximus was laughing so hard, tears were running down his face. Oracle was chuckling softly but Steel was not amused.
Trying to get the meeting back on track, Steel huffed, “Listen to me. There is nothing wrong with the pup or Colton. This meeting is about a request I got from Slate concerning Colton. Can everyone calm down?”
“Then why did you say you were worried about Colton?”
Maximus was now howling with laughter as Steel turned to him. “Cut it out Dad. This isn’t funny. How the hell did this get so fucked up so fast?”
Oracle took control. “Jackson, dear, the meeting is about Slate’s request for Colton to go to Mexico to help him set up the hospital and clinic.”
“Then why…oh never mind. Let’s just get on with it. Why does Slate need Colton in Mexico to set up the hospital and clinic?”
Steel explained, “Slate wants Colton to join him in Mexico because the person who was scheduled became ill and he can’t find a replacement on this short notice.”
“Can’t he wait until the person recovers?” asked Jackson.
“No,” Steel said, “There was a fire last night that destroyed most of the old hospital, so they are desperate to get the new one up and running. Colton did the floorplan and the equipment list, so he has the most knowledge…medical knowledge…other than Dr. Luna, about getting everything set up properly.”
Colton listened with excitement at the possibility of going to Mexico to help out.
When he was doing the planning with Dr. Luna and Slate he’d dreamt of it but was sure Jackson would never let him go.
Now, though, maybe. After all, his brother was willing to let him go to Seattle on Monday.
Oh Shit. When am I needed in Mexico? “Ahh, when would I be going?” Colton asked.
“Slate would pick you up Sunday morning and fly with you down to Mexico. He would stay with you until you finish and then fly you back.”
“But he’ll be going to Seattle on Monday,” said Jackson. “We’d have to cancel that and I’m not sure his brothers would understand since it’s all they’ve been talking about.”
“Let’s set that aside for the moment,” said Steel. “I think we need to focus on whether Colton wants to go to Mexico first and then, if so, is it safe for him.” He turned to Colton.
“Yes, I want to go. It would fulfill a dream of mine to be on the frontline of where medicine is needed the most. And since my ultimate goal is to work for Frontline Doctors, the experience would help me in my chosen field of work.”
“Okay, so we have the answer to the first part. What about his safety, Jackson? Your concerns?”
“You know my issues. Even though Silver Point has rescinded the kill-on-sight order, I don’t trust my uncle.”
“You were willing to let me go to Seattle. Mexico is further away, so I should be safer,” said Colton.
“Slate promised me he would guard Colton with his life while he was there,” said Steel, “sort of like his personal bodyguard. And Slate will be able to help Colton so it won’t take that long.”
Turning to Oracle, Jackson said, “I imagine the reason you’re in this meeting is to tell me if you’ve been told of any harm happening to Colton if he went?”
“Yes. I can only tell you Colton will return home.”
Jackson thought about what Oracle said but more troubling was what she didn’t say.
There was a lot missing in her declaration about what would happen to his brother down there.
How could he object? He knew the experience would mean a lot to Colton and give him hope about his future.
Isn’t that why I agreed to the Seattle trip?
So, his brothers would feel their lives were moving forward?
Sighing, he said, “Okay, I won’t stop you from going Colton, but what do we do about the Seattle trip? Do we postpone it?”
“I don’t think that’s fair to my brothers. Why don’t they go ahead to Seattle while I go to Mexico? When I get back, maybe we can plan another trip to Seattle if the first one goes well.”
Jackson and Steel looked at each other, using their mind link to come to an agreement. Finally, Steel spoke, “Okay. Why don’t you go ahead and pack while I call Slate. I’ll let you know what time he’ll be here on Sunday.”
“Gosh, thanks guys.” Jumping up with ill-concealed excitement, Colton said, “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go figure out what I need to take.”
Oracle spoke up, “Jackson, dear, in all the excitement, I forgot to tell you that Ian will be here this Monday instead of the following one. It seems his replacement arrived earlier than planned.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Jackson said, turning to Steel. “How long do you think Colton will be in Mexico?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll ask my brother. Now if there’s nothing else mom, Jackson and I will call Slate to set it up.”
“No dear, that’s fine. Glad I could be of help.”
After they left, Maximus looked at his wife, noticing the glint in her eye as she picked up a petit four. He knew that look. His wife was quite pleased with herself at how this was turning out.
“Would you mind telling me how Colton can claim Ian if he’s not even here when the good doctor arrives?” asked Maximus.
“Patience, my darling. It will happen, you’ll see. Isn’t Dakota a genius when it comes to baking? I swear, these are the best petit fours I have ever eaten.”
~/~/~/~/~
Slate answered his phone, hoping it was good news from his brother. “Hi, bro. Any news?”
“Yeah, Colton will do it. I need the when and how. And Slate, I’m relying on you to keep him safe.”
“Let me firm up the trip info and I’ll send it to you by email. Did you ask Mom about it?”
“Yes, I did. She gave Jackson the assurance he needed but she left a lot unanswered. So once again…I want your vow you’ll keep him safe and return him to my mate alive and well.”
“You have my word, Steel. I will be at his side the entire time we are down there.”
“All right. I guess that’s all I can ask for. See you soon.”
“You too.”
Steel hung up, gazing at his mate and hoping his brother’s promise was enough. “Well babe, how about we officially start our weekend of fun by seeing what Logan has done so far in the nursery.”