Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Ken
Two days later, the pack gathered at the meeting hall for the recognition ceremony for the babies.
It wasn’t just for Lyssa, Maisie, Tahlia, Adair, and Malina.
Seventeen other babies who’d been born in the past year, and three children who’d been adopted, were also recognized and celebrated.
Hamish flew out so he could attend the recognition ceremony and spend time with Tamsin and her baby, and meet his newly adopted pack.
Ken spent the past few days trying to relax as much as possible when he wasn’t working outside of Dewi’s view, although that wasn’t easy.
The relaxing, or sneaking in work outside of Dewi’s presence.
They were receiving a treasure trove of data from the software he’d installed on the cartel’s computers, as well as from Miranda Segura’s personal laptop.
She’d finally logged into her corporate account with it.
That gave Ken exactly what he needed to infiltrate the company’s server so he could create a permanent backdoor access.
His software was downloading financial and other information from their servers at a slow enough rate not to trigger any alarms on their end, disguised as daily reports, and he was scrubbing certain details from it before sending it to one of the pack’s accountants to scour.
With Gillian taking time off, Ken had shifted the bulk of this responsibility to his own shoulders. For safety, they were limiting who had access to—and knowledge of—the data mining operation. Keeping people siloed was an additional layer of security.
They still didn’t have a firm date for their return to Florida. Ken certainly wasn’t pushing the issue, and he suspected Peyton was guilting Dewi into staying longer so the siblings could spend time together.
Ken didn’t have cooking duties that evening because Peyton ordered catering for a large, backyard barbecue for the family. And had made sure there was plenty of smoked salmon for Ken.
All afternoon, as Ken’s unease grew, he wondered if it was the fact that he really didn’t want to return to Florida yet or his stress over the ongoing work he was doing, or…
Something else.
Those suspicions kicked into overdrive when Peyton held back after most everyone went home following dinner. Then he tapped Ken on the shoulder and tipped his head toward his home office.
Resigned, Ken followed Peyton, closing the door behind him.
Normally, Ken enjoyed being in here. Peyton and Gillian were voracious readers, and the walls of his home office were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves holding thousands of books ranging in topics from modern fiction to a huge section about Greek, Roman, Celtic, and other mythologies.
That wasn’t even counting all the thousands of books filling various shelves throughout the rest of the house.
When the door wasn’t closed, Peyton had an open-door policy of allowing family to walk in and access the bookshelves.
Peyton didn’t speak aloud, holding a hand out to Ken, who finally took it.
“I’m heading to Europe for several days,” Peyton silently told him through his Prime powers. “We have a solid lead.”
“About Faegan?”
“Him, and possibly other…stuff.”
Ken’s stomach clenched. “You can’t tell me more?”
“Unfortunately, no. I don’t want Dewi or Gillian knowing any of that right now, either. All I want them to know is it has to do with Faegan.”
“Why?”
Peyton arched an eyebrow. “I believe you’ve met my baby sister. When have you ever known her not to want to be in the center of action? If she knows details, she’ll demand to be included.”
“Why do you have to go?”
“Because the Staffordshire Pack is now our responsibility. If we catch Faegan, I want to be there when we take blood. And to help contain potential witnesses. The Primes over there are spread out and involved in the larger search for intel about the…rest of the situation.”
Ken’s stomach rolled. “Gillian won’t be happy about you leaving.”
Peyton looked grim. “I know. I’m not happy about it, either. I wouldn’t go if it weren’t important. And Dewi’s here with them.”
“What do you need from me?”
“I need you to hold the line and keep Dewi and Tamsin here in Idaho, for now.”
“Why?” A chill washed through Ken. “You think something might happen to you?”
“I don’t think that. But I’m thinking ahead. I would feel better if Dewi stayed here with Gillian and Asia and Tamsin. And the babies. Plus, I need Badger, Duncan, and Beck to stay, too.”
“Why not send Duncan or Badger, and you stay?”
“Because I want Duncan to remain a cypher. Very few people outside of our pack know what he looks like, much less that he’s back.
His pictures aren’t on social media. Everyone knows Badger.
Or if they don’t know him, all they have to do is describe the testy, one-eyed, red-haired Scottish guy, and they’ve pegged him. He doesn’t exactly blend in.”
“True.”
“And this is serious enough I need people to see the Targhee Pack Alpha personally supervising this operation. I set the tone. If I start sloughing off responsibilities, it looks like I don’t care.
It makes me look disengaged and weak. Plus, while I’m there, I need face time with a few others regarding the latest developments.
Fair warning, I might be out of contact for several days while I’m gone, and I want you here to help Trent and fill in for Gillian. ”
Ken struggled against the resignation washing through him. “Wouldn’t it be easier if we move here?”
Peyton smirked. “If I thought Dewi wouldn’t kill me, I’d gladly order her to move you all here permanently.” His smile faded. “I’m hoping we’re close to the end of this Faegan business. Which, if we are, that leaves the other…stuff to deal with. But I won’t have to travel over there as frequently…”
A slightly dizzying sensation rolled through Ken, and he realized his eyes were closed, although he didn’t consciously remember doing that.
“You okay?” Peyton asked aloud, still not releasing his hand.
“Yeah. Sorry.” It felt like his mind had drifted completely away for a moment. “Probably the altitude and new-dad exhaustion.” He met Peyton’s gaze. He had the same brown eyes as Dewi. “What were you saying?”
Peyton met his gaze as he resumed silently speaking with his Prime. “As I said, I’m hoping this is my last trip over there for a while for anything other than normal pack business.”
“And we can focus on wrapping up the Segura business for good?” Ken asked. “Because I have to tell you, I’m not seeing anything concrete to make me think they’re looking into us. It seems Abundio’s daughter is poking around Manuel’s cartel, but that isn’t our problem.”
“I agree,” Peyton softly said aloud as he released Ken’s hand. “Nearly all the families who want to resettle from down south have been relocated to the States, correct?”
Ken nodded.
“Then hopefully we can wrap that up soon. But this is the immediate threat.” He rested a hand on Ken’s shoulder, and while it didn’t feel to Ken like Peyton was using his Prime on him, it set something in the base of Ken’s spine tingling.
“I need you to swear to me you will follow any directions I give you over the phone to the letter, without arguing with me.”
“This isn’t comforting me, dude.”
Another smirk. “I know. But this is important. There are things I might need you to do that only you can do.”
“Me?” Realization sank in. “Hacking, or something?”
Peyton nodded. “That, and…” He tipped his head toward the office doorway, his meaning clear.
“Keeping Dewi in line,” Ken whispered.
Peyton gravely nodded. “Can I count on you? I need you to swear it to me.”
This felt…bad.
Really bad.
Like there was a universe’s worth of info Peyton held back. “Fine. But please don’t make me regret this.”
Peyton grimly smiled. “If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a firm believer in the ‘if I have it I won’t need it’ philosophy of over-preparedness.”
“But just in case…” Ken couldn’t finish.
“Just in case,” Peyton agreed.
“So now what?”
Peyton sighed. “Now I go get chewed out by my wife. I have to be at the Spokane airport early in the morning to check in for my flight.”
Ken winced. “I don’t envy you.” He glanced at the clock on the wall and realized they’d been standing there talking longer than Ken estimated. A lot longer, like nearly an hour.
Peyton clapped a hand on Ken’s shoulder. “Sometimes, it sucks to be the Pack Alpha.”
“Yeah.”
Still, Ken couldn’t help thinking, Please, never let Dewi have to take over this role.