19. Trig
Chapter 19
Trig
Being startled awake at 2 a.m. was unnerving on a good day. Having it happen when you knew someone was out to kill your mate? That was a whole new level of fear unlocked.
When Nate’s phone started to ring, we all sprang up, looking for any present danger. Garin jumped from the bed, taking his wolf form, instantly in a protective stance. He wasn’t taking any chances.
It was just a phone, but honestly, we were all on edge. And a phone call could easily be used to distract us from something else, including someone trying to break into the room.
“It’s just Ash,” Nate said, moments after he answered the phone.
He talked with him for about ten minutes. While I couldn’t hear both sides of the conversation, it sounded like something was going on with the case that made us potentially less safe.
My heart pounded in my chest, and for the first time, I wished that I too was a shifter. At least then I’d be able to piece things together better. He said things like, “Of course, I won’t put my mates in danger,” and “That is problematic.” And “You do see the problem with that plan, right?”
They were vague enough they could mean just about anything. I wanted to get some cues from Garin. He’d be able to hear both sides, but his wolf was still watching the door and windows. If he was listening to the conversation, I couldn’t tell.
“Thanks for calling. I’ll make sure we get things taken care of on this end.” He disconnected the phone and put it on the nightstand, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Everything okay?” I couldn’t tell if he was relieved or stressed, the lights too dim.
“Garin, come back to bed. It’s safe, and there are things to say.”
Garin shifted and climbed in beside us. “What’s going on?”
“Long story short, Ash got a tip that someone in the courthouse is in contact with the wrong people.”
This was something we’d suspected all along. And it wasn’t an irrational paranoid type of suspicion. There were enough hints and leaks that we were confident. Unfortunately, we didn’t know from where, so there wasn’t anything we could do to eradicate it.
“And he called at two o’clock for that?” I asked.
“He called now because he just met with the prosecutor at some sketchy diner to make a plan.”
Turned out, Anders was every bit as good as my mate had thought.
“They needed to meet when and where no one would be watching. They’ve decided for me to do my testimony on video, citing my safety. Anders has a judge he knows will sign off on that.”
“Okay, but what good does that do?” I asked.
“If our mate’s testimony is recorded, there’s no reason to kill him. It would only bring more attention to the case for Nate to be dead.” Garin had a point, one I hadn’t considered.
“Ash thinks it will also push him to make a plea deal. He’s currently looking at multiple life sentences and possibly death. A plea could make his future look a little more optimistic.” Nate took my hand. “It means we will be safer.”
“Safer, not safe.”
“I think closer to safe.” He pulled me onto his lap and held me close.
I was the alpha, the one who was supposed to be protecting him, giving him the sense of security he needed. But instead, he was doing that for me.
“The only problem is this will change the timeline a little. Ash said after it is done, we can hire more Alpha For Hire guys to keep guard for us and that they will pay. I think we should pay ourselves though, because the less we have to deal with the state, the better.”
Having a mate with money was going to take some getting used to. Even if I had thought of that on my own, I wouldn’t have had the money to make it happen.
“Are you saying you think we’ll be safe at home?” I loved the sound of that.
“Not yet, but soon.”
Three days later, we met back at the courthouse to officially record my testimony. Unlike last time, I was questioned by both lawyers. I had assumed there would be a fancy defense lawyer cross-examining me, but it was a public defender who really didn’t seem to be that into it. He didn’t ask me much more than what I’d been asked by Anders.
The only conclusion I could draw from that was they had planned to kill all the witnesses, and without them, there was no case, so why bother hiring someone? When human and shifter justice converged, it was never clear cut.
Saying goodbye to our motel was easy. It smelled bad, had uncomfortable furniture, and not once in our entire time there did they do more than let us exchange towels. But also, it held memories. Sure, many of those memories were tied up with fear and apprehension, but there were also great ones of playing beat the contestant on word games, figuring out the best way to make crappy pantry food into a meal worth eating, and all of the time we had fun enjoying each other’s bodies.
“I want to let my bear out before we go home. He’s antsy.” Nate pulled the door to our motel room closed for the last time.
“My wolf is too.” Unlike Nate, Garin’s beast had been out a few times, but only in the motel room, and that hardly counted.
“We can make a picnic of questionable sandwiches and call it a date.” I grabbed the key from Nate.
“We really should have a date date when this is over.” He reached up and cupped my cheek.
“I’d like that.” I turned my head, kissed the palm of his hand, and ran to drop off our key, ready to get back to some semblance of normal.