5. Chapter 5 #3
“If you ever come near my Mate again, I will consider it an act of war.” Conall didn’t bother to lower his voice.
Langston’s eyes narrowed. “Your mate is a federal employee who was exposed to classified material during an incident at a clandestine facility. We have every right to debrief her.”
Ash stepped up to Riley’s other side. “Hello, packmate. Did they harm you?”
“No, but he wanted to inject me with a barbiturate and start questioning me while we were waiting for the bison to move. I told him I’d electrocute him if he tried.”
Conall snarled, and Ash slowly turned to stare at Langston. “You wanted to kidnap, drug, and question an Alpha Mate at gunpoint, without notifying her Alpha, and without a warrant?”
Before anyone could move, Conall stepped forward and bitch-slapped Langston across his face, sending the man to the ground.
The ogre agents brought their semi-automatics up in tandem just as the bull who’d been eyeing them exploded into action.
he charged the closest agent and sent him flying into the second one.
They both landed hard, and the ogre with the buzz cut lay crumpled and unmoving on the ground while the other moaned.
The bull bellowed again and pawed the ground. Beau held his hands up and stepped forward, grunting softly.
A human agent with red hair carefully helped Langston to his feet, but the director shoved her away impatiently and wiped blood from his mouth. “You just struck a federal agent. I’m going to enjoy sending you to prison.”
Conall stared at Langston. “You want to talk about prison time? Let’s talk about how you’re connected to ApGen and the abduction of our Pack children. And now you’re in bed with Apex and their illegal facilities.”
Langston glanced at the woman with the video camera. “Those are extremely serious and completely unfounded accusations you’re throwing around.”
Beau stepped forward, his massive bulk casting a shadow. “Alright, we need to clear out so the bison will leave, and get the tourists on their way. As the federal representative in charge of this region of Yellowstone, I need to see the paperwork authorizing this detainment.”
Langston glanced down at his fallen agents, who still lay on the ground. The man needed to cut his losses, but Conall knew he wasn’t that smart.
Riley stepped forward. “I have a proposal. If you give me access to all the Bureau’s files on my father, I’ll submit to questioning and agree to a medical examination regarding my time at the Roswell facility.
But it will be on neutral ground, and we choose the medical personnel.
Conall or one of his Betas will also be present. ”
The red-haired agent moved closer. “Sir, that’s a reasonable compromise, and it meets our objectives without escalating this situation.”
“I don't recall asking for your input, Agent Mercer.”
She didn’t back down. “We have multiple civilians filming this, and if it becomes even more violent, it’ll be a PR disaster for the Bureau. And you.”
He sneered at Riley. “Ms. Blackthorne will come in for a formal debriefing and medical assessment at a neutral location. But I want it done within twenty-four hours.”
“Three days,” Conall countered. “We need time to retain our own medical expert.”
Langston shook his head. “One day.”
Conall raised an eyebrow. “Three days, and only Agent Mercer will be present. Not you or your men.”
Mercer stepped forward. “Done. I have the authority to agree, and we have a facility in Denver that would work if you approve.”
Langston pointed a finger at Riley, and Conall wondered briefly if Langston had a death wish.
“You think that because you’re his mate now, you can circumvent the law and impede a federal investigation. But if you fail to appear, I’ll have you brought in for obstruction of justice.” Langston stared at all of them. “I’m not the enemy here.”
He turned and stalked back to the SUV, gesturing sharply for his agents to follow. Conall pulled Riley closer and viciously hoped the ogre who’d been hit by the bison was dead.
Beau let out a low grunting sound, and the bison herd began to shift, clearing the road and heading into the pasture as Agent Mercer stepped forward, holding her business card, along with Riley’s phone and firearm.
“I’ll be in touch with details. For what it’s worth, I don’t agree with how this was handled.” Ash stepped forward and took the items from the agent.
As the SUVs sped away and the crowd dispersed, Conall pulled Riley to him, his hands gliding over her shoulders and down her back.
“Are you really okay?”
She nodded, but didn’t fully relax. That frozen distance remained, an intangible but real barrier. “I can’t seem to get warm.”
“I know. I can feel it through the bond.” He brushed his thumb along her cheekbone, where shadows lingered beneath her eyes. “It’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Conall wanted to press, to demand that she let him help, and to insist she open up. But Ash’s words echoed in his mind. He needed to give her space and patience. He hated it. Her cold skin was a bitter reminder of the internal battle she waged.
A battle he was terrified she’d lose.