Chapter 54
Aiden wanted to hold Jamie close and reassure him, but this wasn’t the place for it. He surreptitiously moved his leg so that it pressed against his mate’s.
When Jamie’s gaze swung to his, Aiden gave him a weak smile.
“Thanks,” Jamie said silently.
“I wish I could hold you,” Aiden silently answered.
“After this, you’d better.”
“Deal.”
Aiden turned back to the stage where there were large monitors on the left and right side for people in the back to see better. He’d been to several of these conventions when he worked for his father. They were such a bore. Why had he wasted so much time doing something he didn’t even like? Oh, yeah. To try to impress that monster up on the stage. Because of his shifter vision, he didn’t need to use the monitors to see that his father was already seated on the stage next to four other men in suits. Two women in business suits sat next to the men. A man stood at an ebony podium to the right of those on stage. Aiden shivered. He could scent his father. He glanced at his mate. The plan was for Jamie to get inside his father’s mind as soon as the moderator started the session.
“Ladies and gentlemen, can you please take your seats?” the man at the podium addressed the room.
“Just about showtime,” Aiden silently said to Jamie. “You’ve got this.”
Jamie gave him a barely perceptible nod.
The moderator began speaking. Aiden forced himself to focus on the stage, his hands tightly holding the agenda on his lap. He hoped Jamie would be able to get in without his father noticing. Aiden watched the man who sired him as he sat with the other awardees. They were chatting and joking among themselves. A bunch of prigs, all of them. He bet the others had no idea that there was a stone-cold murderer in their midst. Or did they? Aiden reached out with his enhanced scenting skills. There were a few shifters in the audience, probably those working for his father, but most of the attendees were human.
He felt rather than saw Jamie go rigid. He lowered his head as if studying the agenda and glanced at Jamie out of the corner of his eye. He was staring at the stage just like everyone else, but he knew his mind was elsewhere. He studied Jamie’s hands. They were clutching a piece of paper. He seemed focused, but not distressed.
He glanced back up at the stage. Each awardee gave a speech after being handed their celebratory piece of crystal or glass, whatever. Aiden assumed his father would be last since he was due to receive the most prestigious award. The man seemed calm, collected. Why the heck was he even bothering with this charade? Why would a four-hundred-year-old shifter care about some real estate award? What did he get out of this? Was his ego that fragile?
About ten minutes later, Jamie let out a whimper that was barely audible even with his shifter hearing.
Aiden locked on to his mate. Jamie’s disguise was still holding, but Aiden could see his shoulders drooping. His body was slightly hunched over. Sweat dotted his forehead. His eyelids appeared heavy. He seemed exhausted.
“Did you get in?” Aiden asked silently.
“Yeah,” Jamie answered. “Got some information. So tired.”
“Did he catch you?”
Jamie gave a tiny shake of his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“We can’t leave yet. He’ll spot us. Soon though.”
Jamie nodded, his gaze on his lap.
Piper reached into the crossbody bag she brought with her, pulled out a couple of tissues, and handed them to Jamie. He dabbed at his forehead with them.
“Was it bad?” Aiden asked.
“Yeah. We need to get back as soon as we can.”
Aiden grabbed his mate’s hand. He didn’t care who saw. “I promise we will.”
Aiden was so focused on making sure Jamie was OK that he didn’t hear a word of whatever nonsense his father was spouting from the podium. As soon as the clapping started, Aiden made eye contact with Piper.
She gave the tiniest of nods and tightened her hold on her bag.
Finally, people started to leave. Aiden stood, pulling Jamie to his feet. Piper placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned closer to him as if deep in discussion. Aiden warred with himself. He wanted to rush out of the room and get Jamie to safety, but he couldn’t. They had to blend in with the crowd. They couldn’t afford to be noticed. He kept his head down and followed his mate and friend back to the hotel lobby. Once the three of them were alone in the elevator on their way up to the suite, Aiden grabbed Jamie into a hug and let out a huge sigh of relief.
Aiden’s delight at getting away from his father was tempered by Jamie’s rigidity. He seemed shaken by whatever he’d seen in the man’s thoughts. Aiden needed to get him home and find out what he’d seen.
The elevator doors opened, and Aiden dragged Jamie out with him, Piper on their heels. They walked-ran to the door of their suite, and it swung open before Piper could wave the key card to unlock it.
“C’mon in.” Once they were inside, Leah shut the door behind them. “Did you guys get what you needed?” she asked.
Jamie nodded. “I got what I could. We need to go back and tell Heath and Jasper.” He added, “Right away.”
Piper glanced around the room. “Is everything packed up?”
Leah nodded. She grabbed the backpack she’d brought with her. “Aiden, hold on to Jamie and give me your hand. Piper, hold on.” She took Aiden’s hand in her left and Piper’s in her right.
Pop!
Aiden blinked, and they were in the Jensens’ living room. He heard Heath’s voice off in the direction of the kitchen.
Jamie wobbled but remained standing. Aiden pulled him into a hug and whispered into his ear, “You did amazing.”
Jamie grunted and nuzzled against Aiden’s chest.
“Pipe, can you drop the disguises now?” Aiden asked.
Piper shook her head as if to clear it. “Oh, yes.” She mumbled some words under her breath that Aiden couldn’t make out. They were certainly not in English. When she finished, he felt a wave of tingling over his body and then disappear. He held Jamie at arms’ length. He was back to normal. He looked down at himself. From what he could see, his disguise was gone, too.
Aiden’s gaze went to Piper. She was back to normal and Leah, too. He sighed. “Can one of you guys get Heath? We need to speak to him right away.”