14. Chapter 14
Chapter fourteen
Jensen
I ’m sitting at the table, looking through the documents that were delivered for Layla, and I toss one of the folders down. It’s all I can do to not pace, not shout out Julian’s name, and demand to see him. But I know Julian all too well. If I make Layla seem too important to me, he’ll use her as a weapon against me. But an hour into suffering in her absence, worried over what might be happening with and to Layla right now, holy fuck. The man is not a fool. He knows I was with Layla when they kidnapped her. They know I all but died to try and save her from this place. At the very least, he knows I want her to aid the Renegades. So why am I fucking hiding from the truth.
I push to my feet. “Julian!” I shout into the room, knowing damn well he’s watching me. He’s been watching me. He knows I’m attracted to her. He knows I want her, but I’m also his ticket to get her to help him, or pretend to help him. “Julian! Get your fucking ass in here!” I continue the demands, pacing as I deliver them, and it’s a full ten minutes before the door swings open. Julian is in the doorway, not a wolf to be found. He looks so damn much like Caleb, it’s eerie as hell.
“I wondered when you’d call,” he says dryly, stepping inside and allowing the door to shut behind him.
For a few beats, we stare at each other, seconds ticking by with the crackle of challenge. “You’re close to my brother. There’s no reason you can’t be close to me. I don’t want him dead. I don’t want any of you dead. I want you by my side. We’ll be unstoppable.”
I’m cautious, biting back the acidic words on the tip of my tongue. “I want Layla protected.”
His eyes narrow on me. “Have you lifebonded with her?”
“No,” I say. “But she matters to me.”
“Her protection can be arranged. Join me. Help me bring the others over.”
“How?”
“You tell me.”
“As long as you endanger humanity, you will never win over Caleb. Give him Layla; tell him you want her to solve the problem with ICE, and that you don’t want death.”
“I’ll meet with him and agree to share our data, but I won’t give up you or Layla. And you—you need to stand by my side and show unity with me.”
Fuck him , I think, but I remind myself this is a game of chess. Nothing more. “In exchange for Layla’s protection and our fucking privacy in this room,” I counter.
He smirks. “Then you’ll join me?”
“Yes. I’ll join you.”
“Fuck her into submission. I’ll turn off the cameras.”
“How will I know they’re off? I’m not your freak show.”
“You’ll have to take my word for it.”
“I’ll rip them out.”
“Fine. Do it.” He shrugs. “You will walk out of this room with me and stand before my men by my side. Understood?”
The chance to get out of this room and see the place I need to get us out of, since all of its renovations, I’m all in. “Why are we still standing here?”