Chapter 25
The familiar Houston heat hit them as they stepped off the plane, a stark contrast to Monaco’s Mediterranean breezes. Sam took a deep breath, catching the scents of home.
Gavin was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, looking crisp and professional, despite the late hour. His gaze took in Sam and Claudia, noting their entwined hands, and a smile crossed his face.
“Welcome home, Alpha. Claudia.” Gavin’s greeting was warm. “Good flight?”
“Long but comfortable,” Sam said, shaking his security chief’s hand. “How are things here?”
“Stable. I’ve got updates for you, but they can wait until we get to the office if you’d prefer.” Gavin’s gaze flickered between them again. “Unless you’d rather head straight home?”
“Office first,” Sam decided. “I want to know what’s been happening while we were gone, and I suspect you have news about our friends overseas.”
“I do,” Gavin confirmed. He gestured toward the waiting car. “Shall we?”
The drive to Kinkaid Industries didn’t take long through light evening traffic.
Claudia sat pressed against Sam’s side, her hand in his, occasionally glancing out at the familiar Houston landscape.
He could feel her contentment through their bond, mixed with a thread of nervous anticipation about what came next.
The building was mostly dark when they arrived. Gavin led them to his office, closing the door behind them.
“Coffee?” Gavin offered, moving toward the machine in the corner.
“Please,” Claudia said, settling into one of the guest chairs. Sam took the seat beside her, their chairs close enough that their knees touched.
Gavin prepared three cups, then settled behind his desk with his tablet. “Congratulations are in order, I take it?”
“We’re mates,” Sam confirmed. “We’ll make a formal announcement to the Clan shortly. Probably tomorrow.”
“Barbara’s going to be insufferably pleased with herself,” Gavin said with a grin. “She’s been predicting this since Claudia arrived.”
“Barbara is a busybody,” Sam said without heat. “But yes, she’ll be pleased.”
“She’s already started planning the party,” Gavin admitted. “She’s been texting me like crazy about logistics and guest lists. I told her to wait for official confirmation, but you know Barbara.”
Claudia’s eyes widened. “Party?”
“It’s tradition,” Sam explained, squeezing her hand. “When a Clan member finds their mate, we all celebrate. There will be food, music, dancing, and probably way too many toasts about how wonderful we are together.”
“It’s actually a lot of fun,” Gavin added. “My mating celebration with Marigold last year was one of the best nights of my life. The Clan knows how to throw a party.”
“When?” Claudia asked.
“Usually within a few days of the announcement,” Sam said. “We can discuss timing later. For now, let’s focus on Monaco. What news do you have, Gavin?”
Gavin’s expression turned serious as he pulled up files on his tablet. “I’ve been in contact with Seth. Kettering has been eliminated.”
Claudia’s hand tightened in his. “When?”
“Late last night, Monaco time. Seth accessed the hospital room where Kettering was being held. Made it look natural.” Gavin scrolled through his notes.
“The official story will be that Kettering suffered some kind of aneurysm during his outburst at the hotel, never regained consciousness, and passed away peacefully in his sleep. The hospital staff will confirm he was under medical care the entire time.”
“So it’s done. He’s really gone.” Sam’s tone was somber.
“He’s gone,” Gavin confirmed. “The news should hit international outlets within the next few hours. Seth wanted me to pass along that it was clean, professional, and completely undetectable as anything but natural causes.”
“And Mark and Nick?” Claudia asked.
“Already in Germany with Seth,” Gavin said. “They moved fast, wanting to reach Kettering’s castle before news of his death spread. The staff there won’t know their employer is dead, which gives our people time to search the premises thoroughly.”
“Smart,” Sam approved. “What are they looking for specifically?”
“Everything. Documents, computers, any physical evidence of Venifucus operations. Marta’s been somewhat cooperative in giving us leads and the entry codes to the gate and other secure areas of the castle.
” Gavin pulled up another file. “Mark estimated they’d need forty-eight to seventy-two hours for a complete search.
They’re working under the cover story that they’re business associates of Kettering’s conducting an audit of his holdings. ”
“Will the staff buy that?” Claudia asked.
“With Kettering out of reach to confirm or deny, they won’t have much choice,” Gavin said.
“And Seth has documents that appear to give them authority. Forgeries, of course, but very good ones. Honestly, though, there isn’t much staff left.
They didn’t put up much of a fight when Mark pulled out his Alpha charm.
I suspect he’s going to buy the place now that Kettering is dead, as long as it’s not too contaminated.
He talked about ways to cleanse it and put the site to better use in the future.
But that will depend on who is left to inherit.
Right now, it looks like a very distant relative in England might be the next in line. ”
Sam nodded slowly, processing all of this. Kettering was dead, his castle was being searched, and the Venifucus had lost not only him but also two of their mages. It was a significant blow to their operations.
“What about Marta?” Sam asked. “Where is she being held?”
“Secure location outside of Houston, near Big Wolf. They flew her into the Big Wolf airport and then carted her right to the safe house. She’s under heavy guard—both magical and shifter.
Mark arranged it before he left for Germany and had his buddy Hank fly her out here under guard.
She’s comfortable, being treated reasonably well, and for the moment, she’s cooperating fully in exchange for protection.
” Gavin’s expression was grim. “What she’s revealed so far about the Venifucus is disturbing.
The organization is larger and more organized than we realized.
Kettering was just one of many operatives they have in place around the world. ”
“But with Schwarz gone, they’ve lost a significant leader,” Claudia said.
“Exactly. Schwarz was apparently one of the High Council, a founding member who’d been with the organization for centuries. His loss will be noticed.” Gavin looked between them. “Which also means they’ll be looking for revenge. We need to be prepared for retaliation.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I’ve been thinking about that. We’ll need to strengthen our defenses, establish better early warning systems, and coordinate more with our allies.”
“I’ve already started reaching out to our contacts,” Gavin said. “The Lords have been briefed on the broad strokes of what happened in Monaco. They’re calling a meeting day after tomorrow to discuss coordinated response strategies.”
“Good.” The weight of leadership settled back onto Sam’s shoulders, but it was different now. Lighter, somehow, with Claudia beside him. “We’ll attend that meeting. What else do I need to know?”
They spent the next hour going through everything that had happened while Sam was in Monaco. Clan business, financial reports, security updates. Nothing critical, but Sam appreciated Gavin’s thorough briefing.
Finally, as the office clock ticked past eight PM, Sam stood. “That’s enough for tonight. We’re both jet lagged, and I want to get Claudia home.”
“Of course, Alpha.” Gavin stood as well. “Welcome home, both of you. And again, congratulations. The Clan is going to be thrilled.”
“Thank you, Gavin. For everything.” Sam clasped his friend’s shoulder. “I couldn’t do any of this without you.”
“You could,” Gavin said. “But I’m glad you don’t have to.”
The drive to the house didn’t take long. Claudia had been quiet since leaving the office, probably processing everything they’d learned.
“You okay?” Sam asked as they turned down the familiar street.
“I’m good. Just thinking about everything.” She squeezed his hand. “It’s really over, isn’t it? Kettering’s gone, Schwarz is gone, and we’re home safe.”
“It’s over,” Sam confirmed. “At least this chapter is. There will be other threats, other challenges. But we handled this one, together.”
“Together,” Claudia echoed, smiling at him.
Sam pulled into his driveway and immediately noticed the lights on in the main house. He hadn’t left them on, which meant someone was inside.
His lion rose instantly, alert for danger, but then, he caught a familiar scent on the breeze and relaxed.
“Granny Tucker,” he said, shaking his head with a smile. “I should have known she’d be here waiting for us.”
“Granny?” Claudia’s face lit up. “She’s here?”
They barely had the car doors closed before the front door of the house opened, and Granny Tucker appeared on the porch. The elderly mage looked exactly as Sam remembered—white-haired and wearing a comfortable housedress and sensible shoes, but radiating power that made the air shimmer around her.
“About time you two got home,” Granny called out. “I’ve been waiting for hours. Made myself at home. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not, Granny,” Sam said, helping Claudia up the porch steps. “It’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you too, young man. And looking much happier than when I last saw you, I might add.” Granny’s sharp eyes took in their joined hands and, likely, the matching marks of mating on their auras that only a powerful mage would be able to see.
“So it’s done then. You’ve finally admitted what was obvious to everyone else. ”
“Hello to you too, Granny,” Claudia said, laughing as she bent to hug the older woman. “And yes, we’re mated.”