Chapter 19 Royal
ROYAL
UNCLE NEIL
“Royal?” Uncle Neil sounds surprised to see me.
I turn from where I’m pulling together a munitions order for one of our mercenaries while taking stock of what needs to be supplied at this drop location at the same time.
I pitch his name back to him in the same questioning tone. “Uncle Neil?”
Why is he here? My wolf starts questioning, his hackles raising. He’s never liked my uncle.
“What are you doing out here?” He narrows his eyes at me while closing the service door to the mansion’s garage behind him.
I asked that first. My wolf draws a mental map of where we are, trying to find logic in why we’d be in the same place together.
This cache, an unassuming mansion, nestled among other mansions in Barrington, isn’t exactly remote, maybe seven miles from my parents’ house and another ten from Valor’s.
“Well, I’m here. I’ve got gun cases, a clipboard, and a pen.” I gesture between the items as I list them off before waggling the pen.
Uncle Neil huffs. “Yes, but why are you doing that? Shouldn’t you be in your tech cave working on something more important?”
I shrug. He isn’t normally in my business. The technophobe is usually content to let me do whatever needs to be done and respect my work process. But the way my wolf is on edge has me pressing for information. “What’s with the third degree?”
“Can’t I wonder why we’re not using our assets to their fullest potential?” He stands up a little straighter, the posturing meant to put me in my place.
He’s not just my uncle, but he’s the pack second-in-command.
He outranks me not only by being my elder but by title.
It won’t be until Dad retires and Valor takes over as alpha that Uncle Neil and I will be on a level playing field as options for second-in-command.
Assuming Neil doesn’t retire with Dad. It’ll be Valor’s choice between us.
So . . . I really should consider backing down, but my wolf, pacing and snarling in my mind, won’t let me. “Can’t I wonder why the pack second is out running around to all sorts of weapons caches at all hours of the day?”
The color drains from his face.
Why is he so suspicious? My wolf snaps his teeth.
Uncle Neil tries to hide his unnerved response with a thick dose of bureaucracy. “I do work that’s above your rank. You let me worry about me, and you worry about you.”
I turn away from him back toward my work, fighting my eyes from rolling. “As you wish.”
My wolf keeps focus on him, and in my peripheral vision, I watch as he leans up against one of the shelving units, crossing his arms. “Why is it always so tense between you and me? Valor and I butt heads, but I figure that’s just him trying to take over as pack alpha soon.
I’d think you’d be more laid back. It doesn’t seem like you’re too eager to take my place. ”
My phone vibrates on the table behind me, but I ignore it. “Who said I don’t want to take over as pack second someday?”
“I’m just saying you’re not exactly one to hang out with the pack.
You’re kind of a lone wolf and enjoy it that way.
You maybe wouldn’t like having a bunch of extra responsibility.
You and I’d maybe get along better if you weren’t feeling the pressure from your dad and brother to become second.
” He uncrosses his arms and shoves one hand into his pocket.
Danger? My wolf questions.
Neil scrubs his other hand down his face. “I just wish I’d get to know my nephew better is all.”
Suspicion plagues me, but I want to get out of here and back to stalking Leticia. I can’t exactly do that while holed up in this cache all day.
“Maybe some other time, Uncle Neil. I’ve got a busy schedule today.” I wave the clipboard a little. “I’m almost done with this, and I’ll be out of your way.”
“Alright, I’m going to go make a cup of coffee.” He pushes off the racking. “But, Royal. I can count on you if something were to happen?”
“Like what?” I furrow my brow, pinning him with my question. I set down the clipboard and pen and grab the next gun I need for the order.
“Like something happens with a buyer. You’d have my back just as much as you’d have Valor’s?” Uncle Neil says Valor’s name like it’s distasteful in his mouth.
Now my hackles rise. The wolf inside me is still on edge and ready to move.
I square my shoulders and think through the movements for the easiest access to a loaded firearm. My ankle holster or managing a magazine from the table next to me. “I have always done my duty to our pack. I don’t know why anyone would question that.”
“No reason.” He turns his back on me and heads toward the kitchen. “Want a cup?”
“No, I’m good.” I watch him go, and when he’s stepped through the door into the house, I snatch a magazine off the table next to me, load it into the gun in my hand, and set it down on the table pointed toward the door.
Something isn’t right. But I don’t know what it is. I try to soothe the angry wolf within me. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Uncle Neil has always been weird.
We’ll tell Valor anyway. My wolf urges me to grab my phone and text Valor right now. But with Kerrianne shopping with Antonella, he’s already stressed out about security. Adding worry about Uncle Neil would probably boil my older brother’s brain.
I give up taking stock of the munitions inventory and just grab the gear for the mercenary. Before Neil’s coffee is even done brewing, I’ve loaded the gear into the back of my SUV and am pulling out onto the road.
It’s not until I’m sure no one is following me that I even dare look at my phone.
Leticia:
I just got you the best gift ever. It’s so good that if you don’t want it, I’m stealing it. Not actually. I bought one for myself too.
What’s hers is ours and ours is hers. My wolf is so possessively obsessed over her that he shrugs off the earlier rage and moves right into doting on her.
Royal:
I do believe that means we’ve crossed into another level of friendship.
#twinning
I’m early when I pull up in front of Mom and Dad’s house. I was going to take a more thorough inventory to kill time, but it doesn’t matter. The merc is also early. He’s sitting in a work truck decked out as a plumber and septic services.
Pressing the button, I raise the garage door and pull into my usual parking spot. Mom and Dad’s house is too far from the road for anyone to see down the long, curvy driveway, so I don’t bother closing the garage door for privacy.
“You must be Royal?” the mercenary asks, leaning against his truck. “Is it true what they say about you?”
“They say a lot of things.” I shrug and open the back of my SUV.
“Fair enough.” He approaches and looks in at the weaponry. “You really don’t mess around when hiring new contractors, do you?”
“We’ve found it’s in our best interest to hire the best and brightest and then make sure we’ve got the best tools for them to use.” I lean against the garage doorframe. “I take it this is to your standard?”
He picks up the rifle from where it lies in the back of the SUV and shoulders it, looking down the barrel. “What do you offer for scopes?”
“Check the black box on the left. I brought you four options. I’m not the most familiar with them, but those are our most popular requests.” I enjoy the way his eyes light up as he lifts the lid on the box.
He picks up the second most expensive one. “I had one of these when I served with the special forces. I didn’t know they made these anymore.”
“They don’t.” I fight back a yawn forced through from my wolf as he releases tension from the interaction with Uncle Neil. “We were able to obtain a large final shipment before they went out of business. It’s not an unlimited supply, so treat it kindly, but they’re available.”
“For a price.” He unnecessarily finishes for me while tucking the rifle into a case.
“Exactly.” I watch as he looks over the different rounds I’ve brought for him to sample.
“Valor said you’re the tech genius. They just let you meet with mercs alone?” He isn’t threatening me, but the confusion is genuine. “Most tech guys don’t know a butt from a barrel.”
“I may be of most service behind a keyboard, but don’t mistake me for nonthreatening.
We’re all predators here.” I smile and then use the same line I’ve heard Valor use when talking to new mercenaries when they come to work for us.
“As I said before, we hire the best and the brightest. You wouldn’t be smart to kill me over barely ten grand in equipment.
Unless you’re admitting to not being all that smart. ”
The genuine laugh that comes from him is a little shocking. He goes back to looking over the equipment. “What they say is true, then? You have enough weapons to take down a small government?”
“If there is something you want, there is always a way to get it.” I don’t entertain what our warehouses have to offer.
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Leticia? My wolf demands I take it out to look.
And because I’m trying to be nonchalant with him, I do.
Leticia:
I’ll be home alone this evening. If you wanted to have another Late Nite Byte session, that’d be cool. Totally understand if not.
Our mate wants us. My wolf wags his tail, practically bouncing for joy.
“You don’t know what my first assignment is?” The mercenary draws my attention back.
I pocket my phone before answering. “Not my job. You’ll receive secured communications between three and thirty days in advance for consultations and seven days in advance for direct orders.”
“I was hoping for something more . . . express,” he mumbles.
“I’ll let them know you’re hoping to get your feet wet earlier rather than later,” I say to appease him, despite knowing it won’t matter. The jobs are assigned based on skill and expertise.
“Thanks.” He nods, looking over the last of what’s left in the back of the SUV, a couple of handguns.
“You’re the one who does the M-9 mods?” He indicates where the aftermarket hardware has been installed.
I nod, feeling frustrated with how long this is taking. I want to get back to stalking Leticia.
It takes ten more minutes before he’s loaded the equipment into his truck and is driving down the road toward the gate.
I don’t wait for him to clear it before heading into the house.
“Oh, Royal,” Mom calls before I make it to the stairs to my lair.
“Yes?” I bite back a groan because she doesn’t deserve my bad attitude.
“Your father and I are going out for dinner tonight. Did you want to come?” she calls from the living room.
“Depends.” I walk over to the living room entryway and give her a smile but stop when I see her sitting on the living room floor with a wild number of objects scattered around her. “What are you doing?”
“Oh! I’m preparing my robot for battle.” She thrusts a fork into the air for emphasis.
“That’s a vacuum.” I point to a pretty standard robot vacuum, clearly not fit for any sort of battling.
“Yes, Dad and I are having a battle. I’m getting some practice in. I’m going to kick his ass.” She seems so proud of herself that I nod along in her excitement.
“Dinner is where tonight?” I ask, knowing that, unless it’s my absolute favorite restaurant, nothing will keep me from leaving the basement where I can watch Leticia on high-def screens.
“Ellery’s,” she answers while picking up a hot glue gun.
“Just bring me back a half-roast duck?” It pains me to watch her hot glue a switchblade to the robot vacuum, but I stand here nonetheless.
“And sweet potato fries?” Mom asks, looking up. Her gray hair falls into her face, and she’s quick to brush it away with her free hand.
“Yes, please.” I turn around before I’m forced to watch her create more of this Frankenstein’s monster robot.
I know it’s probably against the rules to ask me for help, but it almost feels like an insult to not be included.