Theo spent all day trying to decipher the damn flash drive, even inventing new computer programs on the spot. Chalton checked in on the phone several times, also working the problem from his place.
Ginny worked on her own laptop across the small table, blushing several times throughout the day.
Theo let her work through her feelings, finally settling back in his chair at the kitchen table, his gaze on her. She was squirming a little in her seat, and he bit back a grin. “Sore?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. By the way, what was up with the spanking?”
It was fun listening to modern slang in her old-fashioned brogue. “Don’t put yourself in danger by robbing Realm banks, darlin’.” Plus, she’d liked it.
She snorted. “This isn’t a Lexi Blake novel, damn it. Keep your hands to yourself.”
“You don’t mean that,” he said, letting the smile loose. They’d mated. They should probably talk about that, but it was more important they lived until the next day. He sobered. It was time to get serious. “The meet is tonight at midnight.”
“I know,” she said, glancing down at the ankle monitor, her jaw tightening.
Theo grabbed her phone off the counter, scrolled through the contacts, and dialed one. “Saul?” he asked, his voice a low rumble. “I’ve mated Ginny, which means you have no chance. Now tell me where to meet you, and I’ll give you the flash drive in exchange for you removing the anklet and letting her father go.” He pressed the speaker button and put the phone on the table.
She opened her mouth to argue, and Theo held up a hand. “Trust me,” he mouthed. They couldn’t let Saul know they’d figured out he could hear them.
Her frown didn’t hold a hell of a lot of trust. More irritation, really.
“Theo, how lovely to hear your voice,” Saul said, his tone even more nasally than before. “I have to say, I think Ginny could’ve done a lot better.”
Ginny’s face blazed a bright red.
Theo bit back irritation. “I think my mate is going to insist I gut you for that. Here I thought we’d reach an agreement like reasonable men.” There was nothing reasonable about the way he was feeling. His hand itched to go for his knife. “Saul, where shall I meet you with the flash drive my mate stole from you yesterday?” Yeah. He’d said my mate twice.
“What flash drive?” Saul said. “Oh, the one planted in the Realm bank? There’s nothing on it but a new encryption program I’m developing.”
Theo arched an eyebrow at Ginny, who shrugged. “I’m not buying it. I bet I’ll have it cracked by tonight,” he said.
“Irrelevant,” Saul said. “Here’s the deal. I want Ginny and the Benjamin file at the meet. Not you. Not your brothers—assuming Jared survived last night. He wasn’t moving after the explosion, now was he?”
The bastard had had cameras watching them. Theo forced a bored tone into his voice. “Dude, it’s Jared. He’s fine and now thirsting for your blood. You know. It’s a normal Tuesday for him.”
“If she’s not alone, I kill her father,” Saul said, his voice rising imperceptibly.
Theo moved to stop her from speaking, or to comfort her, but she stared at him calmly. Oh, sometimes even he forgot what a badass she could be. “It goes without saying, and yet I’m saying it anyway. If you hurt Elroy in any way, I’ll hunt you to the end of my days. For sport.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Rumor has it I have a knack for hunting.”
Saul audibly swallowed. “I want the file, Theo.”
“Why?” Theo eyed the program running rapidly across his screen. “It’s just family information. Some land ownings, other stocks, some secrets but nothing all that interesting.”
“Oh, Theo.” Saul chuckled, low and loud. “I know what’s in there. The Green Rock file.”
Fuck on motherfucker. Theo tensed but kept his voice level. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.” How had word gotten out, especially to a fucking shifter like Saul? Shit. Even if Theo somehow kept the file under wraps, he’d have to tell Chalton. Just so his brother had a heads-up. “You’re inventing rumors.”
“You know I’m not. I know about the file, and I want it. In addition to the rest of the information on Benny and the family. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t come for your head yet,” Saul said.
Oh, Benny was on his way, probably with his knife already sharpened. Or sword. Benny did love his swords. “Ben is family. That trumps everything.” Theo shook his head at Ginny’s inquisitive look. Benny would easily slice off Theo’s head if given the opportunity. The guy really did see things in black and white, and sometimes family became too much of a pain in the ass for him.
“Tell Ginny I want her at midnight. I’m tired of dicking around here, Theo. Either she brings the flash drive or I’m letting the anklet finally do its job. Your mating is too new to protect her from the planekite, so I have to strike now before she can survive it. Tell the bitch she should’ve mated me.” Saul clicked off.
“He is such a complete dick,” Ginny said, glaring at the anklet.
Theo tensed for Saul to push whatever button he used, but nothing happened. Maybe the guy wanted Ginny at full strength for the night? Or maybe he didn’t want to tip his hand that he could hear them. Sick asshole.
Theo’s phone rang, and he glanced at it, seeing the queen’s face on the screen. “Hello, Emma,” he said by way of greeting, walking out of the room so Saul couldn’t hear whatever was said. He gave Ginny a calm smile as he left, but she didn’t look much reassured.
“Hello. Why is Saul Libscombe going through back channels to reach me about Virus-27?” Emma said, her voice short. “I asked Dage, and he told me to give you a call.”
Damn it. Theo’s chest filled. “I assume Saul wants to try and negate the mating bond I just formed with Ginny O’Toole last night.” The virus could negate a mating bond if one’s mate was dead, but it hadn’t been attempted in a living mate yet. So Saul still had plans for Ginny. Yeah. Theo was going to have to kill him. “Hey, how did Dage know about the mating?”
“He’s the king,” Emma said simply, her voice already distracted. “I’ll make sure Saul doesn’t get his hands on the virus. Say hi to Ginny for me.” She ended the call.
Theo lifted his shirt to look at the perfect swirls of a Celtic knot right over his heart. Ginny had marked him but good. He smiled and turned to head back into the kitchen, where he arched an eyebrow. “You know the queen?”
A small smile played along Ginny’s mouth. “I may have done a job or two for her through the years. Stealing proprietary information she could use in her work. Maybe.”
Jesus. Sometimes the woman really caught him off guard. He grinned. Yeah, he liked that.
The front door opened, followed by footsteps as his brothers moved into the living room. Theo winked at Ginny and grabbed his laptop, motioning for her to stay in the kitchen. They had to keep Saul out of this plan. She blew a kiss at him as he left, warming his entire body.
He could feel the goofy smile on his face as he approached his brothers, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“Jesus. You mated. I can smell her on you.” Jared clapped him on the back, a smile creasing his wide face. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.” Theo glanced at Chalton, who was grinning. “What?”
“Nothing. Just congrats.” Chalton unpacked computer equipment and sat on the sofa. “I’ve figured out and have hacked into the anklet. The only way we can get it off her is to deactivate Saul’s controller. Otherwise, the thing will explode and release enough planekite in her blood to kill her.”
Theo sat on the leather chair and motioned for Jared to take the other one. “So, I didn’t want to tell you this, but included in the Benjamin file is a series of data called the Green Rock file.”
Jared groaned. “I thought we destroyed all of that information.”
Chalton stiffened. “What’s the Green Rock file?”
Theo searched for the right words. “Benny couldn’t destroy the information because parties on the other side have it. It’s a mutual opportunity for everyone to be protected from extortion and blackmail.” He’d agreed with Benny. “But here’s the deal. Ah, during the war, Benny might have, well he did, ah—”
“Jesus. What?” Chalton snapped, his angled face losing his normal calm expression.
“Benny collaborated with the demons. Before they became allies with the Realm. When they were, ah, killing vampires and kidnapping members of the Kayrs ruling family.” Theo leaned back and waited for Chalton to lose his mind. He was close with the Kayrs family. Very.
Chalton paled. “Are you telling me that Benny helped facilitate the kidnapping of Jase Kayrs? My friend and the king’s brother? The one who was tortured nearly to death and took forever to return to any normal life?” Chalton’s voice darkened dangerously.
Maybe Theo should worry about Benny and not Chalton right now. “No. Benny had nothing to do with kidnapping Jase. But he did procure and deliver weapons to demon contacts during the war, some which may have been used against the Realm and to, ah, kidnap Jase.”
“Damn it,” Chalton said.
“We’ll get the flash drive back,” Theo said, determination filling his chest. “It can be our secret.”
“Secrets get out.” Chalton took his phone from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table next to the laptop.
Jared shook his head, his dark gaze on the phone like it might blow up. “Bro, I don’t know Dage Kayrs like you do, considering you’ve worked with him for a century and I basically just met the guy. But I have heard all about him. Family is what he cares about. He’ll kill all of us for even being associated with anybody who’d harmed his younger brother. Think about this.”
Theo swallowed. “Agreed.”
“I don’t lie to my friends,” Chalton said, watching his phone. “It’s not who I am.” He punched a couple of buttons on his phone and then turned toward the large flat screen over the fireplace, hacking it instantly to bring up a call to the king of the Realm.
Dage took shape, wearing a long black shirt with dark pants, his dark hair ruffled and his silver eyes curious. “Chalton? What’s up?”
Chalton stood.
Theo faltered for a moment and then moved to stand next to his brother. Jared took point on the other side.
Dage lifted an eyebrow. “This is interesting.”
Chalton nodded. “Not really. Information has come into my possession regarding my family’s businesses, and more specifically, something called the Green Rock file.”
“Oh, that.” Dage waved a hand. “Benny and Ivan, you know the guy who owns Igor’s, that bar downtown?”
Theo swallowed. “Yes. Ivan named the bar after his deceased brother.”
“Yep. Benny and Ivan had a small business running weapons. Worked with the demons, the shifters, and sometimes even with us. I found out about it and gave Benny a deal he couldn’t refuse.” Dage’s canines glinted. “He’s a fun guy.”
Chalton’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “You knew about the Green Rock file?”
“Don’t make me say it.” Dage grinned. “The king, here. Besides, why didn’t you just ask Ginny about the Green Rock file?”
Theo stilled. The blood rushed through his ears, ringing loudly. “Ginny?” he croaked.
Dage’s forehead wrinkled, and delight darkened the silver in his eyes. “Oh. Well. Hmmm.” He glanced to the side. “Coming,” he called out loudly.
“Nobody just yelled for you,” Theo countered. “Tell me—”
“Nope,” the king said cheerfully. “My regards to your mate.” The screen went black.
Theo lifted his head. “Ginny?” he bellowed.
Before she could respond, the front door crashed open, and a fully armed vampire dressed in combat gear stomped inside, fury on his face, his size eighteen boots cracking the tiles as he stomped.
Ah, shit. Theo sighed. “Hi, Uncle Benny.”
“Goddamn it. Don’t uncle me. I’m going to kill you motherfuckers.” Benny, his eyes a swirling mass of different metallic colors, lifted a green gun and pointed it at them.
Ginny moved in from the kitchen, and Theo leaped to cover her.
Her face brightened in a smile. “Benjamin!” Taking a leap, she rushed him, jumping for a hug.
The massive vampire dropped his gun and caught her, swinging her around. “Ginny, girl. You sweetheart. What are you doing here?” He seemed to forget all about Theo and his brothers.
Theo moved forward, his mind spinning and his chest heating. His woman had some serious explaining to do. “Put my mate down, Benny.”
Benny gently set Ginny on her feet as if handling fine china, his face falling. “You mated him?”
She nodded, her dimple twinkling. “You disappointed?”
“Yes,” Benny said, his body relaxing and his full lips turning down. “Now I probably can’t kill him.” He paused, his eyebrows lifting. “Right?”