Chapter Eighteen – Jacob

They followed Brad over to Bear Bluff Hospital. After parking their cars, they headed inside to be met by Jacob’s brother Kit.

“We have your fake patient in a room on the second floor. One of the orderlies volunteered, so we’ve bandaged him up. There is also a room next door where you can set up your equipment.” Kit kept looking at Avery. Of course, Jacob had broken the news to his mom that he’d found his mate. The news had spread. In truth, Jacob had been half-worried that all of his family would have been here at the hospital to meet her.

“Thanks, Kit,” Brad said, as they all headed to the elevator, the sheriff keeping a firm hold on Joe. “Joe, you know what your job is. If we don’t get an admission from Chief Banner, then the deal is off.”

“I get it,” Joe said acidly. “I just want this thing over with, and that bastard to pay for getting me into this.”

“You made a choice to be a dealer, Joe. You can’t blame anyone else.” Brad punched the button to call the elevator, and they all stood patiently waiting for it to arrive, except Joe who shuffled his feet nervously.

“Kit, this is Avery.” Jacob introduced his mate to his brother. At least it might stop Kit from staring.

“Hi, Avery. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to meet finally you. I thought my brother was going to end up on the mountain like Wyatt, all alone.”

“No, my backup plan was to move in with you and Suzie. So you could look after me in my old age.” Jacob grinned at his brother.

“Always room under my roof,” Kit said coolly.

“You say that now that you know it’s never going to happen.” Jacob took Avery’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly as the elevator doors opened.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Avery teased him, “if I get bored of you, I might kick you out.” His hand tensed around hers and she gave a small laugh. “With those big puppy dog eyes and those dimples, I might be persuaded to keep you.”

“I like this woman. She’s smart and not afraid to sass you.” Kit grinned, and Jacob experienced a wave of relief: Avery was going to fit in with his family. Just fine.

Kit pressed the button to take them to the second floor, and they all stood in relative silence for the short ride. When the doors opened, Kit showed them to the rooms set aside for the investigation. “I’ll have reception buzz you when your Chief Banner arrives.”

“Thanks, Kit, much appreciated,” Brad said.

“No problem. Glad to be of help.” Kit walked off and the rest of them entered a hospital room, where a man lay in bed, his face heavily bandaged.

“OK, we have to set up the camera and a mic. Then I’m going to uncuff you, Joe. If you run, you know I’ll hunt you down.” Brad’s voice held an open threat.

“I get it.” Joe stood by the bed while Brad, with the help of the others, hooked up a wireless camera that fed a live feed to a laptop in the room next door. It was good to be doing something while the time ticked away, and the trap they had laid for Chief Banner grew near to fruition.

“We’re good to go,” Lonnie called from the next room.

Brad looked at his watch. “It’s time. Joe, you sit by the side of the bed, and I do not want your ass to leave it until Chief Banner arrives. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” Joe sat in the chair but looked mutinous.

“You have one shot at this, no second chances.” Brad pointed his finger at Joe as if he were scolding a child, then he signaled them to all clear the room.

Waiting for Chief Banner to arrive was tense; they couldn’t talk above a whisper, in case Chief Banner somehow found his way up here without tipping off reception. If he heard too many voices from the room, he might realize he was walking into a trap.

The time ticked by and they waited, the tension rising, so that when the phone finally rang, they all jumped and then stared at it. Brad lifted the receiver and spoke briefly to the reception desk. “He’s on his way.”

There was silence in the room as Brad checked the live feed, and then they waited. When the door opened into the room where fake Manny and Joe were, they all turned as one to catch a look at the chief’s face.

“That him?” Brad asked.

“Yes,” Avery replied.

“Good, let’s get this wound up. Come on, Joe, do your job.” Brad leaned in to watch the screen; the others leaned in to listen to the audio, which was turned down low.

Jacob could almost reach out and touch the tension in the room. He’d never been part of a police sting like this. His life, his job, out on the open mountains was a hell of a lot less stressful. However, the situation fascinated him. He’d seen this kind of thing on TV, but he always suspected it was made up. The scene in front of him was real life.

“Joe, what the fuck is going on?” Chief Banner asked as he closed the door securely behind him.

“We got attacked by a bear.” Joe had been instructed to keep it short and simple.

“Where are the drugs?” the chief asked.

“I stowed them in the hotel room.” Joe was good at lying.

“Your fucking hotel room!” Chief Banner shook his head. “What if someone finds them? What if the maid accidentally trips over them?”

“I couldn’t bring them here,” Joe replied.

“Go get them.” Chief Banner’s manner was intimidating, and Joe sunk back in his chair.

“What happens if I do?” Joe asked.

“I let you live. If you are lucky.” Chief Banner looked at fake Manny. “Although I might put him out of his misery. This is going to raise too many questions.”

“You’re going to kill him?” Joe asked, fear and realization in his voice.

“What’s it to you? I’ll find you another partner.”

“You want to carry on with the drug smuggling, even after this?” Joe pointed to fake Manny.

“Yeah, and the only reason you’re going to keep breathing is because you are useful to me.” Chief Banner shook his head. “And to think you are related to me.”

“The eagle got hit too.” Joe had been told to say this, even though he didn’t believe in shifters.

“Fuck.” Chief Banner put his head in his hands. “That fucking idiot Mike, he said he could handle this, he said the bears up here wouldn’t interfere, that they keep out of the way of hikers. We’ll move the transfer point. One of my officers has gotten too close anyway. I’ve dealt with him for now, but I need to cover my tracks. And deal with the collateral damage.”

“Who is Mike?” Joe asked as the chief made his way toward the bed.

Chief Banner shot him a quick glance. “Pet bird’s name.”

“Right. I think we have everything we need,” Brad said to no one in particular.

“We don’t need for Chief Banner to actually have the drugs in his hands?” Jacob asked.

“No, Chief Banner’s admission on camera, plus Joe’s statement is enough. Along with his knowledge of Mike.” Brad stood up. “Lonnie, Avery, do you want to do the honors?”

“I’ll back you,” Avery told Lonnie as they made their way out of the room.

“Thanks, Avery.” Lonnie burst into the room, and tackled Chief Banner, who had a pillow in his hand and was about to put it over fake Manny’s face.

Jacob watched as Lonnie arrested Chief Banner, who kept repeating it was all a mistake, and he would see Lonnie never worked on the force again.

“We have you, Chief,” Lonnie spat. “You’re a scourge on the force, but I would not like to be you when you go to jail.” He hauled the chief to his feet. “And I am going to make sure you go to jail for a long time.”

Brad led Joe from the room, and Lonnie followed, a smile on his face and a set of handcuffs on Chief Banner’s wrists. Avery’s dad followed behind, while Harrison packed away all the equipment with help from Jacob.

“You’ve got a good man there, Avery.” Her dad stood outside the room while Lonnie walked to the elevator. Jacob tried not to listen, but he couldn’t help overhearing. “Lonnie’s not the only one who’s going to be leaving Holloway County, is he?”

“No, Dad.” Avery looked down at the ground. “Are you disappointed?”

“Why would I be?” her dad asked.

“Because you always wanted me to follow in your footsteps. To go to the top.” Avery risked a look at her dad.

He shook his head. “Sweetheart, I always wanted you to be happy. I didn’t care if you joined the force or fell in love and had ten kids. I love your mom, I love her softness. If you had chosen the same path as her, I would have been equally as proud.”

“I didn’t know that,” Avery admitted, and her voice made Jacob want to go to her and hold her tight. But he kept working, taking down the camera from where it had been hidden among the spare bedding.

“Well, now you do.” He hugged her tight, just like he had when she was a girl. “You are a part of both of us. The hard and the soft. The yin and the yang. Whatever you choose, we will always be proud, and we will always love you.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Avery kissed his cheek. “You should go, Lonnie is waiting.”

“God job today, Avery.” Her dad gave her a wink and walked stiffly away, his stick tapping on the ground.

Avery watched him go, and walked over to Jacob, who was just finishing up. “Are you OK?” he asked, and she nodded. “It’s over.”

“It is.” She smiled up at him. “But then the next case begins, and the next.”

“Does that mean you are going back to Holloway County?”

Avery shook her head. “I’m ready for a change of scenery. A slower pace of life.”

“So, you’ll move to Bear Creek?” He tried to keep the excitement from his voice.

“I might be persuaded. For the right offer.” She looked up at him through her eyelashes, looking younger, softer, more relaxed.

Jacob dropped down on one knee. What else was a guy to do? “Will you marry me, Avery? Although I don’t have a ring. Yet.”

Avery’s hand flew to her mouth. “That was not the kind of offer I was expecting.”

“We’re meant to be together. It’s fate.”

Avery sighed, and placed her hand under his chin, then she leaned down and kissed his lips. “I suppose, if it’s fate.”

“That’s a yes.” Jacob asked hopefully.

Avery pulled back from him, seeing his wide grin. Then she kissed his dimples, and finally said, “It is a yes. I seem to have lost my heart to a mountain ranger.”

Jacob stood up and wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug. “I love you, Avery. And I intend to make sure you know it for the rest of our lives.”

“You know, I still have a couple of days’ vacation left.”

“I know just the place for us to spend it.”

“On the mountain?” Avery asked.

“No, in bed.” Jacob took her hand and led her out of the hospital. They would have to go back to the police station first, and then spend some time with Lonnie and Avery’s dad, and then…

Hell, that could all wait, his first priority would always be to his mate. It was his job to cater to her every desire. Her every pleasure. Starting right now.