CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I lifted a fist covered in dried blood and banged on the door. “I know you can hear me!”
My teeth ground together in anger. Rune had planned this and hadn’t told me.
I pounded on the door again and jumped from foot to foot to release energy.
The front door finally swung open to Poppy’s house.
Alaric stood in the doorway in just his boxer briefs, scratching his chest, and yawning. “I wondered when you would show up.”
I barged inside, pushing against his solid frame. I grabbed the door and slammed it shut behind me, my eyes swinging to his. I growled, “Do you know where Rune is right now?”
He tilted his wrist and glanced down at his bracelet. “By now? He should be in processing for lock-up.”
I threw my hands in the air. “What the hell happened tonight?”
“Is there a certain place you want me to start?”
“The beginning.” I snarled.
He scratched at his chest again and rested his shoulder against the front door. “In the beginning, God created—”
I kicked him squarely in the shin. “Don’t mess with me right now.”
His mouth curved up. “You’re protective of him already. That’s excellent.”
A sharp finger point. “I’m about to lose it.”
He sighed heavily, and began, “After Rune had met you at the bar, he had the CA dig a file up on you. Since you enlisted in the CA recently, they had it readily on hand. Rune had Wolfe hack into your father’s bracelet immediately. Your father’s been watching you and bugging your apartment. While Rune was over there, he got rid of the bug. He knew it would tip off your father—especially because your father received a picture of the two of you together.
“We planned something a little different, but then Mr. Valentine kidnapped us and shot that plan to hell. So we went with the boxing idea, planting fake stats in the system. Again, Rune knew this would tip your father off even more. Since we were watching his transmissions, we knew his plans tonight.”
I gradually shut my mouth, my thoughts swirling with all this information. “Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he wanted you to act natural tonight.” His head cocked. “Did you?”
“Um…yes.” A blush formed on my cheeks, heating my skin. I had been thoroughly frightened for Rune. “I still don’t understand why he would let himself get arrested.”
“Three reasons there.” He yawned while eyeing my flushed cheeks. “One: Your father has recently come up on our radar. He’s starting to snoop around shifters. We wanted him to see, and believe, we could be taken down easily—and tell his associates that. Nothing out of the ordinary. And, two: We wanted to know who the CA soldiers were on his payroll. And last, three: Rune will be released in the morning, no charges filed. We want your father to see that although we may be physically normal, we have power—and tell his associates that. The corporate heads aren’t to be fucked with in the judicial system.”
I swallowed, my eyes wide. “You planned this to perfection.”
Alaric smirked. “Rune really wants to take that bastard down.”
My brows lifted. “So what’s his actual strategy now?”
He chewed on the inside of his lip, hesitating and eyeing me. “I’m not supposed to tell you.”
“Alaric!”
“What? He wants to tell you.” He shrugged. “He’s very pleased with himself.”
“He came up with this all on his own?” I blinked in amazement.
“That would be correct. He just needed the leg work done by Wolfe.”
“Goddamn,” I breathed. “How did he manage that?”
“He’s a great hunter. It’s what he does best.”
I snorted. “He told me that once. Then I found his ass up in the air searching for mice.”
Alaric choked, then pounded on his chest with a meaty fist. “I won’t tell him you told me that. Even if it’s brilliant blackmail material.”
“It would have been better if I’d taken a picture.”
Instant. “Did you?”
I shook my head. “I was too busy staring at his ass.”
Alaric snorted. “You guys are a perfect match, even if you haven’t figured that out yet.”
I groaned, catching sight of the blood coating my body. “I’m a damn mess. I need to get back so I can get some sleep before heading for the jail in the morning.”
“How did you get here?”
“I took a train. It’s still out there.”
He asked…carefully, “Are you good to get back?”
“I’m not completely broke yet.” I rolled my eyes and trudged back to the door. “What time will they release him?”
“Seven o’clock. Enough time so we aren’t late to the funeral.” He opened the door for me. “I’m going to the jail too. Do you want me to pick you up?”
“Sure. I will be broke if I have to keep taking trains everywhere.”
He chuckled behind me. “Rune will take care of you.”
“But it is nice to take care of myself,” I grumbled. “See you in the morning.”
“Safe travels, Megan.”
The man watched me march all the way back to the train.
Protective didn’t even begin to describe this group.
* * *
“I’m free, bitches!” Rune threw his arms wide and sauntered down the rock stairs to the sidewalk, the front of the intimidating jail his backdrop. “I know you guys missed me.”
Alaric picked at his nails, his voice dry. “It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “This is one of those times you owe me an apology. I was worried sick.”
Rune hopped down the last step and enveloped me in his arms, his embrace warm, strong, and steady. He inhaled deeply against the top of my head, and whispered quietly, “I’m sorry, beautiful. I didn’t like frightening you. That was the worst part of the plan.”
Reluctantly, I uncrossed my arms and decided to hug him back. Our bodies aligned, and I sighed in sweet pleasure. “I get it. I do. That doesn’t mean I had to like it.”
“I know.” Another kiss on top of my head. “I know.”
With shock coating his tone, Alaric choked, “Did you just apologize?”
Rune tilted his face to eye his friend and rested his cheek on top of my head. “I think you heard wrong, man.” A tiny growl erupted from his chest…and it wasn’t human. That was all black panther.
I froze inside his hold but gradually relaxed as his strong hands rubbed my back in slow circles.
Alaric’s features blanked. But his voice was still garbled. “You’re right. Didn’t hear anything.”
I pushed at his head and waited for him to lean up. My eyes found his, my words sincere. “Thank you for taking on my father.”
Golden eyes softened. “You’re welcome, beautiful.”
I stood on tiptoe, and he obliged by bending down. I kissed him.
He grinned against my mouth. “Remind me to be more gallant. I like the results.”
I nipped at his bottom lip. Softly.
Alaric cleared his throat, much too loudly. “Hate to break up the reunion, but we do have somewhere to be in an hour.”
Rune sobered immediately, his brows lowering as he placed his forehead against mine. He whispered—so quietly, “I don’t want to do this.”
This time, Alaric didn’t make a rude comment. In fact, he turned away and gave us privacy as he trudged up the iron stairs to his train. He stated over his shoulder, “I have your suit inside. You can change on the way there.”
My fingers tightened on the back of his shirt. With our eyes only an inch apart, I held his agonized gaze. There were no real words to say to him. Nothing helps when you lose a best friend.
So I held him even closer and didn’t look away.