I finally nodded toward Gareth, and he turned away.
Fuck you, too.
I went over to take a seat beside Aren, and Nadya sat next to me. Watching Adam, I tipped my head toward Gareth. “Why is he here?”
Adam’s gaze moved from his wolf to me again. “Gareth volunteered.”
That surprised me. I stared across the table at his dark, unreadable gaze. “You’ve made it plain from the beginning that this isn’t your problem, and since you’ve probably already realized Nadya is my younger sister, I want a team I can trust before we drop her into this mess.”
“Because of you, my Pack is in danger.” He leaned forward, resting his tattooed forearms on the table. “I’m the only one sitting at this table with nothing to lose when we face this guy. You don’t have to trust me, just stay the fuck out of my way.”
I shot out of my chair ready to rip the asshole a new one, but Nadya took my hand. “I trust Gareth, Sash.”
My brow creased as I struggled to process what she said. Her words sucked all the bravado out of my argument. I lowered slowly to my chair and shook my head. “He doesn’t want to be here. That’s not the kind of backup we need.”
Adam turned toward us. “I didn’t pull rank and make Gareth help us. He volunteered, and I trust him.”
Aren’s hand rested on my thigh. “Look, none of us have slept,” he said. “We’re all aware of what’s at stake. Fonthill is the enemy here, not anyone at this table.”
I watched Aren’s gaze glide across every person seated around the table. I placed my hand over his and gave him a squeeze. This was my mate, my partner. And he even had my back when I probably didn’t deserve it.
He cleared his throat. “We all want to end this quickly without drawing any public attention, so let’s focus on that for now. All right?”
Everyone started to nod, and Adam laid out his plan. Tomorrow was Sunday. The Sloan building would be closed, making it the perfect place to end Fonthill’s game without any unwanted onlookers. Plus, the bastard obviously knew where to find the building. If we were lucky, maybe he’d get there before Nadya, and we could end it without putting her in danger.
The plan would only work if Fonthill was already tracking Nadya. But after my run in with him at the rib place and his threat to take her away with him, my gut told me he’d probably already been watching her, waiting for the Pack to leave her unguarded. Hopefully he’d believe this was the chance he’d been waiting for.
We decided Lana and Nadya would go grocery shopping. It would seem like a normal Sunday activity, and without the Pack nearby, Fonthill might venture out to make contact.
Adam gestured to his mate. “Lana will be able to catch his scent, and I’ll be tailing them nearby, just in case Fonthill decides to make a move sooner than we’d like.”
“And I’ll be right there with you,” I said.
Adam bristled a little, but I didn’t give a shit. This was my sister, and I was confident I was a better shot than a werewolf, Alpha or not.
“I can handle it,” Adam responded, his gaze demanding obedience.
“I’m not a member of your Pack, and I’m going with you.”
I half expected Aren to jump in and defend his brother, but he remained silent beside me. Finally his twin relented. “I still don’t think it’s a good idea. Fonthill could go after you instead.”
I flexed my calf under the table, the holster gripped my leg. “Let him try.”
Chapter Forty-One
Aren
I took a swig of my lukewarm coffee, and it plummeted into my gut like a lead weight. I didn’t really need the caffeine. Adrenaline was my current drug of choice. Nothing about this plan sat well with me.
We were staked out on the second level of the underground parking garage of Sloan Consulting. There were only two forgotten cars in the lot, leaving us without many places to hide. Jared and Jason were back by the elevator with General Sloan, and Gareth retreated into the shadows. We left Luke and Logan at the ranch to guard the twins with the Pack elders.
It felt like we covered all of our bases, but I hated that Sasha was facing Fonthill without me. She could protect herself, it wasn’t that. It was the inability to help her and see what was happening. Worry festered inside my chest.
But she was counting on me to be here when they lured Fonthill in, so I’d be here, and I’d be ready.
The stale air reeked of exhaust, gasoline, and oil. Humans probably wouldn’t be bothered, but as a wolf, the stench was stifling.
I was itching for fresh air.
My cell phone signal was spotty at best here, so I found myself checking it often to be sure Sasha and Adam could contact me.
I could almost hear Sash in my head. “Keep your focus on the ramp from the first level. It’s the only entrance for Fonthill.”
I pocketed my phone and kept watch for any sign of movement. No wonder she did yoga. A job like this would drive me insane.
Chapter Forty-Two
Sasha
Slow breaths. It’d been almost an hour since my sister went through the double doors of the grocery store with Lana and still no sign of Fonthill.
“Dammit. The wind is picking up.”
I glanced at Adam, keeping my voice down. “Just keep watching for suspicious movement toward the doors.”
“You don’t get it.” Adam took a deep, slow breath and shook his head. “The wind works in his favor. As long as he stays upwind, I won’t be able to catch his scent, but he might get mine. By the time I see him it could be too late.”
A car door slammed to my left drawing my attention. There should be a car starting up or a person weaving through the parking lot to get to the store, but I didn’t see anyone.
“There they are,” Adam whispered.
Lana and Nadya walked out the automatic doors, and suddenly Fonthill bolted out from the parking lot. “Oh shit, he’s there!”
I motioned Adam forward and hustled through the cars, my heart in my throat. My only hope was that Fonthill didn’t know Adam and I were here.
“Fuck.” Adam growled beside me, ducked low on the driver’s side of a red SUV. “I didn’t think he’d risk making his move in such a busy place.”
“He’s being careful.” I watched him from my hiding spot. He walked right behind them, talking like they were friends. His hand was hidden behind my sister’s back. “No one else knows they’re in danger.”
I struggled to keep control of my emotions and dug deep for all my years of training. Giving in to panic wouldn’t help my sister or Lana.
“I never should have let Lana be a part of this.” Adam started to move and I grabbed his arm, yanking him back.
“This isn’t what we planned, but for now, they’re not hurt. If you blow our cover, I can guarantee you this will get physical fast.”
He jerked his arm free, but he didn’t make a move after Fonthill either. I crept along the side of the cars, keeping my sister in my line of sight. They walked right past Lana’s car. Fonthill’s had to be close by.
I jogged between cars, keeping low. The parking lights of a silver sedan flashed. Before I could move in that direction, Lana released the cart full of groceries, landed a solid elbow into Fonthill’s abdomen, and grunted. “Run, Nadya!”
Go time.
Adam and I bolted toward Lana and my sister. Fonthill shoved Lana to the ground and caught Nadya’s arm, dragging her in close.