if necessary, but I want no more Garcia blood spilled over the matter.”
Not something Cassius could guarantee him. “Did you know he was here?”
“No. When I sent Roberto home he didn’t mention his brother was here. I have to hope he did not know. I accept my son made choices I do not agree with and I accept that he is dead, but I will give no more of my children to this war, Cassius. Kill me if you have to make a point.” Defeat left his old friend pale, and lesser in so many ways. “Please allow me the opportunity to save them from themselves.”
He meant every word. Honesty rang in his voice and underscored his scent. Deception embedded in truth didn’t sound like a lie, yet it cut deeper. No matter their history, he couldn’t afford to trust Jose. “You’ll come, but you won’t drive and you won’t be in charge of their security.”
The last part of their convoy arrived on the heels of his statement—seven Hunters he’d sent for once he began the trek to meet the Omega. Their bikes rumbled in, trailing the big rigs navigated by Quinteros’ people.
Shaken, Jose bowed his head. “As you wish, Alpha.”
The Hunters peeled away from the trucks and roared toward him. Each of the seven, hand-picked by another Wolf, represented the best and brightest his pack had to offer. They also amounted to the only wolves he could trust with the particular task at hand.
“Trask,” he greeted the first wolf to park and dismount from his bike. From his broad shoulders to his balding pate, nothing about Trask suggested kindness or gentleness. He wore the scars of his service proudly, and his well-earned swagger declared his confidence in and out of battle. The big man clasped his hand in a fierce squeeze, then embraced him.
The hug Cassius shared with him had Jose retreating several steps, a wise move on his part considering his confession. “From the smell of it,” Trask said in a deep baritone. “You did not arrive in time to prevent the welcoming party from greeting your guests.”
“No,” Cassius agreed, releasing him with a hand clasp to his shoulder. “That is done. The dead will be sorted, and we need to get the Omega to Summit. Choose one of your men to leave his bike with the Quinteros, I need someone to drive Bianca and the child, Maddy, in Jose’s vehicle. Jose needs to ride with one of you as well.”
“Delroy,” Trask said, and snapped his fingers. “Get your bike to one of the trucks for delivery then escort the healer.”
“Yes, sir.” The wolf in questions saluted before he rode his bike away.
“JoJo, give Garcia a lift.” He didn’t hesitate or question why Cassius needed it done. “Anything else?”
“Guard the SUV while I wash up. We ride in five minutes.” He pointed the wolves toward the Omega’s vehicle, and Trask deployed them. Within seconds, four bikes took up cardinal positions. Leaving them to the job, he grabbed a duffel from his saddlebags, then strode toward the public restroom. Trask and his men had been recruited by Claire Webster—maybe befriended was a better term—during her tenure in Sutter Butte. They adored her, and she’d more than earned their loyalty. Before she returned to Willow Bend, she’d facilitated a meeting between her people and Cassius. In one clever move, she’d asked him to protect them and for them to follow him. The smart woman would have been perfect to help him accomplish the next part of his goals…
In the bathroom, he rinsed the blood from his hands and face. His jacket had taken the brunt of it, but it would clean up later. Stripping away the blood-soaked shirt, he tossed it in the other sink. It would have to be burned. Running the water again, he rinsed his hair then washed under his armpits. What he wanted was time for a shower, a cold beer and a real meal. He’d get none of those until Sovvan was safely installed at Summit behind a hundred of his best fighters.
After slicking his wet hair back from his face, he withdrew
Not something Cassius could guarantee him. “Did you know he was here?”
“No. When I sent Roberto home he didn’t mention his brother was here. I have to hope he did not know. I accept my son made choices I do not agree with and I accept that he is dead, but I will give no more of my children to this war, Cassius. Kill me if you have to make a point.” Defeat left his old friend pale, and lesser in so many ways. “Please allow me the opportunity to save them from themselves.”
He meant every word. Honesty rang in his voice and underscored his scent. Deception embedded in truth didn’t sound like a lie, yet it cut deeper. No matter their history, he couldn’t afford to trust Jose. “You’ll come, but you won’t drive and you won’t be in charge of their security.”
The last part of their convoy arrived on the heels of his statement—seven Hunters he’d sent for once he began the trek to meet the Omega. Their bikes rumbled in, trailing the big rigs navigated by Quinteros’ people.
Shaken, Jose bowed his head. “As you wish, Alpha.”
The Hunters peeled away from the trucks and roared toward him. Each of the seven, hand-picked by another Wolf, represented the best and brightest his pack had to offer. They also amounted to the only wolves he could trust with the particular task at hand.
“Trask,” he greeted the first wolf to park and dismount from his bike. From his broad shoulders to his balding pate, nothing about Trask suggested kindness or gentleness. He wore the scars of his service proudly, and his well-earned swagger declared his confidence in and out of battle. The big man clasped his hand in a fierce squeeze, then embraced him.
The hug Cassius shared with him had Jose retreating several steps, a wise move on his part considering his confession. “From the smell of it,” Trask said in a deep baritone. “You did not arrive in time to prevent the welcoming party from greeting your guests.”
“No,” Cassius agreed, releasing him with a hand clasp to his shoulder. “That is done. The dead will be sorted, and we need to get the Omega to Summit. Choose one of your men to leave his bike with the Quinteros, I need someone to drive Bianca and the child, Maddy, in Jose’s vehicle. Jose needs to ride with one of you as well.”
“Delroy,” Trask said, and snapped his fingers. “Get your bike to one of the trucks for delivery then escort the healer.”
“Yes, sir.” The wolf in questions saluted before he rode his bike away.
“JoJo, give Garcia a lift.” He didn’t hesitate or question why Cassius needed it done. “Anything else?”
“Guard the SUV while I wash up. We ride in five minutes.” He pointed the wolves toward the Omega’s vehicle, and Trask deployed them. Within seconds, four bikes took up cardinal positions. Leaving them to the job, he grabbed a duffel from his saddlebags, then strode toward the public restroom. Trask and his men had been recruited by Claire Webster—maybe befriended was a better term—during her tenure in Sutter Butte. They adored her, and she’d more than earned their loyalty. Before she returned to Willow Bend, she’d facilitated a meeting between her people and Cassius. In one clever move, she’d asked him to protect them and for them to follow him. The smart woman would have been perfect to help him accomplish the next part of his goals…
In the bathroom, he rinsed the blood from his hands and face. His jacket had taken the brunt of it, but it would clean up later. Stripping away the blood-soaked shirt, he tossed it in the other sink. It would have to be burned. Running the water again, he rinsed his hair then washed under his armpits. What he wanted was time for a shower, a cold beer and a real meal. He’d get none of those until Sovvan was safely installed at Summit behind a hundred of his best fighters.
After slicking his wet hair back from his face, he withdrew
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