Gabe entailed the whole story to them, complete with the financial records they’d gotten on Ben and Sarah.
“I would have advised any wolf in this situation to come to you, Jack. That is, before you became so close with Pellini. And now I fear that I can’t do that and that’s what led me to finally say something. We can’t have wolves feeling they can’t turn to National for help. It is my sincere belief that any association with Warren Pellini and the Pellini Group is dangerous for us all. If the humans find out about the existence of a werewolf mafia, we are all at risk.”
Templeton’s face was an emotionless mask. “Is that all you had to say?”
Gabe was taken aback. “Yes, sir. I’d hoped we could work something out to help get Pellini off the back of Ben Lawrence and his kids so they could make their lives elsewhere and also to reassure the other Packs that National wasn’t compromised.”
“You intended to sever your Pack membership with National tonight?”
Tracy’s stomach sank.
Gabe took a deep breath. “Yes. My mates are in Portland so my life is there too. I travel too much as Mediator to be able to be the husband I need to be. I can still help out on local mediations.”
Templeton stood and held his hand out and Tracy and Nick followed Gabe, totally stunned.
“Thank you for your service, Gabe. You’ve done this Pack proud. Please look through your staff and recommend a replacement. And I advise you to speak no more about this Pellini situation. It could be detrimental to you and yours.”
Tracy saw Gabe’s outrage at the threat but even she felt the command in Templeton’s voice.
“Sir, I will have to do what it takes to remove the threat of Warren Pellini from my Pack. He has broken laws that could incriminate my wolves. I can’t have that. And I would never allow any harm to come to my mates without heavy retribution.” He looked Templeton in the eye and both men stayed that way for several long moments.
“Leave that to me. Now go.”
No one followed them out.
* * * * *
“Damn it!” Gabe’s fist drove a heavy dent into the door of the apartment.
“I don’t understand this. He seemed so nice. He can’t be in on it with Pellini, could he?” Tracy led Gabe into the living room and pushed him into a chair while she went into the kitchen to grab a beer.
Coming back out again, she handed one to Gabe and then Nick and sat down, curling herself around Gabe. Sensing his anger and his hurt, she ran gentle fingertips up and down his neck.
“I don’t understand it either. I’ve known that man for twenty years and he’s never threatened me. I’ve never seen him do anything I’d ever describe as unethical. Not ever.”
He sighed. “I may have to talk to an old friend who’s gone to work at the Department of Justice about this.”
Milton came padding into the room and put his chin on Gabe’s knee. Tracy grinned and shook her head.
“You take the cake, dog of mine. You need to walk, dude?”
Milton barked and she stood up. “I’m going to take him out for a bit of a walk and to make a pit stop.” She went to grab her coat and Milton’s leash.
“Take Derek with you,” Nick called out and Derek stepped into the hallway with her.
“Sheesh, it’s cold out there. Don’t make poor Derek schlep out into the night to go walkies with me and Milty, that’s not fair.”
Derek snorted a laugh. “Not a big deal, Tracy. I’m a werewolf, I hear they’re pretty hearty.”
She rolled her eyes at him and shrugged. “I’m a werewolf too, you know. You think some mugger or something is going to try and shake me down once I let my wolf take over and shift a claw with three-inch nails?”
“They’re your mates, they want to protect you. It’s in their genes,” Derek said quietly and she sighed.
“Okay, come on then.” Tracy knew he was right and she wanted Gabe and Nick to relax instead of coming out with her, they both had enough to deal with.
The night was quiet outside but Tracy could hear the sound of the T trains going over the river back and forth between Cambridge and Boston proper. Milton was in doggie heaven, sniffing every tree, every curb, every hydrant and car tire. He barked a few times, more because he could than anything else. She was going to have to take him to the park if they stayed in Boston any longer than the next day or so. Run him with his ball.
She was still ruminating on exercising Milton such that she didn’t hear the screech of tires and the sound of running feet until she was already in the air and being carried.
She started her change, letting her wolf feed on the adrenaline of the moment. Milton was snarling and barking and she heard Derek’s howl as she was shoved in a car.
“Do not change, Tracy, or we will be forced to kill the dog and the bodyguard. We’ve got a gun loaded with silver shot pointed at your head anyway. Be smart and listen.”
Recognizing the voice as that of Jack Meyers, the National Pack Enforcer she’d met that very evening, she stopped the change. Breath heaving, she focused on him as the car lurched away.
“You know they’ll hunt you down and kill you. Jesus, how stupid can you be? And Lex and Cade will come back here. You’ll start a clan war, the first one in a hundred years. All for Warren Pellini’s money? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Calm down for god’s sake! I’m not going to hurt you, I just had to talk to you.”
“And you didn’t talk to me an hour ago at the Pack house why?”
“Tina is in it up to her stupid fucking ears with Pellini. She’s a spy. Any reaction we gave you in front of her would have been reported back to him. Probably already has been. We’ve contacted some people who’ve gone to get Ben and to take him, Sarah and the kids out and to a safe location.”
“Oh my god!” She scrambled in her pocket for a cell phone.
“Don’t call the apartment, Pellini has been listening and watching you three. I’ll get you back in another few minutes.”
She nodded and relaxed a bit, hoping like hell Gabe and Nick weren’t crazy with fear for her safety.
“Now, listen and listen carefully. I’m working with Templeton, a human cop named Stoner and an FBI agent named Koehler to take Pellini down. We can’t be seen helping you, Tracy. Templeton did call Pellini and order him to back off Pacific, which he reluctantly agreed to do. But you can’t tell anyone but Nick and Gabe about this. We’ve been working to catch him since the hit on your Third last year.”
“Ben Stoner?”
“Yes. I forgot, he’s a cop in your neck of the woods. He’s been made a liaison between the Pack Enforcement and human law enforcement on this issue. The FBI agent is a wolf.”
“Okay, so what do you want us to do?”
“Tell Gabe and Nick about this but not in the apartment. Write it down and then flush the paper. Don’t say a word about it in front of anyone else. Pellini has spies everywhere. Then get the hell out of Boston tomorrow first thing. Hell, tonight even. Watch your back. We’ll have some wolves on you to keep an eye out but don’t let your guard down for a second. Pellini hates you, Tracy. Hates the Wardens and now he’s sure to hate Nick and Gabe too. Stoner is going to head out to talk to Lex and Cade tonight about this whole thing, they’re under threat as well.”
“Crap. What the hell do we do? Other than watch out for a revenge-crazed werewolf don?”
Jack smiled despite himself. “Keep an eye out and ears open. Gabe will need to let a few tight-lipped comments about me drop here and there. It’s imperative that Pellini continue to think I’m in his pocket. To keep cover, everyone else has to think so too. This money laundering stuff is small potatoes. He’s got fingers in everything, drugs, prostitution, and we’re very concerned that the lycanthropy virus may be in his hands still. He’s crazy, Tracy. Bio-weapons in the hands of a man like Warren Pellini? It can’t happen. And so I stay deep. And so you and other wolves the rest of the nation looks at for moral guidance must begin to break with me. T
empleton will bear some of this as well but we can’t afford to weaken him too much or he’ll be challenged. Stoner will keep you all apprised as he can.”
The car turned back toward the apartment building. “I can’t be gone much longer, we shook a tail earlier but we have to let it pick us up again near my girlfriend’s place. Luckily, she lives nearby. We aren’t going to slow too much. Can you handle a roll to the grass strip at the curb?”
Tracy took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay and one other thing, I’m going to have to rough you up a bit. I told Pellini I was going to send someone out to put a scare into you to get you the hell out of town. It has to look the part. I’m pretty sure you can trust your bodyguards but I don’t know about the others in the building. It’s a Pack building and other wolves live there.”
“Okay. I suppose I’ll heal.”
He smiled again. “Ready to take one for the team?”
As she nodded he slapped her face, hard. And three more times, until she looked pretty swollen.
“I’m really sorry. Gabe is gonna kick my ass for this. Here comes the place, I’ll open, we’ll slow and you jump out. Tuck your shoulder down and roll. Be well and we’ll be in touch.”
It all happened very fast and suddenly Tracy found herself hitting the grass hard and rolling as the car screeched off.
Running footsteps and muffled voices greeted her as she tried to stand.
“Oh my god, Tracy! Are you all right?” It was Julie, looking horrified. “Get her into the building and up to Gabe’s!” she snapped at two other wolves standing there. Tracy saw Julie talk into a cell phone and then close it and look back to her. “That was Gabe. He’s frantic.” Julie pushed the hair back from Tracy’s face and winced.
The big wolf carrying her was gentle as they went to the elevators. Gabe and Nick burst out and both men froze at the sight of her injured and in the hands of a male wolf.
“I’ll kill Pellini,” Nick growled. “It was him, wasn’t it?”
Gabe took her from the other wolf and told them all to go back to their own homes. Julie rode up with them and went to get tea and a cool compress for her face.
“Are you all right?” Gabe demanded, putting her gently on the bed.
Nick took off her shoes and Milton came bounding into the room and jumped on the bed, looking at her himself to be sure she was there and okay. “Hey pooch, it’s okay, the gravy train is still kicking and ready to toss some table scraps your way,” she said playfully and Milton whimpered and lay down next to her, much to Nick’s annoyance.
“You’ve seen her, Milton. Now go and get in your bed. She’s okay and I want to be next to her.” Nick looked the dog in the eye and Milton started to growl but thought better of it. He licked her hand and face and she started to kiss him but winced at her split lip.
“Go on, sweetie. Momma will be okay.”
He gave her one last lick and went to lie in his bed, propping his head on the side of it to keep an eye on her.
“What the hell happened?” Gabe demanded as he took the cold cloth from Julie and put it on her face.
She really felt that Julie was trustworthy but couldn’t take the chance of being wrong. Too many lives were at stake. “It was one of Pellini’s people. Said that we needed to get out of town or else. We need to go.” She grabbed Gabe’s hand and he saw the scrapes on her knuckles from where she’d fought as they pulled her into the car.
“Not before I hunt him down and kill him.” Gabe’s eyes had gone amber-gold and his voice was little more than a guttural growl.
She looked at Nick and said carefully, “We need to go. Now.” She wanted very badly to tell them everything but she knew with Julie there and the way they were being watched she couldn’t.
“Julie, can you help us get the bags packed, please? And do you suppose we could fly back in the Pack plane or are we bound for commercial air travel?” Nick knew she had something to say from the looks she was throwing him. It was clear she hesitated to speak in front of anyone else and so he went along with her.
“They want us gone. I have no doubt that they’ll be willing to let us fly out on their jet. Julie, I hate to impose but can you call them first? We didn’t unpack much.”
Julie smiled down and stroked a hand over her hair. “Of course. It’s not imposing, although I hate the idea of losing Gabe and now you. You aren’t coming back are you? Something bad is happening.”
“Yes. Yes, Julie, something bad is happening and I’ve resigned to run Pacific. You and Rick are welcome to come out west to join Pacific if you want to. There’ll always be a place with me for you both.”
Julie hugged Gabe. “I don’t know. Our kids and grandkids are here.”
“You may want to avoid Pack functions for a while. And watch your back.” Tracy hated the lines of stress around Gabe’s eyes. He clearly hated thinking Jack and Templeton were in cahoots with Pellini.
“Okay, Gabe. You be careful too, all right? Now I’ll go make the call from downstairs and get everything prepared for your departure. I’ll also take care of packing this place up and shipping it all to you.”
She took one last look and left the room.
Tracy waited until she left and Nick started to demand an explanation but she put a finger over his lips and shook her head. She mimicked writing and Gabe nodded and went to the bedside table to find a pad and pen.
“I was worried sick. God, Tracy, when Derek came running back into the apartment without you I thought I’d die. Milton was barking and growling and inconsolable. I wanted to call the cops but we didn’t know quite what to do. Gabe called Templeton, who said he’d get the word out. Oh shit, I suppose we should take care of that.”
Gabe handed her a pen and paper and she began to write. She gave them the whole story on paper as the others made small talk as cover. Gabe called Templeton on his cell and said he thought Jack was involved in Tracy’s abduction. Templeton told him that meant he should get the hell out of Boston.
Thank goodness for werewolf healing. Tracy was feeling a lot better forty-five minutes later when they were all ready to get to the airport.
“I packed you two suitcases, Gabe. Your suits are in two garment bags and already loaded into the car. If you’re going to get a job out there, you’ll need to look nice. Your everyday clothes are in the suitcases. Oh and I’m rambling, but I’ll miss you. You’ve been like a son to me. Please take care of yourself and your mates.” Julie wrung her hands nervously.
Gabe kissed her forehead. “You too. There’s a place for you, don’t forget that. Hell, for all of you if you want. Portland doesn’t have nearly the humidity in the summer that we have here.”
“But they don’t have the Red Sox.” She smiled sadly. “I’ll think on it. I promise. Now go before I start crying.”
It was nearly dawn by the time the plane landed in Portland, they heaved a sigh of relief. No one really spoke much on the flight, not knowing what was safe to say, or if the plane was bugged. Nick had plans to check the house over carefully for listening devices but Tracy felt on edge anyway.
They went home and Tracy checked in with Nina from her cell phone in the backyard while she tossed a ball with Milton under Gabe’s watchful eye. Lex had apparently gone over the house with a fine-tooth comb before feeling satisfied that they weren’t bugged. He’d also gone out and changed and went around the property in wolf form to track for anything unusual. Much to his annoyance, there was evidence of a place where someone had sat in a tree and watched the drive to the house. The scent was cold, but enough for him to double the guard and to bring Tegan to the house to live there. Poor woman, didn’t even get three days at her new house.
Long after midnight, they crawled into bed and each other’s arms. Nick was assured they were safe and free from listening devices but they couldn’t trust everyone in the Pack.
Exhausted, each sought comfort rather than sex and both males were terrified of injuring her. Gabe itched to knock Jack out for putting Trac
y in the middle of this brewing war. The fear of the news that she’d been taken still echoed within him, shocking him in moments where he thought he’d gotten past it. The helpless rage, the terror. He never wanted to feel that again. If he had to sit on her that’s what he’d do to make sure it never did happen again.
Tightening his arm around her waist, he nuzzled his face into her neck.
Nick’s mind raced. Fury rode him hard. He wanted to find Warren Pellini and end this himself. How dare he threaten his family? How dare he try and destroy his Pack? And Jack and Templeton? He growled and Tracy started and then stroked fingertips up and down his spine to calm him.
“I’m all right. I’m here,” she murmured.
Damn right, and she wasn’t going anywhere without him or Gabe until this was all over and done with. He wanted to rip Jack Meyers’ head from his body for hitting Tracy. He knew it was necessary and all, but the way she’d looked when he stepped off that elevator, he’d never be able to erase that from his memory. Helpless, bruised and battered. Warren Pellini would pay for that.
Tracy felt her men at war with themselves. She knew it couldn’t be easy for them to have seen her that bruised, for them to have endured her kidnapping and the minutes she’d been gone. Worse, she knew the fear of it happening again would make them stick to her very closely until this was all over. She’d be lucky if she got to go pee alone.
No, until this was over, she’d be watched like a hawk. Overprotected by her mates and surveilled by the fucking werewolf mafia.
Things were a long way from over. In fact, she had the distinct feeling that they were just beginning. Despite that part, she had Nick and Gabe at her side. And each day they worked to make the relationship better. Feelings would get hurt and territory would have to be renegotiated between the three, but their bond was solid, and healthy. And she felt love and belonging. It was complicated, belonging to two men, but worth it. And she still held out hope for more boy-on-boy action, as she quite often teased. Sometimes they gave her some. Ah, a girl is lost without hope.
Laughing, she pressed a kiss into first Gabe’s shoulder and then Nick’s. It would be okay.