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But Leon is far from stupid; he must have his own plan.
Which means Belle will be a loose end he’ll need to tidy up. Anyone who knows anything will need to disappear.
I clench my fists and fight back the frustration threatening to overwhelm me. Cooper and Rex know that Grey Ridge is the most likely target. Dean is helping keep the place secure and Steel is watching everyone closely. The best thing I can do remains gathering evidence or any extra information that might help the Joneses prepare. If I know what’s happening and where, maybe I can stop them before they even reach Grey Ridge.
My eyes land on the beers Billy handed over and a rap sounds on the door.
“You look as shit as I feel,” are Joseph’s words of greeting as I let him in. Smiling broadly at my two keepers as I close the door firmly behind him, I reach into the bag and grab two of the beers.
“Want one? I know I could use a drink.” Popping the tops, I take a sniff. “I have no idea what these are like; I got them from a budding brewer.”
Joseph eyes the bottle in my outstretched hand dubiously. “You can have my job sooner if you want, there’ll be no complaints from me. You don’t have to poison me.”
Hiding my grimace at how awful the idea of remaining in this place one second longer than absolutely necessary really is, I take a big gulp. Pleasantly surprised by how not awful it is, the twist of Joseph’s mouth says he doesn’t agree with my assessment.
“That is horrific. Though I’m not much of a beer drinker.” He walks across the room and sets the bottle down on the sideboard, as though he wants it as far away from him as possible.
Laughing, I settle on the edge of the bed and point to the armchair, picking up the remote control to turn on the TV. I increase the volume until it’s loud enough to hide our conversation.
“I need to ask a favour.” Honesty is probably the best policy here. Joseph watches me, sensing the serious shift in my mood. Leaning back, I shove my hand into my pocket and pull out the sheet of paper the doctor gave me. “Alpha Anderson asked the doc to run some tests, private tests, that the alpha doesn’t want Lucia to know about. I presume he doesn’t want to worry her. Could you bring them to him? I know he trusts you.”
Joseph frowns. “Why don’t you bring them to him?” As soon as the words are out of his mouth, he twists, looking at the door as though he can see Lucia’s goons standing outside. “What’s going on?”
Sighing, I shrug. “I wish I knew. But Dumb and Dumber can’t know. I hate to put you in this position but it’s for the alpha, not me.”
Nodding, Joseph reaches out and takes the paper, no more questions asked. I can tell he’s worried, but he’s loyal to his alpha. He knows this is serious and that the two men posted at my door can’t be trusted. “Consider it done.”
He stands, and reaches out his hand to shake mine. We both know this is goodbye. If I was going to stick around, there’d be no reason for Lucia to have me under guard.
“You’re a good man, Joseph. Mind yourself.” Just as he grabs the door handle, something pops into my mind, unbidden: “What happens if a packhouse is destroyed? I get that there’s insurance and all, but that could take ages to pay out. Is there a contingency plan for the displaced wolves? Accommodation, food, things like that?”
Joseph steps away from the door and crosses his arms over his chest. Considering the question, and me, then clears his throat.
“There’s a slush fund for the entire region. It will pay out to get the reconstruction work started and cover short term expenses while the insurance payout is pending.”
“But it didn’t pay out to help with fixing your hotel?”
“It’s not meant to be a charity fund. That was a business endeavour, not our packhouse.”
Not only had Hayley ruined his attempt to offload the unsafe property, but he couldn’t fix it up either. He’d spent all the pack's savings on fancy training grounds and new cars.
Joseph blinks rapidly, parting his lips slightly and slamming them shut again.
“What? What were you going to say?”
Joseph curses and drags a hand through his messy hair. “We applied for relief from the fund. It wasn’t Toby who went mad when the request was refused, I think he was expecting the answer; it was Lucia.”
My brain is still wrapping itself around that tidbit of information when a flashing light catches my attention. Joseph glances at the bag on the table, now lighting up like a lantern.
“You left your phone in the bag.” Reaching in, he takes it out and hands it to me without batting an eye. Hiding my surprise and resisting the urge to examine the mysterious device more closely, I slide it into my pocket.
“Thanks. I was wondering where I put it.”
Joseph pauses with his hand on the door; speaking quietly, so what he says is drowned-out by the television I have blaring in the background.
“Good luck, Ethan.”
45
