“Speaking of handling things… you still need to choose an informant.”
“Nico left me with a few of his recommendations. I have interviews lined up this afternoon.” I glanced at Liza. “And I would really appreciate it if you would sit in on them with me.”
“You would?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure you want me there and not your dad?”
“Absolutely.” I gave her hand a squeeze. “We both understand the importance of trust when it comes to choosing an informant. After the shit we’ve been through, I need to know that you trust them, too. Whoever we choose will be working for us both, possibly for a long time. Nico was with Dad for decades.”
Liza beamed, visibly touched. “Thank you for including me.”
“Of course,” I murmured, leaning over to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “We’re in this together.”
The journey home was a quiet one, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Once I stopped the car in front of the estate, I turned to Liza. “I’m going up to my office to talk with Dad about what to look for in an informant. Could you check with the chef about arranging some kind of refreshments for our guests?”
“I have a better idea. I have a new cookie recipe I’ve been wanting to try.” She glanced at her watch. “How much time do I have?”
“The first interview is in two hours.”
Liza nodded and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “Perfect. I’ll bring a tray of cookies to the office as soon as they’re ready.”
I watched her exit the car and go into the house, finding it hard to take my eyes off her fine ass. Just as I was about to catcall after her, I remembered my dad’s presence and thought better of it.
We walked to the office. “Okay.” I took a seat behind the desk as Dad pulled up a chair across from me. I still couldn’t get used to us being on opposite sides of the executive desk. “So, what qualities should I be looking for in an informant, besides them being a sneaky motherfucker like Nico?”
“Yeah, he sure knew how to sneak up on the enemy and errant teenagers.” He leaned back in his chair and gave a deep laugh. “You will want someone who is loyal, first and foremost. Someone who has the pack’s best interests at heart.”
I nodded. “Right.”
“Trust is essential,” he continued. “You have to believe that they’ll be honest with you, even when it’s difficult or news they know you won’t want to hear.”
“Like Nico was with you?” I couldn’t keep the snark out of my tone. My father’s informant had kept certain secrets from him about the Wylde pack.
“Exactly,” Dad confirmed, surprising me with his honesty. “I was hurt when I found out he’d kept things from me, but it wasn’t done out of malice. Nico was not just my informant, he was also my friend, and that made him so much better in his role. He always tried to make decisions that would benefit the pack and make me look good as alpha. You want someone who’ll be comfortable making split-second decisions that are most beneficial for the pack.”
“Friendship,” I mused. “That’s important, too, then.”
“Yes.” Dad held up a finger. “Just realize that the friendship part takes time. Whoever you hire will have to earn your trust, but after all the years Nico and I worked side by side, it was inevitable that our friendship would grow strong. Remember, Ty, this person will be your eyes and ears within the pack. They need to be observant and discreet. The last thing you want is an informant who’s running his mouth around town.”
“Discreet,” I repeated, making a mental note.
“You’ll also need to gauge their experience in the field. Ask them about past missions or assignments they’ve completed, successes and failures they’ve had. You’ll want someone who’s honest about their mistakes but can show they learned from them.”
“Okay, I can do that.” I cracked a walnut using one of the wedding gifts Liza and I had received. I’d never considered myself a nut guy but often found myself popping pecans or walnuts in my mouth when I was deep in thought. Better than chewing my lip to shreds. “Any other nuggets of knowledge, oh wise one?”
Dad rolled his eyes. “You should consider their motivations. Why do they want to be your informant? What are they hoping to gain from this position? What are their expectations? Make sure their goals align with yours and the pack’s. Lastly, you want someone who can think quickly on their feet, and notjust quickly but creatively—someone who can think outside the box. Situations can change instantaneously, and your informant needs to be adaptable. Just look at how much shit has gone down in the past few weeks. Not just anyone could handle the physical and mental requirements of the job.”
“Adaptable,” I echoed, filing the information away. “Got it.”
“Good,” Dad said, and there was the pride in his eyes again. “Remember to trust your instincts when you’re conducting these interviews. Nico’s suggestions are likely all top-tier candidates, but you need to find the right informant for you and Liza. Trust is vital.”
“Thanks, Dad.” It was true. The right informant could make or break a pack’s success, and I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes during the hiring process.
“No pressure, though,” Dad added with a wry smile.
I let out a dry chuckle at his attempt to ease the tension.
No pressure? What a fucking joke.
68
