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“Dissension among the ranks, maybe,” Jax speculated. “Someone didn’t follow orders.”
“Or just fucked up. It happens.” This from Kalen.
“Whatever the case, we’ll be ready if they pull that shit again,” Nick told them. “But I’m inclined to think they’ll have something different planned.”
“Like?” John asked.
“A full-scale attack. They may have decided to test and observe us, note our individual strengths and fighting skil
ls so they’d be better prepared when they hit us,” Nick said. That was a chilling thought, and the men stilled as this possibility sank in.
Zander blew out a breath. “That would mean we’re really in the shit. You guys have to be careful out there, especially with my healing abilities not up to par.”
Jax clamped a hand on his best friend’s shoulder. “You just look out for yourself. We’ll be fine.”
“I’ll tell Tarron what we’ve talked about,” Nick said. “We’ve posted more guards around the stronghold and he’s got drills planned to practice sneaking the females and offspring out and off the mountain in case of emergency. I’m not sure what else we can do but be ready.”
“Find out who their leader is, where they are, and wipe them off the planet first?” Kalen suggested.
Nick’s lips turned up. “That would be the best scenario, and we’re working on it. The minute we have any information, we’ll smoke their asses. Believe me.” He paused. “Unless anyone has something to add, I have an announcement. This is why I wanted to meet just with you guys today and not with Tarron and his men.”
Most of them knew, or had a clue. They were just waiting for him to say it.
“Calla Shaw and I are Bondmates.”
A cheer went up, and a round of congrats, followed by more ribbing. Nick took it all in stride, not mentioning the issues he and his mate were still working out. But they had deserved the words from his lips before they found out elsewhere.
“Where are you two going to live, Nick?” Jax asked, a slight frown on his face as he pulled at his goatee.
“We haven’t gotten that far yet, but I’ll let you all know. One thing I can say for sure is I’m not leaving the team or stepping down.”
“Damned straight!” Aric exclaimed. Laughing, the others agreed and Nick was promised bodily injury if he tried to so much as type a resignation letter to Grant.
That made him feel pretty damned good.
Dismissing his team, he endured the backslaps as he left the room. How different this life was from when he was under Damien’s rule. His brother was so unbending. Practical. Ruthless. Damien’s men were definitely not his brothers; they’d feared him. And fear bred hatred.
Nick almost felt sorry that the bastard would never know this camaraderie. Almost.
Hurrying his steps, he started for his mate’s chambers. He got as far as the corridor he should turn down to get to her room when his cell rang. He half expected the caller to be his brother, but he was surprised to see it was Tarron.
“Westfall,” he said, answering.
“Nick, we have a problem.”
“Not on the phone. I’ll come to your office.” Hanging up, he walked briskly, not wasting time but not wanting to alarm anyone. When he reached the large door, he knocked.
“Come in.”
The prince was pacing the carpet, and looked up in relief when Nick came in. “One of my guards has left the stronghold without my permission. I put him on the last shift, and found out he begged off, claiming to have fallen sick from a bad batch of blood. After his shift was covered, one of the perimeter cameras captured him leaving, acting very furtive.”
“Who was it?”
“Graham.”
“Damn,” Nick said angrily. “He’s the only one who was with Calla when she was taken. I should’ve taken a closer look at him before now. Is someone following him?”
“As we speak. Care to join me in catching up?”
