“I think we’re done.”
Everyone stood, and as he turned to leave, he felt a hand on his arm, the grip firm. Turning, Michael came face-to-face with Harper. They were roughly the same height and standing closer together than Michael expected. “Yes?” There was nowhere to look other than Aaron’s eyes because Michael didn’t want to be caught looking at his mouth.
“Won’t you be coming back here later?”
Michael frowned. “What for?”
“You said you could activate the microphone on his phone, so you’d be listening in, right?”
“Yeah, from our offices.”
“Oh.” Harper deflated a little. He bit his lip as though he had more to say but maybe thought better of it. And then said, “I was gonna go with Harry, initially. I can’t sit here and not know what’s going on.”
His earnest expression did unwelcome fluttery things to Michael’s insides. He was well aware that pack bonds went beyond friendship, and Harry and Aaron were members of the same unit too. He knew what Aaron was angling for, but it wasn’t his place to offer it up. Nor did he think it was a wise thing to encourage.
Damn Frank for putting ideas in his head.
Before he had chance to reply, Aaron squeezed his arm, his expression turned pleading. “Can I come to your offices? I won’t get in the way, and maybe I’ll recognise voices, might be able to give you some names. You’ve not spoken to many of Smith’s men, have you, Harry?”
Harry shook his head. “Just the guys on the door and the ones who take the bets.”
“See,” Aaron said. “I know a few of them from when I fight and when I spoke with Smith. I can give you a bit more info for when you come to watch the fights.” He seemed to know he was clutching at straws, judging by the death grip he had on Michael’s arm. But there was no faking that expression—his blue-grey eyes wide with concern—and Michael felt himself cave. It wasn’t abadidea after all. The more information they had up front, the better.
At least that’s the excuse he told himself as he said. “Let me talk to the chief, see what he has to say.” Ignoring Frank’s raised eyebrow, Michael carefully disentangled himself from Aaron’s grip, the absence of his warm touch immediately noticeable. “I’ll let you know the outcome.”
“Thank you.” Aaron’s smile lit up his face, eyes crinkling at the edges, full lips curved up into something genuine.
Bollocks, he really is hot.
And exactly my type.
Michael returned his smile without thinking.
Damn it.
“Come on,” Frank said, heading for the door. “There’s stuff to be done before tonight.”
There was, and he was grateful for Frank urging him along because the sudden butterflies in his stomach told him things could get complicated if he wasn’t careful.
Once they were in the car and on their way back to the office, Frank tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. Michael sensed the questions waiting to burst out of him.
With a sigh, he glanced over. “Just spit it out, already.”
“Well.” Frank grinned at him, predatory, and Michael groaned inside. “Twice in there you gave in when I expected you to hold your ground.” Michael just grunted in response. “Going soft in your old age?”
“Piss off, I’m only thirty-four.”
Frank’s grin widened. “Must be some other reason then.” He laughed as Michael gave him the finger.
“You know as well as I do that Harry’s meetup could take a turn for the worse. They’re unpredictable, and having a couple more shifters within range is beneficial to us and them. We’d never get there in time to be useful, andGod forbidanything does go wrong, at least we can explain to the alpha council that we took every precaution open to us.”
Frank manoeuvred his way through the London traffic, for once not making Michael want to grab the edge of his seat. “Okay, I’ll grant you that Thomas’s suggestion was a good one. But what about Harper?”
Michael turned to look out of the window. He should have just said no to Harper’s request, end of story. “What about him?” he hedged.
“You know you should have point blank refused, right?”
He made a non-committal noise.
