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“Zane,” they all finished as one, everyone sharing a laugh.
Kian frowned, but it was more thoughtful than upset. “I believe it is only prudent to count him as a suspect right now. As much as I wish I could argue against it, it makes sense.”
“And then there’s those new shifters who showed up the other week,” Amelia said.
“I guess anything’s possible, but I don’t think so. They were truthful about why they were there, and I didn’t get a bad vibe from any of them. Nothing like I’d get if they were here to kill one of us,” Ian replied.
“Maybe one of Ivan’s crew, wanting revenge or something?” Cammie asked doubtfully.
“Why come after me? I’d think they’d go after you and Alex before they went after any of us.”
“What about Farrah?” Everyone looked at Piper and she shrugged. “That word on Holly’s window suggests a woman. I mean, how many men would think to do that?”
Ian frowned. “Farrah doesn’t want me. She never really did. I was just a diversion that had the misfortune of getting her pregnant. Nothing more. Besides, Farrah’s rank was demoted because of Shelby. Tigers with lowered ranks aren’t allowed to leave War Cat territory or they’ll be banished. Farrah is far too selfish and accustomed to life there to risk that.”
“So where does that leave us? I can’t think of anyone else who’d want to kill you, or any of us, for that matter,” Seth said in frustration.
Ian’s tiger growled in equal parts frustration. “We keep an eye out for Zane, and on the new shifters, just in case. And we stay vigilant. Always be aware of your surroundings. And keep your mates close. I don’t want us losing anyone. No loss is acceptable.”
They all nodded in agreement, and Ian sat still as everyone drifted way, outside or to different parts of the house. Frustration and rage welled up inside him as his tiger paced in his chest, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He hated this with every fiber of his being, but he couldn’t let it overwhelm him, or he’d be useless if push came to shove. He needed to be on his game, ready at a moment’s notice to protect his family. All of them, he thought, Holly’s beautiful face flashing in his mind.
Glancing down as his phone rang, he smiled as he saw the name on the screen. “Hey, Chase. How’ve you been?”
“I’ve been good,” Chase MacKeltar, one of his best friends, replied. “But I’ve heard through the grapevine things haven’t been so great over at Rocky River.”
Squeezing his eyes shut, Ian shook his head. “Who told you?”
“You know stuff like that. Word travels like wildfire. Why didn’t you tell me yourself?”
“I didn’t want to bother you with something like this. You’re starting a life with your mate now. How’s Hannah, by the way?”
“She’s great, which you know, because you just saw her the other day when you dropped Shelby off before the fights. And what makes you think you’d be bothering me by giving me a heads up that someone is trying to kill you? What bothers me is you not telling me so I can help.”
“And that right there is part of why I didn’t tell you,” Ian replied. “You would have rushed over here and put yourself in danger, when you don’t need to be. There’s nothing you can do, Chase. We don’t have any idea who’s behind it, and associating with me will on
ly put you on their radar, like it did Holly.”
“Holly?” Chase asked, voice perking up and sounding more alert. “Who’s Holly?”
“She’s my mate,” he replied softly, unable to help the smile stretching his lips.
A low whistle sounded over the phone. “You went and found yourself a mate? I never thought I’d see the day. Where’d you meet her? How is Shelby taking it?”
“She’s Shelby’s teacher, and Shelby loves her. She couldn’t be happier.” Pausing, Ian debated saying more, but this was Chase, who knew all about the disaster Farrah had been. “I couldn’t be happier, either. She’s nothing like Farrah. She couldn’t be more opposite. Beautiful, sweet, kind… the kindness just kind of shines out of her.”
“You sound dangerously close to gushing, my friend,” Chase said, his voice amused.
Clearing his throat, Ian replied, “Yeah, well. Just stating the truth.”
“I think it’s great, Ian. You deserve a true mate, deserve some happiness. Bring her with you on the next fight night when you drop Shelby off. I’d like to meet her, and I know Hannah would, too.”
“Will do. I’d like for y’all to meet her, too.”
“Listen, are you sure you don’t need some extra eyes and ears? Me, Ty, and Garret have your back, Ian. You know that.”
“No, between me and the fighters, we have this covered.” Pausing as an idea occurred to him, he thought it over, but couldn’t find any harm in it. “Actually, if you could ask Garret to come to the next fight, that could be a big help. There are some new fighters in town. I’m not getting a bad vibe from them, but it wouldn’t hurt for Garret to use his gift on them. We could at least officially mark them off the suspect list, if nothing else.”
“You got it. He’ll be there. Are you sure there’s nothing else I can do?”
