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Theo was prevented from saying anything else when his breath huffed out as Ethan’s elbow connected with his ribs, but Mari laughed.
“I appreciate your concern, Theo. We know because I helped found the organization, though I have had to remain on the sidelines. The women who run it would never allow a child to be harmed, for they know too well where those children come from and what they have faced." Mari’s eyes went a little distant and a very slight tremor went through her before she continued.
“We conduct surprise visits every month, to each facility and inspect different, random aspects each time. I have only found two instances of mistreatment in the last fifteen years and the people responsible left the grounds in police custody.”
Theo tipped his head in her direction and she smiled warmly. Ethan’s worry was obvious, and his brow was furrowed when he drew his mother’s attention with a question.
“Why don’t you want to go, Mom?”
Mari looked toward the balcony, her hands curling into themselves in a gesture that was incredibly familiar to everyone in our pack but before she could reply, Aubrey, with a bluntness that put Theo to shame, spoke up.
“The Dads. They cut Nate off from their calendars and from their staff and ambushing her there would be their exact brand of asshole.”
“Aubrey.”
Mari’s tone was all motherly reprimand but Ethan’s little sister simply shrugged, unrepentant.
“There’s no reason to beat around the bush. Everyone here knows how they treated you. You don’t have to be embarrassed about it.”
“We’ll go, Marisol.”
Ethan turned to Theo; brows lifted at the finality of his statement. Theo moved his hand to grip the back of Ethan’s neck and squeeze gently.
“We will?”
“Yes. We’ll bring Jade too. If your dads make the mistake of showing up, she can throw some money around and flaunt that you’re bonded.”
That blush was back staining Ethan’s cheeks and his sister snickered as his perfume not so subtly began saturating the room. Aubrey cleared her throat, trying to pull the attention from Ethan’s perfume and how the color of his neck and cheeks darkened.
“If Jade and Theo are going, can I go too?”
Mari grimaced at her daughter and turned to Nate, who shook his head.
“I can’t go with her. I have to help a friend that night. It’s important. What about Noah?”
“Aw, come on,” Aubrey pouted. “Captain Cautious won’t let me have any fun.”
Mari gave Aubrey an indulgent, amused smile.
“If you want to go, Noah goes too.”
Aubrey grumbled under her breath but agreed. Bodhi came out from where he’d been casually lurking outside Cat’s door, in case she needed anything. Theo stood and walked over to him so Ethan slid over to his sister. They began plotting things they could do or say to embarrass their fathers. Mari threw her hands in the air and spoke in exasperated Spanish as she moved back into the kitchen.
“Nate, are you staying here tonight?”
Theo’s question drew all our attention.
“I was planning on it but, Bodhi, if you need the guest room, I can go back to my place?”
Bodhi shook his head.
“Stay. I’ll take the couch: if that’s alright with you all? It might be better to have me, or Daniels, or someone else from our team here overnight until we know more.”
We agreed to go back to our house but Shae asked Mari to let them know if Cat needed anything. She gave us all motherly hugs goodbye, lingering longer with Ethan as we made our way out the door.
In the elevator, Shae was giving Theo grief about having to wear a tuxedo and Ethan laughed at his Alpha’s discomfort. Their conversation faded as I imagined all of us, as a pack, at an event like that someday. All of us in tuxes or a dress for Jade, laughing and giving each other a hard time, sneaking off to fool around in a dark corner. It was all so close I could almost touch it. We just needed to eliminate this threat and we’d get our chance at a happily ever after.
CHAPTER TWENTY
