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“Speaking of Dylan,” she said. “I thought you could take him back to King territory.”
Ice closed around my chest. “With Shaw, Liam and me all here, we can protect you.”
“I trust you.” She looked up at me with wide, open eyes, igniting something in my chest, burning away some of the ice at the thought of leaving her. “I just need to know he’s safe so I can focus on my sister. I know that Dylan is safe on King territory.”
I wanted to stay with her, and maybe I would have, but her voice softened as she added, “I know that Dylan is safe withyou.”
For a few long seconds I was silent, waging a war within. But I couldn’t deny Amelia anything. “I’ll bring him back.”
Amelia looked up at me uncertainly, as if she wasn’t sure that I meant I’d bring him to the back to the King pack, or that I would bring him back to her eventually. I should have clarified, but I didn’t want to promise her anything except Dylan’s safety. I didn’t know what Stone would order, or what I would do with those orders.
“Another thing.” Amelia hesitated, then gingerly drew a cell phone from her pocket. “I need you to take care of something for me.”
It was just a nondescript old iPhone with a battered gray case, but she handled it like it was a snake that might strike at any moment. When she held it out to me, I tried to take it, my fingers overlapping hers. An electric pulse ran through me at the contact. But she hesitated and didn’t let it go. “Did Stone kill Joshua?”
“No.” I was exasperated by Joshua’s continued survival. Stone wanted to draw out every traitor to the pack. He wanted to make sure the pack felt justice was served, too.
Lately, I’d begun to hang out at the pack’s pub, Revelry. I was just listening, part of the background noise. But when Ireallyhad a few drinks, with Shaw and Teresa, we fantasized about murdering Joshua and his ilk before they could hurt the pack. Before they could hurt Stone. But it was just three-whiskies-brave talk. Stone would kill us. Maybe, but probably not, literally.
She frowned. “But he killed Hunter…I thought he’d realize Hunter and Joshua were working together.”
I shook my head. “Stone knows. But he didn’t kill him. Hunter is in jail.”
“What?” Her lips parted in surprise. “But Stone ran him down…”
“And knocked him unconscious and dragged him to jail,” I filled in.
She chewed her lower lip. “I’ve thought the worst of Stone…”
“Is that why you ran?”
“Joshua tried to set me up. He planted fake messages between my pack and me, like I was betraying Stone.” She finally let her fingers fall from the cell phone, leaving it in my palm. “I tried to delete the messages, but if you can bring them back up, if you think it’s safe to tell Stone, can you pick the right time to give him those messages?”
“Of course he will.”
“I need to know it’s really safe to come back. I know you’ll tell me if Stone is so angry, he wants to kill me.” It was a statement, but her gaze was seeking. She wanted a promise.
“I will. But he’s never wanted to kill you. Even when he thought you got Brennan killed.”
“Well.” Her lips pursed, but the faint smile didn’t reach her sad eyes. “I did, didn’t I?”
“No.”
She didn’t look convinced.
“Let me go get Dylan,” Amelia said. “He’ll be happy to see you. I wanted to make sure the coast was clear first.”
Shaw trailed her, giving Liam and me a moment alone. Liam and I had bonded when I was training him to fight, but it was still hard for me to know what he was thinking.
“I’m glad you’ve been here for Amelia,” I managed.
And he nodded. “You should be here for Amelia.”
“I’m trying to be.” My tone came out as irritated as I felt. “I want to be here to keep her safe, but she wants me to watch her son. Honoring that wish is honoring her. I’m trying to look out for her.”
“I know that. But she shouldn’t have had to run alone. She should have felt safe coming to us, and we should have dealt with Stone.”
I stared at Liam. “He’s the alpha.”
