With the eight people on his list out of the way, along with the healers, he’d be in a prime position to prove himself to his father.
“When do we start operation take-out?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“Tonight.” He flashed her a smile. “They’ll be on their guard but not expecting this.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mandalay linked his fingers through Nic’s as they strolled along the boardwalk. It wound for about six miles and encompassed popular hangouts and businesses. Music whispered from speakers no one could see and colored lights showed the way that was dotted with fake and real plants.
Some kids were hanging out at The Malt Place, which was a favorite hangout for teenagers. The outdoor tables were always filled after school, and tonight was no exception despite what had happened earlier.
They went over to the Candy Corner, which was one of Mandalay’s favorite stores due to the sheer variety of candy the place sold. Some of it was homemade in store, but the majority wasn’t.
“Let’s go in,” Mandalay insisted, tugging on Nic’s hand. “I want to get something.”
Nic allowed himself to be dragged along, to Mandalay’s delight. Once in the store, Mandalay glanced around and headed for his favorite section.
“Hey, Mandalay,” a teen boy said, and he turned to find the kid alone holding a bag of candy.
“Hi, Randy, what’s going on?”
“Not much,” he said, giving him a shy smile. The blond kid had crooked teeth Mandalay knew were being straightened with the clear braces people favored these days.
“You weren’t at the store,” he said. “I came by to see you.”
“I’m sorry, Randy. I had to leave early,” Mandalay said as he looked down at the boy with a frown. “Did you want to talk to me about something, or did you need some medicine?”
“I found out I was going to be spending a few days a week with you,” Randy told him. “Some of the dominant boys said we’d be learning how to be girls.” His eyes darkened in obvious anger.
“That’s just stupid,” Mandalay said. “Jody wants you guys to spend time with me learning to cope with being gay and learning some first level healing. I’ll see you guys tomorrow around four. Right after class.”
“School is out a three,” Randy said with a scowl.
“It’ll still be four, so tell the other boys to come to my lab. We’ll talk, and I’ll take you through your first healing lesson.”
“We aren’t healers,” Randy said.
“You don’t have to be,” Mandalay said. “But we might need you to help the healers, so you’ll need to be trained. You’ll also be taking the first-year boxing course, too.”
“You can box?”
“Yeah, so I’ll be training you in that, too.”
“It’s too bad Cairo won’t be there,” Randy said.
“He might be.”
“My dad said Cairo’s dad took him and headed up to Texas for a while,” Randy said. “He was worried about Cairo getting killed. Jody wanted Cairo to fight.”
Why hadn’t Cairo told him?
That didn’t sound like his friend at all. There had to be more to it than that.
“Well, I’ll send you guys a message so you’ll know the exact time and place.”
“See you then,” Randy said, and looked up at Nic. “Hi.”
“Hey, man,” Nic said with a nod.
“You’re brave to be walking right out here with him for everyone to see,” Randy said in a whisper to Mandalay.
“I’m not doing anything wrong,” Mandalay said with a shrug. “I’m just out for a walk with my boyfriend, who just so happens to be the hottest man in the den.” Mandalay gave Nic a wink, and Nic grinned at him.
“He—he’s cute.” Randy gave Nic a nervous look.
“We’re going to grab some candy,” Mandalay said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Right.” The boy headed back the way he’d come, joining his father.
“You’re going to be good with them,” Nic assured him, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’ll even come in and help with the boxing if you need me or send one of the guys.”
“By guys, I hope you’re talking about one of your friends.”
“I am,” he said. “Though I suspect Serena could more than help.”
“She was awesome,” Mandalay said, thinking of the fight his sister had put up earlier in the evening. “She keeps surprising me.” He grabbed the scoop and a bag and added candy to it before moving on to another choice.
He finished gathering his selections and then made his purchases before they went back out to the boardwalk. The earlier crowd was starting to thin, the teenagers noticeably absent.
“There’s a curfew until this is all over,” Nic said.
“What time?”
“Kids have to be home by eleven,” Nic told him. “Adults need to be off the streets by one, and that’s just to allow security to narrow down any sources of trouble.”
“You think they’ll actually attack us in the den?” Mandalay asked with a frown.
“Yeah. I do,” Nic told him softly. “I’m counting on it, that’s why I have to be to work early. One of the guys will be staying with you overnight.”
“Overnight?” Mandalay burst out. “I thought you said early.”
“I have to be on duty at midnight,” Nic told him. “I’m working with a small crew on some changes.”
Mandalay started to ask what kind of changes but thought better of it. Nic had already said too much out here. Anything more would be risking den security.
“I know you aren’t happy,” Nic said. “I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Mandalay said. “What time do you get off? Maybe we can have coffee before you get some sleep?”
“I’ll be in by seven,” he said.
“I’ll be up to make coffee then,” Mandalay replied and leaned up to kiss Nic’s cheek. Nic gave him a smile and caressed his cheek.
“Mandy.” Nic pulled him in for a kiss.
“This is a public street,” a masculine voice growled. “Take it home, freaks.”
Nic broke the kiss and glanced back to the small group of males looking on. He growled at them, and one of them growled back. Nic growled again, and they quickly dispersed.
“Let’s get you home,” Nic murmured. “I don’t want to have to kick ass before going on duty.”
* * * *
Nic slipped into his office just before midnight, where he met the small team of ten he’d been instructed to put together by Kimble. Their job was to make some changes to the den’s security that would prevent the moles from gaining access to certain areas.
“Our job is to lock down everything within six miles of the tunnels,” Nic told them. “Kimble is concerned about another attack, and he’s certain that attack will center around an attempt to claim the area near the tunnels.”
“There’s some tunnel access near the lake, right?” one of the soldiers asked.
“We’re going to lock that down,” Nic told him. “We’re going to be the only ones with the codes by the time we finish. This is all confidential.”
“Kimble wants to make sure we only lose a small portion of the den if it comes to that?” Artisan asked.
“Yeah, we’re planning for the worst but hoping for better,” Nic told him. “We could lose, but we’re not going to make it easy for them to use the land they steal.”
“Great,” Bowen said. “So, which ones of us are going to be manning the hot zone?”
“There’s been no decision made yet, so let me lay out the plan so we can get to work.”
Nic told them what they were there to do, and the group dispersed. Nic went down to the tunnels with the team he was working with there. Reno was heading the team that would secure the above ground area near the tunnels and the safe-zone for pack as they retreated from the northern part of the den.
No one was leaving right now, but the tunnels would be their escape should they
have to get part of the pack to safety in Peyton City.
Nic met with a couple of techs from the Peyton City panthers and worked through the night replacing their old technology with the newly designed format the cats were using. The protocols would be effective, and the supplies that would be brought in tomorrow would allow wolves to survive underground for days or aid them in their escape to cat country.
* * * *
Mandalay jerked awake at the sound of a howl. He leaped out of bed, went to the window, and eased his curtain back. Looking out into the dark, he saw two men fighting.
“Come away from the window,” Bo ordered softly from behind him. “The captain next door is fighting off an attack. Help should arrive any minute, but I’m going over there. You stay put.”
Mandalay nodded in understanding.
“I mean it, stay away from the windows. Get in the hallway outside in case they’re using bullets or some kind of projectile that could come through the window.”
“Right.” Mandalay followed Bowen out into the hall. When he was gone, Mandalay went back into the bedroom to pull on some lounge pants over his briefs.
He stood inside listening to the silence. In ten minutes when Bowen didn’t come back in, he ventured out.
Mandalay didn’t make a sound as he crept out onto the porch. He heard voices whispering softly.
“If he lives, we’re toast.”
“We don’t have time,” a second voice said.
“I’m just going to shoot him,” the first man said. “We can’t afford to leave him like you left Kelley, Zane. There aren’t any hyenas around to finish her off.”
“Shut up. I took care of her. She’ll take what she knew to her grave, and so will Bowen and Knight.”
Knight was the man who was supposed to stand post outside while Bowen stayed inside with him.
“Move.”
“Wait.”
“No one’s coming, now move,” the first speaker said, and Mandalay was sure he knew who it was. “We need to stick to the plan, so we can get everyone on Chico’s list dead within the next forty-eight hours, or we’re dead.”
“Finish them then,” the second speaker said, contempt in his tone.
Mandalay flinched when he heard the first ping of a shot. His wolf growled in anger at what was happening, and cold rushed forward before he could stop it.
Headlights flared, and he got down, sent out a rush of cold, and heard a growl.
“Damn it.”
“Fuck,” the first speaker said, and he knew what was happening. The cold was killing him.
Light footsteps sprinted past him, and he crouched even further into the shadows to avoid being seen. When the man was gone, Mandalay ran around to the back of the cabin to get to the other side where the men had been.
He found Rush dying on the ground, the captain dead, eyes staring into nothingness, Knight dead next to Bowen’s unconscious body.
Mandalay dragged Bowen away.
The slamming of a car door had him slowing as he reached the other side of the cabin. The car drove away, and he got Bowen inside. He’d been beaten, but it was the blow to the back of the head that Mandalay suspected had caused him to go down.
He worked on him, glad no poison was involved. However, the injury to the head had Mandalay fearful that Nic’s friend would never wake up.
* * * *
Mandalay woke to soft lips brushing his cheek. He jumped, eyes flaring wide.
“Easy, pretty boy,” Nic murmured. “It’s just me. Where are Knight and Bowen?”
Mandalay struggled to focus for a moment, and then last night came rushing back to him.
“Nic,” he exclaimed. “Knight is dead, and Bowen is in your guest bedroom. I had to heal him, but I think he’s in a coma.”
“What happened?” Nic asked carefully.
Mandalay told him about the confrontation. “They wanted to kill him,” Mandalay said. “Rush and some other guy. He mentioned Kelley.”
“Who did?”
“They both did,” Mandalay replied. “I think one of them took her out there because she knew something. He left her for the hyenas.”
“Damn it.”
“The other guy’s name was Zane.”
Nic crushed the sheet in his hand. “He’s dead. I’ll call Ross to get Bo to the clinic.”
Mandalay dressed while Nic made his call. By the time Ross arrived with a couple of men to take Bowen, Mandalay was dressed and the coffee perked in the kitchen.
“I’m going to leave you with Ross tonight,” Nic told him. “Or you’ll have to go to your parents.”
“Why? Aren’t the soldiers’ quarters safe?” Mandalay demanded.
“Four soldiers were killed last night,” Nic told him. “Two of them had just received new orders like me, and one of them was right next door. The enemy is inside the den, and it scares me that I won’t be with you.”
“But I won’t be alone, and I’m not defenseless,” Mandalay told him. “I can protect myself.”
“I know that,” Nic muttered. “I just don’t want to lose you.”
Mandalay sighed. “I don’t want to lose you, either, but you have to do your job,” he said softly. “I’ll be okay here with Ross, and I don’t think anyone is after me.”
“Damn it,” Nic said, frustration in his face.
Mandalay rested his hand on Nic’s arm. “Baby, I’ll be fine, okay? You just rest. I’ll see you before you go on shift. We can have dinner together.”
Nic pulled Mandalay into his arms and held him tight, and Mandalay hugged him back. He was terrified, too, but he wasn’t about to let Nic know.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mandalay was a little nervous that afternoon when he had his first session with the teens, but things worked out well, to his surprise. When he left them, he was happy and filled with a new purpose.
The boys had been willing to talk, to learn, and proud that he wasn’t afraid of facing the straight wolves who hurled insults at males suspected of being gay.
“Hey, Manly.” Serena waved to him from across the parking lot as he strolled to his car.
He smiled and continued on to his car and unlocked it.
“How’d it go with your boys today?” she asked after reaching him.
“Good,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. Jody was right. It’ll be good for me and them, too.”
“I bet. Have you heard from Cairo?” she asked.
“No, Randy told me his dad had taken Cairo to Texas,” Mandalay said. “Could you call his cousin and check?”
“Sure. That doesn’t sound like BJ to just take off, but he might have been worried about being seen as a traitor for leaving rather than just a coward.”
“Maybe he just didn’t want to deal with what’s going on,” Mandalay said lamely.
Serena gave him a mocking look. “I heard security was looking for Zane Winters. Know why?”
“He attacked and killed a captain last night and tried to kill Nic’s friend Bowen.”
“Oh my god”
“I told Nic all about it this morning, but I didn’t tell Mom and Dad because they’d just freak.”
“I know,” she agreed and reached for his hand. “You should probably stay at your own place, and I’ll stay with you.”
“Nic might not like it, but I’d feel safer doing that, and his friend Ross can still stay with us,” Mandalay said. “Plus, my place is bigger.”
She nodded. “I’ll let Mom and Dad know I’m back with you,” she said. “Do you mind if Robert comes over?”
“N—” Mandalay grinned. “You like him.”
“Maybe.” Serena gave him a light punch and then hugged him. “Little brother,” she said. “When I heard what happened I was worried, but I just told myself after the way you dealt with those guys out by the lake, you could handle anything.”
He gave her another hug. Her concern for him and her confidence in him made his heart swell. They’d always had a good relationship despite her teas
ing and pushing him around.
Serena hadn’t treated him inferior because he was gay. She’d treated him that way because he was younger.
“I’ll get pizza,” she said.
“I’ll get the salad and beers.”
She gave him a light peck on the cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.” Serena waved and headed up to the shop.
He chuckled and climbed into his car. He headed to the city to pick up a few things and called Nic as he headed back to the den. The traffic on the freeway was a bit heavy thanks to an accident.
“Where are you?” Nic demanded.
“I’m headed back to the den,” he replied. “Serena and I decided to stay at my place tonight. She’s invited Robert over for dinner, and I went to pick up a few things.”
“You should have told me,” Nic snapped. “You don’t need to be on your own.”
“Calm down, Nic,” he said placatingly. “No one was going to attack me at the store unless they wanted to go ahead of me in a very long line.” He smirked.
“Mandy,” Nic growled. “Don’t play with me. I’ve got enough on my plate right now. I know you can handle yourself, but I don’t want you to have to kill.”
He smiled, his stomach fluttering. “I don’t want to, either, but I’m not a child, baby,” he said. “I’ll be fine in traffic.”
Nic snarled in his ear, but it was more of a sorry excuse for a grunt.
“Honey, I’ll be home soon. Come have dinner with us.”
“I plan to, and I just might spank your bad ass.”
He laughed. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’ll be at your place waiting for you,” Nic told him. “You better not be more than thirty minutes getting there.”
“I can’t do anything about the traffic, sweetie,” Mandalay said sweetly. “Bye.” He ended the call and traffic began moving at a crawl.
It took him forty minutes to get home, and Nic was already there as promised talking to Ross and Artisan. All three men were hot and handsome. If he hadn’t been so drawn to Nic, he’d be having trouble deciding which of Nic’s friends to go after.
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