“We will, and I’d value your opinion on them. That will be done when we go to West Virginia. Tex asked that I only bring four guards here, so that the clan wouldn’t be alarmed by it. As long as things go smoothly we’re only here until the day after tomorrow, so having four guards shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Is she aware of the security threats that surround her? To be frank, I need to know if she’s going to fight the guards protecting her, or if she’ll let us to our job.”
“She’ll let you do what you need to do, I’ll make sure of it. Any problems arise, you let me know.” Jinx slipped his cowboy hat off and sat it on the table. “I was thinking of Carson for your second, is that okay with you?”
Jackson nodded. “He’s a good man. I understand you want what was said here quiet until Tabitha makes her announcement, but I feel that Carson needs to be aware of it to perform his duties to the best of his abilities.”
“I agree, fill him in and then get some sleep.” Jinx stood up from the table. “I want you and Carson back here at eight tomorrow morning. I have some things I need to take care of and I want someone watching my family. They’re not to be cooped up. If Summer wants to take Claire out, that’s fine as long as two guards are with them.”
“Understood. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Jinx rolled his shoulders. Exhaustion had begun to set in, but he still had to finish things with Lukas before sleep could be considered. Turning to his brother, he felt his stomach twist as he wondered when the answer would come about the Lieutenant position.
Chapter Fourteen
Jinx sat there listening to Lukas go over the rest of the security details, but he was completely uninterested. For the first time in longer than he could remember he wasn’t interested in the figures, or what was happening. He just wanted to know if Lukas was going to take the position. He started to ask him but each time he bit his tongue.
Knowing his brother as he did, he was aware that pressing him would only delay the answer. Lukas needed time to work things out for himself. He had never been one that could be pressured into something, and he never let family or friends sway his decision. It was one of the things that made Jinx want Lukas as his Lieutenant.
“Jinx…” Lukas waved a hand in front of Jinx’s face, and it was clear that he had missed something. “You’re not even listening to me.”
“I apologize, Lukas, that was rude of me. To say I have a lot on my mind would be an understatement, and though true, it’s no excuse. I should have been paying attention.”
“Thinking about your mate? I know I’m keeping you from her, but I thought you wanted me to go over this stuff to bring you up to date.”
“Summer is always on my mind. You’ll find out just how much your mate is in your thoughts once you’re mated.” He shook his head. “That wasn’t what I was thinking about now. Beyond what my tiger is telling me, there is more to life than just mating.” Since finding Summer, his tiger had paced within him, always demanding he touch her, then never being satisfied when he did. The tiger always wanted more, more of his mate, more of everything.
Lukas leaned back against the sofa and stretched his legs out. “Would it help if I said I was considering your offer?”
Years of training were the only thing that kept what he was feeling from showing on his face. That and the fact he didn’t know if he should be smiling or frowning. Lukas was too hard to read for Jinx to get a clear picture of what he was thinking.
“I guess that depends on which way you are considering it.” He couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh. This could be the moment that defined things between them. “Are you considering telling me to screw off and shove the clan? Or are you interested in the position?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested.”
Jinx could feel there was a but coming, even when Lukas remained silent. “But?”
“My time in Alaska allowed me to discover me. I love working with Connor, and I’m good at it. I can put my skills to use and help our kind.”
“The Nerd Crew won you over.”
Lukas shook his head. “That’s not what I’m saying. While you were downstairs I had an interesting conversation with your lass.”
He wasn’t thrilled that Summer and Lukas had been talking about the decision while he was away. It was Lukas’s decision to make and he didn’t want her pressuring him just to make him happy.
“I hope she didn’t press you into anything.”
“No pressure. She suggested we find a middle ground and compromise.” Lukas smiled. “So if this compromising crap doesn’t work, then you know who to blame. You’re sweet lass has a way of making you believe things will work out.”
“I believe I’ll be having a word with my mate later. Alphas do not compromise well, neither do stubborn little brothers.”
“Well, let’s go against everything in us and at least try it, for our sake and the sake of the clan. What do you say? It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
“Fine.” He wasn’t sure he liked it, but it couldn’t hurt. “Put your cards on the table and we’ll go from there.”
“I’m not asking much.” Lukas leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ll take the position if I can continue working with Connor remotely. I’m useful there, and you know Ty needs all the help he can get when it comes to the Nerd Crew.”
“What about when I’m away? How are you going to balance the responsibilities of the Nerd Crew with your duty to the clan? How long until one begins to suffer, and when that happens, which one will be neglected?”
“I can do both. I’ll work it out with Connor and Ty. You know I can do this.” He dragged his hand over his face. “Damn it, the clan means everything to me just like it does you. I wouldn’t neglect them, and you know it. This can work if you just give a little. Everything I do for Connor and Ty can be done from anywhere.”
“What about the commitments you made to Tex? The website?”
“Come on, Jinx. You know that’s not going to be anything time consuming. Hell, you could do it in your sleep.”
“There’s a reason I don’t do the computer stuff any longer. It’s too time consuming with my duties as an Alpha.” There were days when he missed geeking it out with Lukas but those days were in the past. He had responsibilities to his clan, to Ty, to Tex, and now a family.
“That’s because you were trying to do it all on your own. Even small clans are starting to promote Lieutenants so the Alpha isn’t doing everything. What about Eric? What if I bring him on to help with the Nerd Crew duties, the website for Tex? I’ll oversee him, and pick and choose the projects I work on personally but at least my hand is still in it.”
“Eric is good, but he doesn’t have your skills.” Jinx thought about Eric. He was a true computer geek, and it showed in everything from the way he talked to his clothes. He was a good kid, if someone that was twenty-two was even considered a kid.
“He has the skills. With some direction he’ll pick up on what he doesn’t know. The website won’t be any problem for him.”
“I’m not concerned about the website.” He stood and paced the room, careful to avoid the piles of Summer’s belongings. “He can’t do much until Tabitha makes her announcement, and he’d have to be approved by Connor and Ty. You get them to approve him and it’s fine by me. Otherwise if you take the position you’re going to have to cut down on what you do for them. You put in long hours on the computer, it’s not something you can do full time along with the clan duties you’ll have.”
“See, I was right, a compromise wasn’t so bad,” a soft feminine voice intoned.
Jinx turned to find Summer standing in the doorway in a pair of plaid pajama bottoms and a black tank top, her wet hair curling slightly.
“What, you didn’t expect me to miss everything, did you?” She smirked.
He held his arm out to her; she came and snuggled next to him and he turned his attention back to Lukas. “Does that mean you’re go
ing to take the position?”
“I wanted to say yes when you offered it, I just didn’t want to give up everything I’ve been working for these last few months.” Lukas smiled at them and gave a little nod. “With your agreement that I can work with Connor as long as it doesn’t interfere with my clan duties, then yes, I’ll take it.”
“You have my word, but the first sign of neglect when it comes to the clan, you give up your Nerd Crew duties. Understand?”
Lukas stood. “Yes.”
“Very well.” He slipped his arm out from around her and held his hand out to Lukas. “You’ll need to come home to West Virginia with us, and we’ll announce it then.”
Once they shook hands, Summer beamed at him. “Congratulations. I told you it would work out.”
“That you did.” He stepped back, gathering up his stuff. “I’ll let you get some rest. We’ll have a lot to do to get things finished for us to leave.” Lukas strolled from the suite, leaving them alone.
“Let’s go to bed.” He slid his hand down her body, pulled her close, and slipped beneath the material of her pajamas.
“Oh no, none of that. We’ve got a sleeping little girl in our room,” she reminded him.
“I just want to feel you next to me.” He took her hand, tugging her to the bedroom.
* * *
While snuggling with her mate, she couldn’t believe how quickly things had changed. Weeks ago she had been a prisoner, scared of everything, now here she was full of life and love. She had a mate she adored with all her heart, and a daughter she was devoted to.
“What’s on your mind, lass?”
She cradled her head in the nook of his arm and looked up at him. “I’m just appreciating how everything turned out. I have to say I wanted to but never believed Autumn when she said Tex would come back for us. He’s made sure we were safe.”
“Why?”
“I guess I felt that if he had a chance to get away and put it all behind him that he’d take it. That he wouldn’t risk coming back and getting stuck under Avery’s thumb again, or worse yet…killed. I never thought he’d find people to help him free the clan.” She let out a deep sigh. “I guess with all I saw, I lost faith in people. That was until I found you. Now I believe there’s good in people. That others will do the right thing.”
He ran his hand down her arm in long lazy circles. “I’ll be honest, some days it seems like an endless battle, that there’s more bad than good in the world. When I see how far people have come after our help, I can’t help but feel honored to have a part in it.”
“I heard Tex putting straight one of the clan members today. I guess some believed that you and Ty were overthrowing all the Alphas who were against you and putting your own people there instead.”
“Yeah, Tex told me about that. You know it’s not true, right?” He didn’t want her to answer. “The Ohio clan was being abused just as you were. You haven’t met him yet, but Felix is Tabitha’s Captain of the Guards. His brother was in Ohio suffering their tortures. It’s how we found out, and part of the reason Korbin is now Ohio’s Alpha. Under Korbin’s command, the Ohio clan has come a long way. They are even planning to open a resort like Manetka, but on a much smaller scale.”
“I knew you and Ty weren’t the type to overthrow other Alphas.”
She snuggled deeper against Jinx, letting her hand run down his chest, feeling the muscles constrict under her touch. He was everything she needed, and more she didn’t even know she wanted.
She wanted to lose herself in his embrace, to forget everything that happened and seize what her future held. Her last day under Avery’s rule would haunt her until she died, but she had to put it behind her for the sake of her family.
Chapter Fifteen
The next day and a half flew by, leaving Summer wishing for more time. She had been running around trying to get everything done, make progress with Claire, checking on a few people close to her, and still deal with packing. It left her exhausted and glad to be about to board the plane for West Virginia.
The only good thing that had come out of the last forty-eight hours was Claire had made some progress especially where Ben, Jinx, and surprisingly Jackson were concerned. There was something about Jackson’s voice that the little girl loved. She’d bring him a book, and force him to hold her while he read it. It was sweet seeing Claire climb into Jackson’s strong arms. She looked so small and fragile in the big man’s lap. Even with the progress Claire had made, she had yet to speak.
There on the landing strip was where everything was going to change. Summer stood with a very sleepy Claire on her hip, about to board a plane to take her to her new clan. Never again would this be her home. She might be welcomed at the resort, but it would never be her clan again. West Virginia was about to be.
Or I guess it already is since I’m Alpha Female to the clan.
She pushed her thoughts away, and tried not to dwell on the negative.
“I’m going to miss you,” Ben said, giving her a hug.
Feeling Ben’s arms around her almost made her lose it. He had been her protector for years, and now she was leaving him to go to the other side of the country. It didn’t matter that they would visit, or that she could have the clan’s private plane bring her here anytime she wanted. All that mattered was she was leaving him, and it was breaking her heart.
“Don’t cry. This isn’t goodbye. I’m going to see you soon for Tabitha’s announcement.” He playfully tugged Claire’s thumb out of her mouth. “Same with you, little one. You’re going to remember your Uncle Ben when I see you in a few weeks, aren’t you?”
She nodded, her little hand reaching out to cup his cheek. When he leaned closer she kissed him. It was a perfect ending to their days in Texas.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better goodbye.” He kissed Claire’s cheek before looking back up at her. “I love you, and if you ever need anything day or night you can call me. Got it?”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you too.”
“Lass…” Jinx stepped away from where he’d been talking to Tex, and walked over to her. “We should go.”
“What about Ashley? Isn’t she coming?”
Tex moved up to stand next to Ben. “We decided it was best for Claire that she doesn’t. Next visit we can try again, but right now Claire is making progress and none of us want to set it back.”
“I’m doubtful Ashley went along with it quietly.”
“She was upset but finally agreed. It might be nice if you consider emailing her pictures of Claire from time to time,” Tex suggested.
“Okay. I also promised I’d call her with updates. I don’t want to take Claire away from her family. I only want to do what’s right for her.”
“That’s what we all want, lass,” Jinx reassured her.
“Carson and Garth are already on board,” Lukas told Jinx when he came to stand by them. “Tex, if anything comes up with the security, let me know, otherwise Larry can finish what needs to be done and can handle most problems.”
“Very good. Thank you for all you’ve done for my clan.” Tex held out his hand and Lukas shook it.
“My pleasure.”
“Larry’s staying?” Summer asked, feeling like she missed a shred of something.
“With Lukas stepping up as my Lieutenant, he won’t be able to stay here. So for a few weeks, Larry’s going to be here, and we’ll get you a replacement guard until he returns.” Jinx slipped his arm around her, and Claire pressed her hand against him. “We’ll see you again soon, and if anything should arise you know how to reach me.”
Summer pushed the tears away and swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. With one last halfhearted smile, she let Jinx lead her up the steps and into the plane, Jackson and Lukas at their heels.
“I know your heart is breaking because I can feel the pain as if it was my own,” Jinx said, his voice soft. “Distance isn’t going to change things with you and Ben. He’ll still come ru
nning if you need him. The bond between you isn’t one that will be broken easily.”
“It’s just so sad.” She let herself take comfort from his embrace. “I’ll be okay. I know you need to get to the cockpit.”
“Actually, I’m going to let Lukas handle this one. My family needs me more.” He led her to one of the small sofas. Sliding into their seats, he put his arm around her and let her snuggle against him. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“I know.” Claire snuggled between them, half on each of their legs, nearly asleep. “Claire must think so too, or she just has faith we can protect her from anything that might come up.” She nodded to their now sleeping daughter.
“She knows we wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her.” His finger teased along Summer’s jawline, bringing her face to his and kissing her. When the kiss ended, their faces still close, he whispered. “You should get some sleep, you’ve been doing too much lately.”
“I’m not tired…”
* * *
The plane touched down but Jinx couldn’t bring himself to wake Summer until the last moment. She looked so peaceful sleeping there with Claire curled around her. Their kind always enjoyed sleeping in a big pile.
“My sweet lass,” he whispered, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“Umm.”
“We’re here, lass.”
Her eyes shot open and she started to jump up before she realized Claire was on her lap. “Oh. I’m not ready.”
“Lass…” He picked Claire up, careful not to wake her, and pulled Summer to her feet. “They’re going to love you. Come meet our clan.”
“I should freshen up.”
“You look great. Now come on.” He tugged her to the door and down the steps. Jackson and Carson stood at the bottom of the steps waiting for her. Everyone else stood gathered around the landing strip. “Look, everyone’s here to meet you and Claire.”
“Why?”
“Because this is your clan, you’re Alpha Female. They are happy to have you here with us. Now come meet our family.” Climbing down the steps, be felt like the world was his. He had everything anyone could ever want. In that moment he didn’t worry about the rogues that were still out there, or the future of their kind. He only enjoyed what he had with him.
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