“Umm.” She moaned, teasing her fingers along his sides. “You might be Mr. Eveready, but I do need a little recovery time.”
She could feel a slight twinge of disappointment as he slid from her. He lay next to her, the length of his body pressed against her.
“There was something I wanted to ask you.”
“For some reason, I have a feeling this isn’t going to be sweet after-sex conversation.”
She laced her fingers through his. “It’s not bad, but not good either.”
“Lass, I love when you narrow things down.” He squeezed her hand. “Just get it out.”
“I can’t feel Claire like I can the other members. Can you?”
“No.” He leaned up on his arm, and looked down at her, panic widening his eyes. “I had hoped to approach you about that now that we’re here. I was hoping you’d established a bond with her.”
Without trying, he had managed to bring all her fears to life. Their daughter was a mystery. One neither of them would be able to control if she ever went against them. They’d never know until it was too late.
“What are we going to do?”
“Raise her right.” He caressed her thigh. “It’s all we can do. Raise her right and hope for the best. When she’s old enough to commit to the clan…”
“What if she won’t? What then?” When he didn’t answer, she watched him carefully. “Would you really force our daughter to leave the clan?”
“Oh, lass.” He pulled her tight against him.
“You would, wouldn’t you?” She blinked away the tears.
“It’s not going to come to that.”
“You don’t know that. After everything she’s seen…she could turn against us. Against us all.” Thinking the little girl in the next room, so small and dependent, could one day turn against them broke her heart. It was the worse pain she ever felt, even worse then the day she lost Autumn. “Answer me, truthfully. You’d force her to leave the clan, wouldn’t you? Our own daughter.”
“The West Virginia Tigers have always been a little different. Many of our families stay together, stay here. We’re a family clan.” He paused, his lips curved down in a frown. “Even with all that and the love I already have for Claire, yes, I would. I wouldn’t have a choice. We can’t risk our whole clan, everyone that depends on us, for someone that is against us no matter who they are.”
“What if she was our own flesh and blood?”
“We wouldn’t have this issue with our flesh and blood, they would be connected to us from birth. There would never be a doubt of loyalty to us or the clan.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m truly sorry but I can’t give you the words you want to hear. I can only tell you that if we raise her right and do what we can to help her put the past behind her, we stand a good chance of never having to make that decision.”
She wished that was enough to calm her, but it wasn’t. If anything it frightened her, and made her want to question every decision she made. Would one of their decisions give Claire a reason to turn against them in the future?
* * *
Jinx sat in his home office dealing with clan business. Going over the things that had slipped to the side while he was in Alaska. So much work and so little time before they had to go back to Alaska. He had forced Lukas to choose between his duty to the clan and the Nerd Crew. Now Jinx had a feeling the day would soon arrive when he would have to make a similar choice.
His clan needed him here, and his family needed stability instead of always traveling, but on the other side of things Ty and Tabitha needed him. Somehow there had to be a balance. One that would allow him to be there for Tabitha and her new world, while still giving himself completely to his family and clan.
Suddenly his computer alerted him to a call from Ty through the secure computer transmissions that Lukas himself had coded. Leaning back against the leather chair he pushed the button, accepting the call. A brief moment later Ty’s face filled the screen.
“What has you up and busy this early?”
Ty sat in his own home office, his shoulder length dark hair pulled back in a leather strap and worry lines creasing his face. “We received a call from Tex. Cliff attacked the compound last night with three other former clan members. They’re dead.”
“Is everyone in Texas okay? Ben?” The thought of telling his mate that her brother was injured or worse when they had just left the day before made him ill.
“Ben’s fine. One of the guards was shot but he’s going to be fine.”
“Then I can’t help but wonder why you called.” Jinx tossed the pen he had been rolling between his hands on the desk.
“The Texas Tigers proved they are strong by overcoming their first attack. It was the final step needed. Tabitha will be making her announcement soon. We’d like for you to be here for it, and we need Lukas to patch into every clan’s computer system for the announcement.”
“I need time to put in place the final Elder guards for Summer and Claire, which I have planned for this evening. We could leave first thing in the morning if that’s soon enough for you.” He wasn’t going to take Summer and Claire without additional guards to keep them safe.
“That will be fine.” Ty nodded. “We’ll set the announcement for the following day.”
“I believe Lukas has already received your approval for Eric to join us. He’s seeking to have Eric come on as one of the Nerd Crew so he can manage both responsibilities.”
“Yes, I agreed that Raja, Connor, and I would meet with him.” Ty’s office door open and Felix stepped in. “I must go, there’s much I need to attend to before the announcement. We’ll see you tomorrow.” With that Ty clicked off.
Jinx leaned back against the chair. In less than forty-eight hours everything for their kind was about to change. Tabitha was about to become Queen of the Tigers. There was bound to be backlash from it, and he had to be damn sure he’d have his house in order so the clan and his family were protected.
Chapter Nineteen
The list of new Elder guards had been created—only one name left before they could end the discussion. Summer sat on the sofa with Claire playing at her feet, and Jinx next to her. Jackson sat across from them giving his input on the status of the potential guards.
“Let’s discuss Meshell.” She knew Jinx had been putting it off, and now it was time to confront it head on.
“You observed her training, what did you think?” Jackson inquired.
“I know next to nothing about hand-to-hand combat, weapons, or anything else that you covered with her today. She seemed good, and she’s a good shot. But I think you need to tell me what you thought of her actions today.” Summer tossed the question back at Jackson. Avery had never taught them any kind of combat skills, so even though Meshell looked good to her, it didn’t mean she was.
“As I told Jinx before, Meshell is a good prospect. She takes orders well, and as you said she’s a good shot. Even with as many hours as she puts in at the gym she’s still outweighed and out-powered by most men. That could be an issue in a fight, if she can’t shoot because innocents are in the way,” Jackson explained.
“What happens when she’s protecting my family and is overpowered?” Jinx asked.
“She’s not going to be the only guard with them. When Meshell is on there will be three. We can have her assigned when I’m on duty if you’d prefer.” Jackson leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. “I’ve been training her on some tactical moves that will allow her to take down someone twice her size without using her gun. There’s also the option of giving her a high powered stun gun, or a handgun that is armed with tranquilizers.”
Jinx leaned forward, his gaze on Jackson. “You honestly believe she’s up for the challenge and that Summer or Claire won’t be in more danger while she’s on watch?”
Jackson nodded. “With all due respect, I do. Giving her a chance will allow her to become a better guard, and she’ll protect your family.”
“Summer?” Jinx wai
ted for her last words on the matter.
“I trust Jackson. If he believes she’s ready, then she’s ready.”
“Very well.” Jinx nodded. “She’ll be the last guard, with the stipulation that she’s only to be on duty when you or Carson are on and that she must continue her training. This will be a trial run, to make sure she’s up for the duties which will be expected of her.”
Seven guards for her and little Claire seemed like too many to Summer, especially since when she was safely in the house with Jinx she didn’t need a guard. But Jinx wouldn’t settle for anything less than six, and with Meshell as an add-on it left her with a total of seven. Jackson, Carson, Garth, Larry, Duncan, Hugo, and Meshell.
“If you’d like I can gather them and make the announcement. I know you have a lot to do before leaving in the morning,” Jackson suggested.
Jinx nodded, lacing his fingers through Summer’s. “That would be fine. I’m hoping to make it a quick trip to Alaska, there’s much I need to deal with here, so not everyone will be going. Have Garth and Hugo prepare themselves. They will be the additional guards along with you and Carson.”
Jackson stood. “Very well. I’ll see to it.”
“One last thing.” Jinx grabbed the box sitting on the coffee table. “These are ear pieces, and I want all the guards to wear them. Lukas is handing them out to all the ground guards. Now that we’ve decided on Elder guards, they need to have them as well.” He held it up so they could see it. “These are specifically designed for the Elder guards, and they have a second channel built in. By touching the red button on this side, the Elder team can hear any message delivered. If there’s ever a breach of security, this will allow for us to communicate without everyone knowing what is happening. It stays in your ear at all times, and there’s a sleep mode so it will only alert you if there’s an emergency.”
“Lukas mentioned the Alaskan Tigers having something similar. It will be great for the guards to know what’s happening, and will allow us to keep everyone safe.” Jackson took the box.
“If anyone has questions about them, Lukas will be available to assist,” Jinx explained. “Unless something comes up, you’re off duty once you’ve dealt with that. I’ll be in this evening, Lukas will be coming up for a meeting, than we’ve got some work to do ourselves.”
“I’ll see you both in the morning then.” Jackson took his exit.
“What did you have in mind for the evening?” Summer smirked, her fingers teasing over the back of his hand.
“My sweet lass, I’d love to take you to our bedroom and have my way with you until the sun comes up. Unfortunately, I have work I must attend to. With all my time in Alaska there were some things that fell to the wayside.”
“I understand. Plus, there’s always tonight.” She glanced down at Claire, still silently playing with her dolls. “I should see if I can make any progress with her. She’s having a good day, maybe a play date would be good for her.”
“I’ll see about arranging a play date with Lisa. She’s nineteen months, but I think they might be a good fit. Lisa’s shy and doesn’t speak much. If it can be arranged there’s a playroom that a lot of the children use, so that might be a good place. I’ll have Carson take you there. I hope you understand.”
“It’s fine. Thank you. I’ll get her ready.”
He stopped her before she could stand. “Give me about twenty minutes to arrange it.”
She nodded. “Sweetie, we’re going to get ready and go for a play date. Would you like to meet a little girl about your age and play with her?”
Robin had told her to keep asking Claire questions as if she’d answer. It would provoke her, but not getting an answer every time was hard. What if Claire never spoke at all?
* * *
Papers where piled up in front of Jinx, each of them needing his attention. Attention he didn’t have—he couldn’t seem to focus. Summer and Claire had been gone over an hour at their play date.
Everything in him wanted to go to them, to see how things were going. The only thing that kept him rooted to his seat was he didn’t want to disturb them if they were making progress. Claire’s future mattered more to him than his curiosity. With a groan, he forced himself back to the paperwork.
“Jinx?” Lukas called.
He was so lost in his thoughts, he hadn’t even heard the elevator. “In here.” He pushed back his chair, thankful for the break.
“I saw Jackson on my way up, he’s done with the guards. He’s going to relieve Carson so he can pack and take over guard duties.” Lukas sat down on the chair across from him. “The border is marked. Eric is nervous, but ready, so we’ll be ready to go first thing in the morning. Any changes with Claire?”
“Not yet. She’s still not speaking, but being here has seemed to relax her some. Hopefully going to Alaska won’t disturb that.”
“You could always leave them here and I can stay behind with them.”
He shook his head. “Thank you, but no. We need to at least try with Robin. If she can’t help, she may have some suggestions on what we can do.”
“While we’re on the subject of Claire…I really don’t know how to say this.”
“You don’t feel the connection.” He knew what Lukas was thinking.
“Yes. Why?”
“There’s no blood relation between us, so we don’t have the normal connection that is passed to the children of the clan members, and she’s not old enough to commit to the clan. We’re going to be blind to her for the next several years.” Since Summer voiced her fears they’d been lurking in his mind. Claire was an unknown to them. Everything she witnessed might have sent her down a path she couldn’t return from.
“What about Tex? Does he feel her? The connection from her parents should have passed down to him once he took over as Alpha, shouldn’t it?”
“He’s blind to her. Meaning one of two things, either the parents were never committed to Avery and he only had them under him because of force. Or…” Jinx couldn’t bring himself to continue.
“Or she’s already headed down a path we can’t bring her back from. One where she’ll become an enemy to us, and our kind.” Lukas finished for him.
“Yes.” The single word came out more like a whisper. “There’s no way for us to tell until she starts showing signs.”
“Then what?”
“Summer asked me the same thing last night.” He leaned forward, gripping the pen in his hand until it shattered. “I’d have no choice. Summer believes I’d force her to leave the clan, but it’s so much more than that.”
“If she’s a true enemy to us…”
He cut off Lukas before he could finish. “She’d have to be eliminated.”
He had come to love the little lass, and thinking of what the future might bring terrified him and made him sick. Avery had done so much damage, but the one who might have suffered the most was Claire.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Claire deserves a chance, and we’ll give it to her, but now that we know this it will always be in the back of our minds. We will always wonder if one day we’ll wake up and she’d be against us.” He dropped the destroyed pen in the trash bin and looked back at Lukas. “How do you stop something like that from happening? How do you get a child to put everything she witnessed behind her and embrace the good of our kind?”
“I don’t have the answer. You know I’ll do whatever I can to keep her from going down that path.”
“It’s more of an option for her because of everything she’s seen. At that age, their brains are developing, they’re impressionable. From the nightmares she’s having I believe Avery tortured her mother while she watched. That could haunt a person for life.” Part of him wished they had made Avery suffer as he made others suffer. But that would’ve only brought him and the others down to Avery’s level; they were better than that.
“But now she’s surrounded by love and a clan that cares. Don’t give up hope, it’s not too late.” Lukas took a
sip from the bottle of water he had. “Once we start giving up on her, then and only then is it too late for her.”
“Giving up isn’t an option, not until we know for sure it’s too late.”
How did one ever lose hope where their child was concerned? If the time came, he wondered if he would he be able to do his duty and take down Claire before she could hurt someone.
Chapter Twenty
It was midday in Alaska when they finally landed. For Summer and the rest of them, it was five hours later. They had much to do to get ready for Tabitha’s announcement. By this time tomorrow, the whole world for tigers was going to change.
They’d have one Queen who ruled over all the Alphas. It also meant some major backlash was coming, and Tabitha, Ty, and their clan weren’t the only targets. Tex and the Texas Tigers, Jinx and the West Virginia Tigers, and the Kodiak Bears all had to be on alert. They had to embrace a life where danger was around every corner, and any of them could die at any time.
“Summer,” Robin called out, working her way toward them. “With everything that’s going on I was thinking if I could get you and Claire right off the plane we could get it over with. That way Claire’s not too tired. What do you think?”
“Sure.” She nodded. Claire stood next to her holding her hand. “Jinx?”
“I need to speak with Ty, and the others. Can I catch up with you in a bit?”
“That’s fine.” Robin nodded. “We’ll be in my cabin, just ask Adam or one of the others to direct you.”
“Jackson goes with Summer,” Jinx ordered. “I’ll have Carson take your bags to our rooms and then he’ll join you.”
Robin led the way, quickly passing through the gathering crowd. “I’m sorry to catch you right when you landed, but if we can make some progress with Claire, I can work with her while you’re here. We should take advantage of every moment we have for her sake.”
“It’s fine. I wanted to have this meeting today before things got busy with the announcement.” Though she had hoped to spend a moment with Ben before being rushed off.
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