Page 89 of Carnage Island

“Or keep the employees who were going to lose their jobs,” Caius adds. “It’s all a numbers game, but we make sure those who need our assistance receive it, all while funding our pack and keeping everyone comfortable.”

“But they all have jobs on the island, too,” Tieran points out. “And some of them help us run a few of the smaller corporations we’ve acquired. Nothing major, just business oversight and general management.”

“That’s in addition to the roles we talked about?” I ask Caius.

He shakes his head. “No, those roles are handled by select wolves on the island. But there are more who help with external affairs. For example, Alpha Dirk’s clan handles telecommunications both with our companies and on the island.”

“We have a whole security division as well that reports up through Alpha Duncan’s clan here,” Tieran adds.

“Duncan’s office is wicked.” Volt grins. “It’s where I go when I want to do recon because he has all the fun toys.”

Tieran shakes his head, but his lips are curled in amusement. “You’ll meet them all this afternoon, Clove. I’m sure they’ll tell you all about what they do.”

Volt nods. “And then I’ll show you what I do later this week or early next week. The timeline is still being evaluated.”

“Her going with us is still up for discussion,” Tieran tells him.

“She needs to see who we are, T.”

“Yes, but there are safer options than taking her to Virginia for an assassination,” Tieran returns.

Volt grunts. “The Senator’s house has three guards. He’s cocky and an idiot. It’s a cake walk. And I’ll have the whole thing under surveillance anyway, so she can watch from the car.”

Tieran’s jaw ticks. “Which means she could watch safely from here.”

He sighs. “Not the same and you know it.”

Tieran runs his fingers through his thick blond hair and sighs. “I’ll think about it.”

Volt doesn’t push, just smiles and focuses on me again. “If he says no, I’ll show you how I play with knives another way.”

Caius and Tieran both glare at him saying “No” at the same time.

But I find myself smiling instead of shivering. My wolf innately trusts Volt, and he’s been rather sweet to me since I arrived. Sure, he may be a killer with some psychotic undertones, but I’m not sure I mind.

Actually, I find myself intrigued.

Which is why I say, “I look forward to learning more.” Because I do. I want to understand him, toknowhim. Even if it’s dangerous. Because my animal says that while he may be deadly to others, he isn’t to us.

He isn’t tome.

Something his eyes seem to display now as his dark irises meet mine with a smile. “I think she’s ready to meet the pack,” he says, his smile reaching his mouth now. “She’s going to slay them.”

“No,” Tieran replies, causing all of us to look at him. “She’s going torulethem.”

He utters it with confidence.

Something I didn’t realize I needed to hear until he said it because we’re not mated yet. He hasn’t even touched me since he knotted me during my heat. A part of me had begun to question his interest. Yet he slept in the bed each night in wolf form, and his gestures suggested otherwise.

But all of this is just so new and foreign to me.

So it’s easy to let a sliver of doubt creep inside.

However, his words now help wash that way.

As does the kiss he places against my mouth. “They all know I intend to claim you,” he says against my ear. “Own it, Clove. They’re going to love you.”

I shiver, melting into his strength and thanking him for his confidence by brushing my lips against his chin.