Page 41 of Heroes & Hitmen (Windy City Wolfpack #1)

“Burke,” the guy in the tie says coolly, making no move to shake hands. His eyes flick over me, lips twitching with irritation. “I thought this was supposed to be discreet.”

Elias’ lips curve into a fake-as-fuck smile. “It’s a dangerous city, Mr. Crane.”

The guy jerks his gaze back to me, measured and calculating. “And this is?”

“Security,” I offer, flashing a grin that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.

Crane nods once, already disinterested. “Let’s get this over with. My client doesn’t like delays.”

Elias flips open his briefcase and turns it around like a magician revealing a trick. Inside, neatly bundled envelopes of cash are arranged in perfect stacks. “All there,” he says. “The shipment arrives tonight?”

Crane dips his chin in a barely perceptible nod. “Right on schedule.”

The air around us suddenly feels like it’s getting heavier by the second, tension thickening the atmosphere.

I shift slightly, taking stock of our surroundings again on instinct.

No backup in sight. No hidden players. But the guy behind Crane is keeping one hand near his jacket, and Crane himself is a little too twitchy.

I don’t trust it.

Still, I hang back and watch. Burke is supposed to be the one running this show; I’m just backup.

Sure enough, as soon as he closes the briefcase, I feel the shift.

“There’s been a change,” Crane says mildly. “My client decided he wants this as an advance, and double upon receipt.”

Elias freezes, spine stiffening, fingers curling around the briefcase handle like he’s trying not to snap it in half. “That’s not what we agreed to. ”

Crane lifts a brow. “Agreements change. Hand it over.”

There’s a soft rustle of movement behind him, and suddenly, we’re staring down the barrel of a Glock one of his goons has drawn.

Not my first time at this rodeo. Won’t be my last.

Still a fucking pain in the ass.

My wolf snarls inside me, lunging for control. I push him down and step forward slowly, ignoring the sly signal Elias is giving me and instead planting myself between him and the gun. “You might want to rethink that move,” I warn.

Crane’s gaze snaps to me, sharp as broken glass. “Careful, tough guy. This doesn’t concern you.”

“You point a weapon at me, and it concerns me,” I reply flatly. “Now, lower the gun, or I draw my own. And I never miss.”

There’s a brief pause, taut and electrified. Somewhere behind us, water slaps against the dock pilings. I can hear the distant clang of chains, the hum of a tugboat far upriver.

Crane frowns as he lifts a hand, waving his man off. The gun disappears back under his coat, and just like that, the moment passes. But the tension doesn’t leave– it just sinks deeper, like oil into concrete.

“Fine,” Crane grits out, straightening his cuffs. “We’re done here.”

He turns and walks away without another word, his two goons falling in step behind him.

Elias exhales like he’s been holding his breath for hours, remaining silent while the three men pile into their SUV and leave. Then he whirls on me, jaw clenched and eyes burning with fury.

“I gave you the signal, you were supposed to take them out!”

I cross my arms, scoffing a laugh. “You want me to shoot three men in broad daylight over a little disagreement?”

The look he gives me is one of pure hatred, his whole body practically vibrating with rage. “This is why you’re not an Alpha, Raines,” he sneers, pointing a thick finger at me. “You don’t have the balls.”

I step in close, getting right up in his face.

I’ve got four inches and fifty pounds on the guy, and I use every bit of it to my advantage as I drop my voice to a low, dangerous decibel.

“Or maybe I’m not stupid enough to start a war just to appease your fragile ego,” I growl, allowing my wolf to push forward just enough to gleam threateningly in my irises. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“I’m reporting this to Alpha Gage,” he snarls as he pushes past me, muttering something under his breath about orders and consequences.

“Go ahead,” I call after him. “Doubt he’ll care, since we’re about to be family and all.”

That shuts him up for a second, but then he wheels back around, eyes narrowed. “Not if I can help it,” he seethes.

Burke storms off toward the car and I let him go, hanging back and staring out at the water as the adrenaline burns out of my system.

I watch the river roll by, a dangerous thought creeping in– that it’d be almost too easy to put a bullet in Elias’ back and blame it on a meeting gone wrong.

But that wouldn’t actually solve anything, and for the first time, I’ve got too much to lose.

I think about Miley. About the look she gave me last night when I tried to comfort her, like I was the only thing she needed, even though she hates needing anybody.

So, I shove the thought down, turn my back on the river, and stride over to join Elias at the car. Because I’m not just a weapon anymore, I’m hers . And I’ll burn down this whole damn city to protect what’s mine.

But river keeps moving behind me, relentless and unbothered, and maybe that’s the truth of it. Nothing stops the current. Not fate. Not love. Not even me.