Page 74 of Pack of Crooks

MILLY

Of course, what’s up?

Can you see if you can find anything on Tristan Kain?

Sure. . . why?

The weather is gross.

While I want to know more, I’m not prepared to give out information about Resistentia over text.

I see. Well, I’ll see what I can find.

You’re a lifesaver. Are you still good to come to Lottie’s cheer thing this weekend?

Absolutely. The air mattresses arrived today too.

Biting my cheek, I send her a GIF and set the phone aside, hanging my head in my hands. I’m grateful that Milly is giving us a place to stay. I’m lucky to have such a good friend. Lottie still doesn’t know. Anxiety flutters inside my chest. I really don’t want to wait until the last minute to tell her, but with her competition coming up, I don’t want her to be scared and lose focus.

I’ll tell her the morning after. That’ll leave us with a few days to pack up. With that settled, I try to focus on work and remind myself I can’t stab Tristan with my pen. Resistentia has a plan, and the guys deserve to let it play out. I’m here for them.

My pack.

Because that’s what they’re going to be.

All mine.

After lunch, Tristan has a meeting with Gary, the CEO of one of Kain Industries subsidiaries. Tristan is nowhere to be found when Gary shows up. I wait five minutes before deciding I should join Gary to keep up appearances.

The disgruntled looking alpha eyes me when I enter. The scruff on his jaw doesn’t look deliberate—more like the result of sleepless nights, if the dark circles under his eyes are anything to go by.

“Hello,” I greet him, setting my notebook on the table. “Tristan will be right in. Can I get you anything?”

“No thank you.” He smiles politely and goes back to staring at his phone.

“Well, let me know if you’re thirsty or hungry and I can get you something.”

“Okay, thanks.” He pauses his scrolling long enough to acknowledge me, then frowns down at his device again.

I take a seat, prepared to wait in silence, but Tristan doesn’t make me wait long. He bursts through the door, the handle of it banging into the glass wall so hard I’m surprised it didn’t shatter. My heart skips, and it’s everything I can do not to make a sound of surprise.

Gary isn’t as controlled. He flinches and sets his phone aside. “Thanks for taking this meeting,” he begins, but Tristan holds up his hand.

“Stop talking.” Tristan paces back and forth, glaring at the other alpha with so much hatred the hairs on my arms rise. “Do you mind telling me what the fuck you’re doing with my company?” My pen starts to move on the paper but Tristan barks, “Don’t write that down!”

Jesus Christ. Why is he yelling at me? I purse my lips and set the pen down, confused as to why I’m even here in the first place, but there’s no time to ask.

Tristan whirls on Gary. “Well?”

“I-I know the stock value has fallen?—”

“Fallen?” Tristan asks with a laugh, features contorting. There’s a vein on the side of his head that’s pulsing so hard it might pop. “It’s down three-hundred dollars, Gary! Don’t fucking kid yourself, the company is tanked.”

Gary’s face falls and he swallows. “We can come back?—”

“Don’t come at me with a super hero complex. Thanks to your fuckup, now Werner Telecoms has a footing to take back a good portion of the market.” Tristan pauses his pacing and sets his hands on the table, glaring at Gary. “And don’t think I don’t know about the money you’ve been stealing.”

Gary rears back and his eyes widen. “I didn’t steal any money. Tristan, what are you talking about?” His gaze shoots to mine. “I’ve never taken money.”