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“We don’t know yet,” I said. “But now that we know this, we need to be even more careful than we were before. Now we know why Forrest went so far as to plant drugs at the garage. He’s not just hoping we’ll get caught doing something criminal, he’s trying to make it happen.”

“So, what do we do?” Tank asked.

“I don’t want anything to do with Thames,” Tammy said. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I thought we were done with that piece of shit. You know if I’d had it my way, we would’ve killed him and left his body to rot in the lake.”

“I know,” I said. “And I’m beginning to think you were right, Tammy.”

She blinked, surprised at that admission.

“I let Thames go because I didn’t want to start a war for our territory,” I said. “And I didn’t know the extent of what he was doing. If I had known then what I know now, I never would’ve let him walk.”

“We would’ve lost that war,” Hawk reminded me. “You’d just become alpha. He would’ve demolished us.”

“Well, he won’t now,” Tammy said. “We’re all stronger now.”

“So, I ask again, what exactly are we going to do?” Tank asked.

“I don’t know what the hell Sean offered Thames to get him to agree to work with him, but I know it’s not good,” I said.

“We still need Sean to issue a challenge. If he’s working with Thames, he’s not going to do that.

Thames is a dirty bastard, just like him.

And Thames has a lot more skill in kidnapping. ”

Rome growled.

Hawk’s eyes flashed gold with anger.

If there was anyone who was a real threat to our defenses, it was Thames. I knew he’d dabbled in trafficking. If Sean wanted to take the clan without challenging me, he’d have to get both me and Dylan out of the picture. He might think Thames was the man who could make that happen.

“I don’t know what Sean is offering, but I know we can beat it,” I said.

“You’re going to meet with him?” Tammy asked with disgust in her voice.

I nodded. The same disgust was building inside me, too. Whatever I had to do to stop Thames might be a stain I could never wash out. “I was able to get Sean’s weapons guy to turn on him. I should be able to do the same with Thames, too.”

“Thames is operating on a different level than Castille,” Tank said. “You know that.”

“It’s not ideal, but right now, it’s the best shot we’ve got. I don’t have time to wait around for something else to happen. With Forrest trying to get me locked up, and Thames planning God only knows what, we need to stay in front of this. For everyone’s sake.”

Tammy sighed. “This fucking blows, boss.”

Hawk snorted. “Yeah. It does.”

“What are we supposed to do?” Rome asked.

“Lay low,” I said. “We can’t give Forrest any reason to be suspicious of us. Keep your head down and keep your loved ones close.”

Hawk frowned. “I don’t like this, Ace.”

“Neither do I,” I said. “I just need you all to keep each other safe, okay? I’ll handle it to start, and we’ll go from there.”

“We should just go out to Thames’s territory and deal with him ourselves,” Tammy said.

“If it comes to that, we will.” I didn’t want to get into a territory war while Sean was still out there, but I’d do that before I’d let him and a trafficker attack my clan.

But first, I’d try diplomacy. The less bloodshed, the better.

“Keep this to yourselves for now,” I said. “Thanks everyone. Dismissed.”

We went our separate ways in the deep depths of night. When I got home, the windows were all dark, save for the light in Striker’s room and in my bedroom. Was Harley awake? I hoped not. It was nearly dawn.

I stepped into the quiet house and texted Striker that I was back, so he could get some sleep. My nerves were shot, and my dragon was antsy. I wanted to shift and take a few long laps around the lake in my dragon form, but the urge wasn’t strong enough to make me leave the house.

I needed to be close to my mate and my son, but their closeness was also a reminder of how much I had to lose.

Fuck. I wasn’t going to sleep tonight.

I poured myself a finger of whiskey and then stepped out onto the back deck. If I couldn’t fly, then I’d savor the night air and the moonlight high above. That always helped take the edge off.

I took a sip of my whiskey, relishing the burn as it went down, and looked out over the surface of the lake. The dark sky was beginning to lighten with the coming morning.

Sean really had lost his mind.

There was no other reason for him to be working with Thames.

How long had they been working together?

How much power did Thames hold over him?

Now that I knew Sean was working with Thames, some things made more sense.

Where else would Sean get the idea to try to kidnap Harley and Dylan?

That had Thames written all over it. Maybe Thames was also the one keeping Sean from issuing a challenge, because he knew Sean was doomed to lose.

The thought made me sick, and my dragon bristled with anger and fear. I could handle Sean. I could handle Forrest. But with Thames in the mix, I was less confident.

I was fucking afraid.

Afraid I wasn’t strong enough. Afraid I might lose more than my brother—that I might lose my clan, my mate, and my son.

“Hey.” Harley ran her hand across my shoulders. “It’s okay, Steph. Whatever it is, it’s okay now. You’re home.”

I hadn’t even noticed my claws had come out. The sharp, obsidian black tips were digging into the wooden railing hard enough to leave long, deep gashes. I swallowed hard and withdrew them.

“Sorry,” I murmured. I closed my eyes and hung my head. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t, but I wish you had. You don’t need to carry this alone, Steph. Not anymore.”

I turned around, then pulled her into my arms. She wound both arms around my waist and hugged me close. I buried my face in her hair and inhaled the sweet, musky scent that was purely Harley. Having her here, in my arms, with her scent wrapping around me, helped my dragon relax a little.

I was so used to carrying the weight of the clan’s struggles on my shoulders that I still didn’t know how to share it with anyone else.

“What happened at that meeting?” She pulled away just enough to look up into my eyes. “It can’t have been good.”

I huffed a laugh. “What gave it away?” I didn’t want to talk about what had happened. I wanted to stand here in the cool night air and lose myself in the warmth of her eyes, her touch, her kiss.

I didn’t want to scare her more than she already was. She didn’t know about Thames and the threat he posed. Right now, my dragon demanded I keep it that way. If she knew the extent of the risk, the danger, surely she’d take Dylan and run again.

Did I want to be that kind of dragon, though? One who kept secrets and didn’t trust my mate to stay by my side?

“The situation’s getting more dangerous. Sean’s working with Forrest.”

“Seriously?” Harley scowled. “I knew there was something sketchy about that cop.”

“It gets worse,” I said. “They’re both working with a criminal I drove out of Lakeview years and years ago.

Someone who I thought was out of the picture for good.

I felt like I could handle Sean and Forrest, but now that they’re working with Thames…

I don’t know, Harley. It’s another level of danger.

And I’m afraid it will end with you or Dylan getting hurt because of Sean. Because of me. ”

Her brows pulled together. She kept one hand at the nape of my neck and cupped my face in the other. She brushed her thumb over my cheek, and the gentle touch made my eyes flutter closed. “If there’s anyone who can keep us safe, Steph, it’s you.”

My dragon preened at the compliment, and something inside me relaxed.

She’s not running. She trusts us.

“But I’m worried,” she continued. “Not just about whatever psychos are out there, but about you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. This is my duty as the alpha.”

“What does that duty cost you?” she asked. “What are you going to have to do to end this?”

“I don’t know. But I don’t think I’ll be the same man when it’s all over.

” I didn’t know what I’d have to do to stop Thames, but I knew it wouldn’t be good, and it sure as fuck wouldn’t be easy.

It wouldn’t be honorable . I’d hoped to solve all this with honor.

Killing Sean was my nightmare, but if he’d challenged me, it would’ve been a way for us to meet as equals under the ancient dragon laws.

I’d just gotten out of the criminal world, and now Thames was going to drag me back in.

Harley pulled me closer and kissed the furrow between my brows. “Maybe you won’t be, but that’s okay. Your heart won’t change, Steph.” She placed one hand on my chest like a promise. “The clan knows that. You know that. I know that.”

“How can you be sure?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I just am. I know you, Steph. You’re my mate. You’ll do whatever it takes to keep us safe, but I know you won’t lose yourself. You’re stronger than that.”

Harley’s strength was my strength. She pulled me into an embrace again, and I slumped against her. Even though she was smaller than me, she held my weight up like a pillar.

I had to believe she was right. I had to, because I had no other option. If I failed to break the partnership between Thames and Sean, I could lose my clan. I could lose everything. With Harley in my arms, I vowed I wouldn’t let that happen.

I’d keep her safe, no matter what. Even if I had to stain my soul to do it.