Page 20 of The Brave (Black Arrowhead #6)

A tticus smiled at the young server who clumsily spilled drinks while setting them on the table. He would never have hired someone as inept as her, but no one seemed to mind. Customers laughed it off, so maybe their expectations were lower in the Rabbit Lounge.

Calvin, the ornery Shifter who owned the bar, hollered at a naked man strutting in. “Goddammit, Kevin. You know the rules!”

The town handyman reluctantly pivoted and collected the trousers hanging by the door—something Atticus would never allow in his own establishment. Kevin had tried on more than one occasion to visit his club, but Atticus had instructed his staff to turn him away unless he was dressed, which he never was.

Satisfied, Calvin resumed his conversation with Bear. Though Atticus didn’t know him well, he liked Bear. Quiet, friendly, and completely devoted to his mate.

Tak gulped his tea. From their booth in the back, they had a decent view of the room except for the left side of the bar and back hallway area. Lakota, Krys, Montana, and Lucian were in a heated game of pool. Atticus looked over his left shoulder at the dartboards near them when Archer cheered triumphantly.

Virgil pulled a dart from the bullseye and examined the needle. “Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater. You put magnets in these things, don’t you?” He waltzed over to the table, collected a shot glass, and knocked back the tequila.

When he reached for another, Tak waved his hand over the glasses. “You know the rule. Only one drink after the house special.”

Virgil was intoxicated on sensory magic. Every reputable bar put a limit on how many alcoholic beverages could be ordered after a sensory drink—it depended on the strength of the magic.

Flattening his hands on the table, Virgil frowned at his Packmaster. “I was only going to deliver it to the fellas.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Story of my life.”

Tak briefly glanced at his phone. “If anyone wants their drink, they know where to come.”

“I’m a grown man.”

Tak snapped his fingers. “That’s right! The same grown man who climbed on top of this roof last month during the lunch hour and gave everyone passing by a strip show.”

“Fine. I’ll just indulge in a little debauchery instead.” Virgil sauntered off in his Introvert T-shirt. Atticus appreciated his wry humor, and it crossed his mind that if Joy accepted him, there was a slim chance he might wind up living with a pack of wolves.

These wolves.

Which made him pay closer attention to their social dynamic. Atticus had never experienced the true brotherhood that Shifters share. He had lost a few close friends and travel companions, but he’d never lived among a group as a family. And still might never. No matter how much Tak’s people loved Joy, he doubted a pack of wolves would ever accept a Vampire into their home.

That weighed on him heavily. Was it fair to ask Joy to leave the people she loved? While he could offer her luxury and safety, could he give her the same happiness and fulfillment as a pack? Joy was a wolf, and she had different needs.

While sitting to Tak’s left, he stole a glance at the alpha’s tattoo, the detailed tribal designs marking the left side of his face. He wondered about the meaning. Tribes often told stories in their tattoos and also used them to mark special events.

He cleared his throat. “Did Salem really have a job to attend to?”

Tak set down his glass and shrugged.

“Mr. Lockwood appears to be avoiding confrontation.”

“You think?” Tak rested his thick arms on the table, his black tank top stretched to the max. “He’ll get over it. You can’t run from anything in a pack. We eat together, and closeness forces you to settle differences. Salem feels responsible for what he did, and maybe he’s unsure about his place in my pack now that he doesn’t have Joy to look after.”

Atticus studied the room, his thoughts drifting.

Who will care for Joy if she rejects me? Who will help with the baby when she’s tired?

“Does everyone in the pack work?” he asked. “Will they have time to help raise a baby?”

Tak gripped his glass, and a rivulet of condensation dripped over his hand. “If Joy needs sleep, I’ll strap the baby to my back while I work.” He sighed thoughtfully and stared into his glass. “It’s her choice, but I hope she keeps it. A pack isn’t a home without the sound of children. The spirits brought us a special child to teach us something.”

“And if she chooses adoption?”

“Adoption is a beautiful thing, but it’s not an easy decision. If that’s what she wants, I’ll make sure the child has good parents. That’s my vow to her.” Tak brought the tea glass up to his lips. “Did you think this courtship through? You might be raising a child if she accepts you.”

Atticus detected judgment in Tak’s words.

Vampires couldn’t have children, nor did they raise them. Elders would cast a suspicious eye since it might be for depraved reasons. Children were easy to manipulate and brainwash, and some Vampires in the past had kept them as bloodslaves. Naturally everyone would wonder if he had nefarious motives.

He considered his reply carefully. “When I was human, someone murdered my pregnant partner. I chose to become a Vampire for the wrong reason—revenge. I never got that justice, and it haunted me for centuries. When you lose everything, you begin wondering about the purpose of your life. Pain like that changes your perspective.”

Tak laced his fingers but said nothing.

“Joy makes me believe in destiny, and I’ll never again let anyone harm the people I love.” He met Tak’s eyes. “Ever. That’s why I need to locate the laboratory and destroy everything associated with it.”

“You read my mind.”

Archer swaggered up to the table to collect a drink. “Important conversation?”

Tak pulled his braid over his shoulder and tightened the leather band at the end. “Call everyone here.”

Atticus had been listening to the pack grumble about his presence all night, and dragging them into a dangerous mission might cause a heated confrontation. “I don’t wish to stir up controversy among your pack.”

Tak leaned back. “That’s up for debate.”

The men filed up to the booth and scooted in. Bear claimed the booth next to theirs and twisted around to face them.

Archer craned his neck. “Virgil! Get your ass over here!”

Virgil glanced over his shoulder from the far end of the bar, but his interest was devoted to a deer Shifter he had been hitting on since leaving their table. Atticus sharpened his hearing to listen in.

“ No wonder you have those doe eyes,” Virgil purred.

Atticus shook his head at Archer. “Your packmate isn’t listening.”

Krys shucked off his leather coat and crossed the bar. After hoisting Virgil off the saddle, he put his arm around him and ushered him across the room.

“I love it when you’re rough, lover boy,” Virgil quipped.

From the tables in the middle of the room, Krys glowered. “Team meeting. Pull your shit together. Tak looks serious, and so does that fucking Vampire, who’s probably listening. And if you are, fuck you.”

Atticus nodded to let him know that he was indeed listening. While he could mute out specific frequencies and sounds, he preferred staying alert and aware of his surroundings. He scooted closer to Tak in the horseshoe-shaped booth to make room. Lakota and Lucian sat on the right side. Archer scooted next to Atticus, and Virgil slid in next.

Krys set a chair at the end of the table and straddled it. He wasn’t much of a talker, but men like him always had something on their mind. Usually sex, food, or killing, and by the dark look on his face, it wasn’t the first two.

They waited for Montana, who branched away from the bar. He had a confident air about him—easygoing with a good head on his shoulders.

After putting his wallet back in his pocket, he sat next to Virgil. “Sorry. I was closing out the tab.”

Tak violently coughed into his hand before gulping down the rest of his tea. Then he pushed his glass away and folded his arms on the table. “My father would be ashamed if his only son died from choking on an ice cube.”

Lakota clapped him on the shoulder. “I know your father. When he finds out you’re letting a Vampire into the pack, he’ll roll himself right into the grave.”

Tak shook his head. “All this time, I thought it would be my jokes that killed him.”

The two men laughed.

“Pump the brakes.” Virgil widened his eyes at Tak. “Does that mean the fang is in?”

Krys turned one of his silver rings while scrutinizing Tak’s indifferent reaction to the question. “They’re just fuckin’ around.”

“Is this meeting about Joy?” Lucian took a shot glass and slowly sipped it.

With a grim expression, Tak cleared his throat. “Somewhat.”

Lucian set down his empty glass. “She asked me to find out everyone’s opinion about the baby and her being a double wolf. So far, you all pass the sniff test.”

Krys put his jacket back on. “Is this about the Vampires we caught?”

“This is about the lab.” Tak scraped his teeth over his bottom lip. “If they sent those men down here to take out Salem, they’ll try it again. But not before relocating. They don’t know what happened to their people yet, and that presents an opportunity. Lucian has control of the phones and only received one message.”

“They don’t suspect anything,” Lucian confirmed. “I scrolled through previous messages to mimic the way he communicates. He didn’t use emojis or acronyms, and he also didn’t use punctuation at all.”

“Good job, grammar police.” Bear patted him on the shoulder from the adjacent booth. “What now?”

“We destroy the lab and everyone in it,” Atticus replied coolly without a whisper of doubt.

Lakota narrowed his eyes. “Including prisoners?”

Atticus wondered if they truly thought him a heartless man. “No. But let’s cut to the chase, shall we? If we seek approval from the higher authority, we risk an insider alerting the lab. Someone obviously gave them Salem’s location. Even if they didn’t, they would send Regulators to check it out. If that evidence falls into the wrong hands, it could accelerate genetic testing among these secret factions.”

“We have to do what’s right,” Tak said. “Even if it means doing this in secret. We have a duty to protect more lives than just our own.”

Riding on that remark, Atticus tacked on, “We destroy all documents—all evidence. Burn it to the ground. Free any captives and eliminate everyone affiliated with that location. Some workers won’t be on duty.”

Montana touched the brim of his cowboy hat and stared at the table. “What about the medical team? Salem was one of them. He said some of those guys didn’t know about the prisoners. Maybe they’re not all bad.”

“Do you want to take that chance?” Atticus snapped.

“Then scrub their memories.”

“Do you think a man of Salem’s intelligence would work in a secret lab without any clue what they might be doing? Even if he didn’t know the details, he knew about illegal experiments. A smart guy like him must have put the pieces together at some point, but he chose to look away.”

“He helped Joy escape,” Montana fired back.

“ After he grew a conscience. The only difference between him and the others is that he did something. If the other workers chose to stay after Salem freed the captives, that’s on them. They know what legacy they’re leaving behind with these experiments.”

Montana crossed his arms. “Anyone free of sin can leave this table.”

Atticus was losing his patience and looked to the Packmaster. “Maybe you should leave your pack out of it. All I need is the lab’s location and any additional information on workers you can find in that phone. I’ll do what needs to be done. I can assure you, when I’m finished, you’ll never have to wonder if they might come for you.”

Tak pounded his fist on the table. “They hurt one of my packmates. If that doesn’t entitle me to be involved, nothing does. Don’t presume to run this operation.” Tak gave Atticus a scrutinizing gaze. “How do you plan to do it alone? Can you take on more than one Vampire with your kung fu?”

Atticus lowered his voice. “My employees are skilled in more than just plating food.”

“And you want me to put my pack’s lives in the hands of a few cooks in your kitchen? They could blackmail you… or us.” Tak propped his chin on his fist and quieted. “I hear your concerns, Montana. But we don’t know how many people they’ve hurt and how many they’ll continue to hurt if we show mercy. You were a detective, so you know how these groups operate. We only have a brief window of time to act. How long do you think, Lucian?”

The Chitah’s dark eyebrows slanted, and his angled cheekbones gave him a menacing appearance. “A week. Two weeks tops. Their boss knows that because of the pack situation, it won’t be a straightforward job that’s done in a day. He doesn’t want his men to attract attention.”

Krys snorted. “That ship has sailed.”

“Maybe we should find out what experiments they’re running,” Lakota proposed.

Lucian rubbed the side of his face. “It’s better not to know. That information never leaves your brain, and that’s a dangerous thing to know when a Vampire can pull it out.”

The jukebox switched over to a noisy song, so Atticus blocked it out.

“Are you sure those Vampire bones can’t come back?” Virgil asked, his mind clearly not on the matter at hand. “I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. It sounded like someone was on the roof. I once knew a guy who knew a guy?—”

Lakota gestured for him to keep quiet on what they’d done with those men.

“Gather as much information as you can,” Tak ordered Lucian. “Especially on the workers. How many, their names, where they live. Work your nerdy magic.”

“I’m not a wizard,” Lucian grumbled. “There’s only so much private information a person puts in their phone.”

“That’s what you think,” Virgil quipped while playing with his necklace.

Tak stared at his glass. “We already got enough from the one we interrogated, but it’s smart to prepare for battle. The more you know?—”

“The more you grow,” Virgil finished.

Archer quelled him with a glance. Because those two were good buddies, Virgil took that as his cue to get serious.

“There’s no need to prepare,” Atticus said. “Give me the information, and I’ll handle it.”

“No.” Tak played with a turquoise bracelet on his wrist. “I’m not sending the entire pack, but I need assurance this is done right. That means seeing it with our own eyes. You need backup. How many of your people do you trust with something this sensitive? Think carefully, because the wrong decision could put our lives at risk.”

Atticus gave it consideration. “Two.”

Tak directed his gaze at Lakota. “Maybe I should send Melody. She’s good with a bow.”

“Yeah, but her wolf isn’t strong enough to fight a Vampire,” Lakota pointed out, his heart accelerating.

He’s afraid for her.

Tak scanned everyone’s faces. “I don’t want my second-in-command or third to go, so if I have to choose another wolf who’s right for this job, it’s Krys.”

“Fuck yeah.” Krys straightened up. “But I’m not riding with the fang.”

Tak wagged his finger at him. “You’ll do what I command. Keep an eye on our friend, especially since he’s courting one of my packmates. Let’s see if he’s true to his word. I can’t invite someone into my home without knowing what kind of man he is in all situations.”

Archer rubbed his left shoulder. “I can go too.”

Tak shook his head. “Four is enough. The rest of you need to stay behind and protect the house in case they send someone while we’re planning an attack. We have two pregnant women to think about and, if we’re lucky, two babies.”

Lakota perked up. “You mean you’re having twins?”

Tak gave a sly smile. “I should be so lucky. Hope doesn’t like it when I talk about triplets.”

Leaning back, Lakota snorted. “ One of your giant babies inside my sister is enough.”

Virgil stood and stretched. “Are we done male bonding? I have unfinished business back at the bar.” He stretched so hard that his joints cracked. “You fellas need to loosen up and save the team meetings for home,” he added before snapping his fingers to the music and strutting back to the bar.

“Taz!” Archer called out, using Virgil’s nickname. Then he slid out of the booth. “I’ll keep an eye on him. He’s been trying to sip other people’s drinks to keep his buzz going.”

The men filtered out of their seats and resumed their activities.

Tak crossed his arms and directed his words to Atticus. “I’ll introduce Krys’s wolf to you and your employees before you leave.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that.”

Tak barked out a laugh. “You’ve never met his wolf, have you? He hates people. All people. If you don’t meet him first, he’ll turn on you. Chew up that pretty little face of yours.”

Atticus held the silence for a moment. “Do I have your permission to court Joy?”

Tak’s eyebrows arched. “Why would you ask me?”

“In my day, you gained the family’s respect and approval. I want to do it right this time. You’re the closest she has to a father.”

Tak’s cheeks flushed so subtly that only Atticus would have noticed. “Joy is a grown woman who makes her own choices. But if you need my permission, you have it.”

“She hasn’t accepted me, and I can’t assume she ever will. But if she does, and if you invite me into the pack, I have a request.”

Tak’s brow furrowed. “And what’s that?”

“Obviously I don’t sleep, but I still need a place of respite—a structure with soundproof walls. Even at night, a house is too noisy with the snoring, whispering, and lovemaking. People get up to use the bathroom and eat. And I think your people would feel more at ease if they didn’t feel like someone was invading their privacy. I can’t turn my ears off all night. Silence is needed for our mental health. The ones who ignore those basic needs eventually go mad.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“You have a lot of land, and it seems reasonable to build a cottage off to the side. With my money, of course. Nothing large or intrusive, and this would only be used at night for privacy. I can soundproof the entire structure the way I like to block out?—”

“Nature?”

“More like your wolves howling. If Joy would rather sleep in the main house, that’s something we can work out. I can stay with her until she falls asleep, but for sanity’s sake, I need a quiet place every once in a while.”

Tak ran his hand over his bronzed arm. “It’s bad luck to plan a future when the decision lies with someone else.”

“Fair enough.”

After a stretch of silence, Tak sighed. “But… my father’s tribe has multiple communities. I’m not saying you’re in the pack, but for the sake of conversation, let’s just say that I place more value in a family being together when it matters—work, meals, and play. Lucian is an introvert, but he eats with the pack and goes out with us even though he’d rather be at home on his computer. He understands that you can’t live alone with others.”

They simultaneously looked at Lucian, who was staring at his phone while Montana sank another pool ball.

“Even though he’s a Chitah, I’m still his Packmaster. Maybe you should decide how easy it would be for you to follow another man, because no one is above me in this pack. That’s the only way wolves can live. We thrive on hierarchy; otherwise, our group falls apart. Lucian’s customs aren’t dissimilar from ours, so we relate. Disagreements happen, and I respect everyone’s input. But at the end of the day, my pack falls into line.” He shook his head. “Some concessions I can make, but antagonism’s not one of them. If you butt heads with me in front of the pack, you threaten the stability in my house. They’ll either fight you or follow your lead, and neither is acceptable. It won’t work unless you respect our ways.”

Atticus nodded. “Your customs are familiar to me. I appreciate what you value.”

Tak’s eyebrows arched. “So you know that your money will no longer be yours alone?”

Atticus raked his teeth over his bottom lip. That realization had crossed his mind, but he was uncertain how it would work.

“There’s a pack fund and a personal fund,” Tak continued. “Mercy handles the money. It’s about trust, but it’s also about sharing your wealth. No packmate can be above another if he shares his money. If one person buys a Ferrari, another can’t complain if that wealth puts food on our table, pays for Relics, funds vacations and repairs, secures more land, and supports future generations. You’ve always lived for yourself, but tribes and packs survive because we live for each other.” He laced his fingers in a prayerlike gesture. “Together makes us stronger and happier.”

Tak was right, but Atticus had always strategized his finances to make sure he would never lose them. The thought of turning everything over to a wolf didn’t seem practical long-term.

Atticus tapped his finger against the table. “Let me be candid. I’m old, and I know how to thrive financially and socially. But I’ve always felt like something was missing. When you’re my age, you begin to wonder if you’re dead inside. I’ve spent more time recently around humans and packs to do a little soul searching. It wasn’t until Joy that I knew what’s been missing all along.”

“And what’s that?”

“Family. I only had a taste of that life long ago. When you become a Vampire, you surrender yourself to the idea that you’ll never have a family. If sharing my wealth is the sacrifice needed, that’s trivial. But I can’t promise to share all my wealth and have it kept here. I’ve spent centuries amassing a fortune to secure my future. I may outlive your pack and their descendants. It’s not uncommon for packs to dissolve when their leaders die or strong alphas form their own packs.”

Tak smoothed back his dark hair, his eyes on the pool tables. “It may be premature for this conversation.”

“Yes, but it must be had. I’ll gladly share what we both deem fair—enough to ensure the pack thrives. My situation is unique, so I hope you understand.”

“We can protect your assets.”

“Some have to be stored elsewhere.”

Tak didn’t seem keen on this notion. “What if you lose them?”

“I’m more likely to lose everything if I keep it all together. Is your house big enough for my art collection? How do you feel about nude statues?”

Tak snorted. “You can put them in Virgil’s bedroom.”

“I also own land and property, which is more valuable than cash. Money won’t be a problem. With the income from my club, there’s plenty to go around. If any of your packmates need a job, I can always use more bouncers.”

“What is it about Joy that makes you want to turn your life upside down? Why her and not one of your own?”

Atticus searched for the words to describe his emotions, and as he did, a warmth radiated in his chest. “You and I see things differently. Being with Joy won’t turn my life upside down; it’ll turn it right side up. I’ve known many women who were beautiful, intelligent, and kind. Truthfully, I never wanted a relationship—not after failing to save my first love.” He rested his arms on the table and faced Tak without looking him in the eye. “The moment I met Joy, this feeling came over me I can’t describe. Like a missing piece returned to the puzzle. I’ve heard people talk about this before, but I’ve never felt it myself. My first love was the woman I wanted to live for. Joy is the woman I’d die for. She’s the reason for my three thousand years of existence.” Atticus chuckled softly. “So I can’t screw this up. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn her love and trust.”

The alpha pushed around the empty glass of ice. “Let me allay your fears—that brave little wolf loves you.”

“She’s interested.”

Tak’s brown eyes twinkled. “For an old man, you’re not very perceptive. I could say it’s impossible in the short time you’ve known each other, but then I’d be a hypocrite. I didn’t need months or years to figure out that Hope was my life mate. Our wolves know. But that doesn’t entitle us, and we still have to earn their respect. I don’t know what kind of Vampire voodoo you have to know such things.”

“Neither do I.”

Tak pointed his finger against the table, and the tension crackled. “If I ever find out that you’ve manipulated her emotions with your magic, I will end you. Joy is precious, and I won’t let anyone take advantage of her.”

Atticus bristled at the suggestion. “I don’t use my gifts on people in my life unless they ask. Magic requires consent. My gifts aren’t inherently wicked, and there are legitimate reasons why people use Vampires to help them forget or remember things. But consent goes both ways. People have used us for our blood—to heal or heighten their senses. Just because my blood has healing properties doesn’t entitle anyone to it—not without my consent.”

Tak wrinkled his nose. “Needn’t worry about that. I don’t even like my steak rare.”

Atticus shifted topics. “As long as that lab is still operating, you’re not safe. I’d like permission to stay on your property for the week. It’s close to the club and easy to get back and forth, and I can also keep an eye on your house and Joy.”

Tak frowned. “In my house?”

“No. If the heat house is vacant, I can stay there. It would give me a chance to shower before work. Besides, I’ll have more time with Joy—perhaps all the time she needs to make up her mind.”

After heaving a sigh, Tak muttered, “Never did I think I’d let a Vampire sleep on my land. Fine. You can stay in the heat house.”

“Splendid. I’ll just need to have my coffin shipped out before morning.”

After a blank stare, Tak threw back his head and gave a riotous laugh that caught everyone’s attention. “I didn’t realize you had a sense of humor, Atticus Rain.”

“Wait until you see my sculpture collection.”