"It's not easy but that boy talks when it matters. I'll let him live until he's not talking anymore. "
"Do you know who printed the schedule?'Braden was determined that the bastard who had betrayed Megan would pay.
"I have it narrowed down. Unfortunately, Sheriff Jacobs was on the short list. The other two were Lenny Blanchard and Deputy Jose Jensen. I'm having a tail put on them; we'll have answers soon. "
"Blanchard doesn't seem the sort. " Braden shook his head slowly, thinking of the friendly desk sergeant.
"Those are usually the ones that make me the most nervous,'' Jonas growled. "Watch your ass. I can't spare a team out here yet, Braden, or I'd have one covering you, you know that. But I'm working on something, so hopefully, I'll have a team soon. In the meantime, I'll get an investigation started on the two deputies and see what I can find out. "
Braden nodded at that.
"And now for the biggie. " Jonas smiled with too much enjoyment. "You and the missus have tests to undergo. Think we can talk her into cooperating?"
Braden dropped his head. Cooperation? Megan? Now?
"One of these days, one of your Enforcers will end up killing you, Jonas. " He snarled as he lifted his head and dropped his arms. "And I'll be damned if I'm not there to see it. "
Jonas chuckled at the sentiment. "Hold that thought, buddy. " He smiled with all appearances of looking forward to it. "It's been a while since I've had a good fight; I think I'd enjoy the challenge. "
And there lay the problem. Jonas was rarely challenged.
He played where he could, never in a manner that endangered his Enforcers, but in ways that made them willing to kill him. At the moment, Braden understood the sentiment and he was certain Megan did as well.
She was hurting. He had felt it when she stormed out of the office, and as much as that worried him, it also sent a surge of satisfaction thrumming through his senses. The key to Megan was in touching her emotions, her heart.
She was fiercely independent, determined to make a difference, even if it was only in her own little comer of the world. She was a fighter, one of the finest alpha females he had ever laid his eyes on. With a bit more training, and the right shields, she would make a hell of an Enforcer. He turned his gaze to Jonas, wondering how his commander would take having a non-Breed on the payroll.
Jonas scowled back at him. "What?"
"She would make a hell of an Enforcer. " He kept his voice low; God help him if Megan heard him plotting her life out. "You don't have to lose an Enforcer, Jonas, you can gain one instead. "
Jonas's eyes narrowed. "She's not a Breed. "
"She's an Empath. And her gun collection is better than mine. " He snorted at the description. Unfortunately, he knew there was a risk. Her weapons collection rocked. "But even more than that, even if she weren't my mate, she's still my woman. I won't leave her behind. " And he couldn't give up the fight. Bringing down the remnants of the Council and the Pure-Blood societies was too important.
"You're not fighting the Mating. " Jonas settled himself more comfortably on the desk's edge as Braden watched him carefully. "She didn't seem pleased. "
Braden sighed wearily. "I don't like having decisions taken away from me, Jonas, even by nature. I knew she was mine, but I hadn't decided how to convince her yet. This complicated things. She felt the rejection of the idea of the Mating and now she's pissed. But she'll get over it. " She wouldn't have a choice.
Braden stood still as Jonas continued to stare back at him. He had that habit, as though he could see into a man's soul and gauge his worth. For most it was disconcerting; for those who worked with him and fought beside him on a daily basis it was a comfort.
"Okay. " He nodded sharply. "Build her defenses and her shields. And training her is your responsibility. I'll leave it to you. "
Now, he just had to convince Megan.
As a silence descended between them, the door snapped open and Lance Jacobs stalked back into his office.
"Get the hell out of here," Lance snapped when he spied Jonas sitting on
his desk. He then turned to Braden. "Megan is in her office, but if you're not careful you'll be hoofing it back to the house tonight. " There was no compassion in his voice whatsoever.
"I know where your mate gets her streak of mean from now," Jonas grunted to Braden as he slowly straightened from the desk. "It's hereditary. "
"You just keep believing that," Lance muttered as he moved behind his desk and took his seat. Slouching back in the chair, he watched both men with calculated interest. "She's going to fight you every
breath," he informed them after several moments passed. "And you can put a ban on whatever the hell you want to, Jonas, that's my damned cousin your messing with. She's close enough to be a sister. Don't think because she lives in that desert alone that her family won't back her. Every damned one of us. "
"Right down to the Special Forces uncles? Jonas arched his brow as Braden smothered a sigh.