Chapter 3

It's weird being back on the East Coast. I grew up here, but I've spent the last few years in Vegas. Being three thousand miles away from my mom and sister wasn't easy, but they both rely on me to help keep them afloat, so I went where the money was good.

No one else pays like Canton Forbes does.

I started working for the man when I was struggling to adjust to life as a civilian, and he was looking for someone with a military background.

It took a couple of years, but I gained his trust, and eventually, I took the second-in-command position, running security for Canton's son, Cassian.

For growing up with one of the most notorious mob bosses in Vegas, Cas took a different path to success. Most of his business ventures are on the up and up. Before he found himself tangled up with the spunky little omega he recently bonded, it was a downright easy job to keep Cas safe.

Once Cas met Annika, everything flipped ass over tits. I'm still recovering from a stab wound to the side that I took when a rival mafia family made a move to collect Annika from Cas's house back in Vegas.

Luckily, I survived that skirmish.

For my success in keeping that night off the radar of the Vegas police department, I earned a one-way ticket to Boston to, once again, take over my position working security for Cas.

I've got little hope I won't be fired on the spot, but I'm resourceful. Also, my little sister has two years left to get her bachelor's, and she wants to go for her master's degree. That means I'll beg if I need to.

Dropping my duffel bags at my feet, I knock on the door of the hotel room I was told to show up at.

"Holy shit! It's Beefcake," Annika says through the closed door.

I grin, waving at the peephole.

She's beautiful, but a whole bundle of trouble I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. And not just because she's bonded to my boss. Her real last name comes with too many enemies for my liking, but she's fun and Cas seems happy. If she lets me stick around, I'll continue to talk her up to Cas's old man.

The door pops open, and the brown-haired omega plants her hands on her hips. "You look a lot better than the last time I saw you."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You mean, when your alpha almost put a bullet in my chest for having the audacity to survive the siege at Cas's mansion?"

"Yeah, that," she agrees, stepping back. "Ward is out getting food, but Cas is here. Come in."

Ward used to run security for Cas, but Annika claimed him for her pack. It's not exactly shocking.

Ward and Cas have always been more like brothers than boss and employee.

It just places me in a precarious position.

Annika has three well-trained alphas in her pack, outside of Cas. It's highly unlikely they're going to need me, and even less likely that they'll want me around while they're in their honeymoon stage of bonding.

Too bad for them.

I'm not giving up without at least trying to fight for my job.

Going back to work directly for Canton is an option, but I'm getting older. Distancing myself from some of the illegal bullshit he's into seems like a logical choice for my future—if I can pull it off.

Meaning, it's time to charm the hell out of my boss's omega and pray she'll advocate to keep me around.

I drop my stuff just inside the door and toss myself down on the bed closest to the exit.

Annika's eyebrows rise. "I think Ward and Cas forgot to mention you were coming."

The bathroom door opens. Steam billows as Cas comes out, yanking his T-shirt down. "My father mentioned sending him to provide backup assistance, but I assured him it wasn't necessary."

I stand, striding over and offering my hand. "I heard about what happened in Kentucky. From what Canton said, even more will be happening tonight or tomorrow."

"He's right about that," Annika adds.

"Put me to work," I say with a laugh.

Cas frowns, shaking my hand. "You know I appreciate all you've done, but I'm afraid I won't be living in Vegas any longer."

My heart drops.

It's not like I can't find another job, but finding one that pays well enough that I can keep up my lifestyle and bankroll my mom and little sister is a different story.

Cas goes on, saying, "Annika is more comfortable in Virginia. I can't ask you to relocate?—"

"I'm willing. I grew up on the East Coast. Your father assigned me out here. This is where I intend to be." I glance between Cas and Annika, who sits on the edge of the bed closest to the bathroom, but neither says anything, so I go on. "Why are you in Boston, anyway?"

The Andretti family attacked Cas's house in Vegas, trying to kill or kidnap Annika. The Andrettis are based out of Boston. The only reason I can think of to explain why they're here is that they're going on the offensive.

Cas glances at Annika, and I'm a little shocked.

I refocus on the omega because she's apparently in control of what information I'm allowed to be let in on. It's kind of wild, considering Cas has always gone for women who would make a good trophy wife.

"That's complicated," Annika says.

I paste on my signature grin, since I have good luck winning over women with it.

"I got stabbed making sure the five of you could make a safe exit from Vegas," I say, referencing her and her pack. "Don't hold out on me. I'm part of the team."

Fake it until you make it, right?

"Have you heard of the Andretti family?" she asks.

I nod.

"There used to be three brothers. They killed my parents three years ago. Right after that, Marco Andretti tried to kidnap me." Annika stares straight into my eyes as she shrugs. "I killed him, ran, and got a new name. I made it three years without them locating me, but they found me in Vegas."

My mind races.

I figured it was something along those lines. "So, that was a kill squad in Vegas?"

"At Cas's house? Probably," she says. "Anyway, the middle brother, Ezrah, attacked us in Kentucky."

"He joined his younger brother in the grave," Cas says, drawing my attention. "However, one brother remains."

"The oldest," I say to show them I'm following.

"Exactly," Annika agrees. "Lucien Andretti is the head of the family and the only living brother out of the three." She gives a wicked smile that makes me sure she's more dangerous than I ever would have guessed. "He and I have a reckoning coming for more than one reason. I won't get into all that, but his family has long been involved in human trafficking up and down the East Coast. He also kidnapped someone important to me." She frowns. "Okay, not me personally, but I got my roommate tangled up in my mess, and somehow, they kidnapped her little sister, thinking she was Lyra. Laken has been with them for days, and there's no telling what she's had to endure."

My fists clench.

I don't like the sound of that at all. It's so easy to imagine my little sister in her place. I might not support all of Canton Forbes's illegal activities, but one thing I know for a fact is that he's not into anything like human trafficking or kidnapping helpless women.

And rightly fucking so.

There are some things that should be off-limits.

Cas clears his throat. "Everything that comes next will be highly illegal. We intend to retrieve Laken Spencer and end Lucien once and for all. I can't ask you to participate?—"

"You don't have to," I say, rolling my shoulders back. "I have a little sister. I'm in."

Cas's head shakes. "This isn't guarding a shipment of guns in one of my father's trucks?—"

"I fully understand what something like this entails. Let me prove that I'm a valuable asset. Financially, I need this job. But more than that, I'm morally with you." I give Annika a pleading look, since I'm pretty sure she's actually in charge here.

She shrugs, eyeing Cas. "It's really his call."

Cas swipes a hand through his dark hair. "Fine, but I have no idea where we'll put you. The five of us are sharing one room because the hotel is booked up with all the teams that came in to help."

"I know of a room with only one person." Annika's eyes sparkle, making me a little nervous. "My brother is solo, and I know for a fact that he has a spare bed."

I nod, wondering why that's such a funny prospect. "I'll take it."

"There's probably a little more we should fill you in on before you agree," Cas says ominously.

Annika laughs. "I will guarantee Cas continues to keep you on the payroll indefinitely if you do me a favor."

A slow smile crosses my face.

I don't even need to hear the terms.

"Deal."

"This is going to be fun," Annika says, standing outside the door to her brother's room. "I just need you to be yourself. That's all."

I scratch my beard, trying to figure out if she's setting me up right now. "I'll do my best."

She slams the key card in her hand into the door lock and pops the door open. A man with shaggy, curly brown hair stands next to the small table.

He's got a huge map in his hands, and his head swivels up as he spots us. "May I help you?"

"We gained a buddy from Canton Forbes." Annika smiles. "Tanner, this is Ranger. Ranger, meet Tanner."

"No," he says simply. "Close the door on your way out. I'm strategizing."

Annika snorts, yanking the door shut. "That went well."

I quirk an eyebrow because I can't decide if she's fucking with me right now.

"You can sleep on the floor in our room tonight." She shrugs. "It's going to take a little time to get him to warm up to you. We'll do a couple more short introductions until I'm sure he won't stab you on sight, and then we'll be good to go."

I scoff.

I'm pretty sure that guy just acts like a dick because everyone allows him to get away with it, but I'm charming and persistent.

I'll win him over in no time.