Chapter Twenty

Brock watched the helicopter land, Jemma tucked against his side. He hadn’t let her out of his sight since the most recent attack. Hell, he’d taken her deeper into the woods away from the others and fucked her against a tree before carrying her back to their bedroom. He’d taken her again in the shower. Then a third time in their bed before they’d dressed and gone up to meet the others in the dining room. There were too many of them now to utilize Laramie’s office.

That was where they’d learned Lawrence had shared with Koby and Holt that there was another traitor among them. He hadn’t shared exactly who it was but had mentioned the man had allowed his son to be killed when he’d followed and tried to protect Matthew Holloway. Matheus and Milo had piped up then, sharing what they’d overheard while Oaks attacked Caleb. Though both men had been immobilized, they’d been conscious long enough to hear him yelling at what he thought was Caleb’s corpse, confessing to Roco’s death. With what Caleb had shared about the events leading up to the Holloway’s father’s death and Roco’s disappearance, they’d put it all together.

Laramie had reached out to Gabriel Erikson, the liger shifter who’d found Matthew’s body and returned it to his sons. Gabriel knew the exact spot he’d found Matthew, and the Holloways wanted to find Roco’s body and bring him home. Though Gabriel wasn’t able to come since his mate had only recently given birth, he sent his brother, Daniel, in his stead.

Tony Sandoval had come to the rescue again, flying one of his military-grade helicopters to Wyoming to pick up Laramie, Jensen, Caleb, and surprisingly, Titus, and took them to try to recover Roco’s body. They’d been gone most of the day but were finally returning. There’d been two bodies buried together in a single grave. Jensen had confirmed both were shifters. One was a bear. The other was a cat. They didn’t know who the other shifter was, but Tony was taking the body back to the pride of cat shifters in Oklahoma.

This time, when Tony landed, he shut down everything, then joined his passengers as they headed toward those waiting. Caleb carried a box, and Brock swallowed as he realized that was all that was left of Roco Oaks, a bear shifter who’d often seemed larger than life. Caleb’s face was ravaged from the day’s events. Brock didn’t want to think about losing one of his brothers. It had been hard enough to lose his parents. His brothers. Hell, no.

Tony and those who’d come with him were staying overnight before heading back to Oklahoma early the next morning. Daniel had brought his mate, Ariel, who was best friends with Slade’s mate, Rissa. The two women had spent the day together while Daniel had gone on the search.

“He’s home,” Laramie said, stopping beside Brock. “We’ll bury him close to Dad tomorrow morning around ten.”

Brock stepped forward and pulled in his brother for a hug. After a brief moment, Laramie squeezed him back. Brock felt his brother’s grief. They might never understand exactly what had happened when Matthew Holloway was killed. Somehow, knowing Roco had been there too was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The anguish came in knowing Roco had been left there all this time with no one able to bring him home.

Caleb moved toward the cabin he used. Titus went with him. In the aftermath of all that had happened, Caleb had gone to make amends with the man he’d shot. Since they’d chatted, Titus had stuck by Caleb’s side. It was crazy how things sometimes worked out. The two men had been pitted against each other but now, appeared to be forming a friendship. It made sense. They’d both lost friends and family during the attacks. They both felt like outsiders, though Brock hoped they knew none of the Holloways felt that way.

“How’s Caleb?” Jemma asked as Brock and Laramie broke apart.

“Holding up.” Laramie gazed in Caleb and Titus’ direction. “He’s leaving tomorrow. He and Titus are going to drive to Oklahoma and spend some time with Tony and his group.”

“What?” Jemma asked.

“Why don’t they fly back then?” Brock asked.

“Tony offered to wait and leave after we bury Roco, but Caleb and Titus want to drive. They both know they’re always welcome here, that they are members of this den, no matter where they roam,” Laramie shared. “And Tony will watch out for them.”

Brock knew a lot of people were quick to criticize the billionaire, but Tony was a man of honor. He took care of the men and women who worked with him. They were family to him. Shifter or not, Tony Sandoval was an alpha in his own right, and every man who followed him knew it.

“There’s Em. I’ll see you both in the morning.” Laramie squeezed Brock’s shoulder, brushed his fingers over Jemma’s cheek, then walked off to join his mate.

“Jemma,” Jensen called when they turned to head back toward the house. “How’re you feeling?”

Jemma gave Brock’s brother an odd look. “I’m fine. I wasn’t injured.”

“Not this time,” Jensen agreed. “But you shifted for the first time since you were. I meant to get some new blood samples and recheck everything. In all the excitement, I forgot to check on you.”

“I’m fully recovered,” she vowed. “You’ve had your hands full. Which reminds me. I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything,” Jensen replied, surprising Brock. Normally, that wasn’t an offer Jensen would make without knowing the request.

“I’d like to help more. I was hoping you’d be willing to give me some extensive training.”

Jensen stared at her for a long moment before nodding. “I’d like that. You’re a natural. I can’t train instincts, and you’ve got them in spades. I can help you hone them. Teach you how to field triage and more. Let’s get through tomorrow, then we’ll put together a training schedule. I need a promise from you, though.”

“Okay,” Jemma agreed.

“No complaining to your mate when I piss you off.”

Brock snorted. Jensen hadn’t said if. He’d said when.

“Deal. As long as you don’t run to Brock when I piss you off.”

Brock laughed then, but so did Jensen. It was good to see.

“Deal.” Jensen tapped her nose playfully. “Now, I need a hot shower, food, and a good night’s sleep. I’m exhausted.” He turned to Brock and pulled him in for a hug. “It hit Laramie hard,” he whispered. “Seeing where Dad made his last stand.” He gave Brock another squeeze before walking away. Brock knew it wasn’t just Laramie who’d been hit hard by that.

“Is he okay?” Jemma asked.

“He will be,” Brock vowed as he wrapped his arm around her and hugged her close. “We all will be.”

It was true. It would take time, but they’d get there. They’d gone through unbearable hardship and loss. Yet, they’d made it through. Now, five of the seven brothers were mated. Three of them expecting their first child with their respective mates. Brock had to believe that somehow, Matthew and Bethany Holloway were looking down on their sons and smiling.

“Let’s go to bed,” he whispered, threading his fingers with Jemma’s and walking back toward the house with her. He planned to take his mate to bed and show her how much he loved her. Tonight and every night for the rest of their lives.