Page 20 of Thrown into the Mob

“Because he left everything to get me out of there, and his father will do you-know-what to him if he goes back.”

The gas-station guy was leaning closer, maybe trying to catch what Flint was saying, but it was Conrad’s grip on my arm that got my attention. He squeezed hard while I rattled off my explanation to Flint.

“You’re with Evander?”

“Not quite. There’s a second one, and he's coming with us. That's not negotiable.”

In the background Ranger asked what was going on, and Grandpa shushed him and said everyone should shut up and let me finish.

“Fine.” Flint huffed. “But I want answers when I get there.”

I hung up. The man behind the register was studying his phone, pretending he hadn’t been eavesdropping. I was tempted to rip the phone out of his hand and stomp on it, along with the one I’d been using, in case he recognized Conrad and was going to call the patriarch.

I thanked him, and Conrad steered me toward the door with his hand still on my arm. I didn’t have the energy to shake him off, and I was enjoying having someone else take control, though he’d pretty much done that all night.

“Your Alpha figured it out.” Conrad led me behind the gas station into the darkness. The guy inside was human, so he wouldn’t scent us out here, and I hoped the patriarch didn’t have non-shifters on his payroll.

“Huh?”

“You said ‘his father.’” He made air quotes around the last two words.

“Yeah, and he assumed I was talking about Evander.”

Conrad bristled at the mention of his twin.

“He doesn’t know you exist.”

His head snapped toward me. Did he think I’d just dismissed him? “I know. Father made sure of that. Whatever, so he thinks you’re with my brother.”

I wasn’t going to repeat everything we’d said because I was tired, sore, and worried about the repercussions of tonight.

“And you said it's not negotiable.” He paused. “Your Alpha’s not a fool.”

I replayed the conversation in my head. Also, Flint knew about fated mates because he, his brothers, and my brother had found their person in circumstances that made no sense, and they'd all learned that the bond didn't care about logic.

“He probably knows.” Good. I wouldn’t have to explain that.

A car passed on the road, and its headlights swept across the pickup. Conrad crept around the corner of the building, but the car didn’t stop.

“We need to cover our scent.” He yanked out a ziplock bag. “I kept these juniper berries for a reason.” He told me to crush them and rub the residue on my arms.

“We’ll drop the rest around us as we get into your Alpha’s car. It might confuse Father’s trackers for an hour or so.”

ELEVEN

CONRAD

I heard the car before I saw it.

It wasn’t coming from the road but a track that ran parallel to it, and it was fifty yards back from us, almost hidden in the trees. Whoever was driving knew enough to avoid the main route and had switched off the headlights. I was on my feet before the driver cut the engine.

Durand was dozing against the wall behind the gas station. He'd faded in and out because his wolf was trying to heal his shoulder. While he’d slept, I got up, intending to move further away. But either my dragon convinced me to stay or I did. We’d have to figure this mating thing out, but not now.

I touched Durand’s good shoulder and that connection we shared surged from his skin up my arm. “Your family’s here.”

His eyes opened, but instead of being dazed, he was alert and jumped up. He’d been trained well, probably by the people in the car. Though I didn’t know what sort of reception I’d get, the Alpha had agreed to take me with them. He might drive a mile and dump me, leaving me to fend for myself, but my dragon was a wily beast, and his skills tonight proved we were a match for Father’s flunkies.

But there was a hollowness inside me that needed to be filled, and deep down inside, I knew only this wolf shifter could do it. I’d been living a half-life since forever because of my family. But now I didn’t give a damn about them except for the danger they posed.