Page 127 of All In

“We’re not using Will. He’s one death rattle away from meeting his maker.” Ranger scoffs. “Grady will take Braxton’s place. They’re of a similar build.”

“You’re willing to risk your sister’s bonded alpha?” Tanner’s jaw falls open.

I’d laugh, but with the situation, it hardly seems appropriate.

“Grady has more lives than a cat,” Ranger says, rolling his eyes as the front door slams open.

“Watch it,” Grady says. I’ve only met him once, when he brought Annika over for a visit. “That sounded dangerously close to a compliment. Keep talking sweet about me, and I’ll think I’ve actually worn you down.”

Several others follow him in, including Ranger’s sister.

“By my calculations, you’re on at least your eleventh life. That means they must have reset after nine,” Ranger quips.

“Who are we killing?” Annika asks, planting her hands on her hips.

“A few stragglers from the Andretti massacre,” Tanner says.

“I knew you guys were trying to block your feelings in the bond,” Laken says, peeking around the half wall at the top of the stairs. “Someone needs to tell me what’s going on.”

My stomach drops.

Shit.

The house gets considerably louder as Annika and her alphas make themselves at home.

Ranger reluctantly fills Laken in on the situation.

“You want me to play this out for everyone?” Grady offers, chuckling. “She’s going to ask to come with us. He’s going to say something along the lines of absolutely fucking not, and then they’ll hash it out until she eventually gets her way.”

“You think?” Annika laughs. “I bet he locks her in his bedroom and leaves without telling her. Kinda like how he played me that night at the Andretti compound.”

“It’s my sister. I would like to go, so I can comfort her after everything is said and done.” Laken stares up at Ranger’s face with a pleading look that pisses me off.

In no way is he the only one with veto power to keep her home.

“You’re fucking pregnant,” I growl, stomping over to their side. “No.”

“No way!” Annika squeals from behind me, making me grimace. “You assholes work fast.”

“Thanks for sharing that with everyone in the room,” Laken grunts.

“He’s not wrong,” Ranger says, brushing his fingers over her cheek. “I’d feel more comfortable with you staying at the Assurance compound with Vale. I would trust her pack to keep you safe in my absence.”

“I would prefer not to be told to sit on my hands back at home like a good little wife,” Laken says, raising her eyebrows.

“How about a compromise?” Annika suggests.

“What do you have in mind?” Ranger asks.

Annika walks over to stand on Laken’s other side, but she looks at her brother. “Laken and I come with you to wherever you’re heading, but not to the meetup itself. Once you’ve handled the problem, Laken will be close enough to reunite with her sister within a few minutes.”

“That sounds dangerous,” he growls.

“Kane and Grady can go with you to the meeting point. Ward, Tanner, Cas, and I will stay with Laken.” Annika bumps her shoulder against Ranger’s. “I give you my word, I’ll protect her with my life.”

“I appreciate the sentiment,” Laken says. “But could you not do the thing where you talk about me like I’m not here?”

Annika snorts. “It makes me really happy knowing you’re going to call my brother on his shit for the rest of his life. And you’re right, I should have spoken directly to you. It used to drive me crazy when people did the same thing to me. What do you think? Is that a decent compromise?”

---