Page 40 of Faith and Fury

Now Micah looks horrified. “Good?”

I don’t even have to write the next sentence before Caleb grumbles, “We figured you’d say that.”

“Mmph,” Jaxon grunts.

“Say what?” Micah frets. “What are you guys—?” It must dawn on him then, his face falling. “Oh.”

I nod. I’LL BAIT THEM.

“You mean,” Jaxon growls, “you’ll be the bait.”

I shrug. Potato potahto.

It’s the most logical solution. Not only will I be on the streets, finally working alongside the RDF in earnest, but the ringleaders will have their guard down. I’m sure they’re desperate—their reputation, not to mention their funds, are all in the toilet. They can’t afford to miss this opportunity.

“No,” Micah says suddenly. “It’s too dangerous.”

Caleb rubs his brow. “There are … risks. Risks I wanted to discuss as a pack—” he shoots me a pointed look, “—before we came to any decisions.”

So that was his plan? Talk things over as a pack, deliberating as to which details I was allowed to hear?

There’s no use in being pissed, I urge myself. He told me, didn’t he? Even if I had to bully it out of him, at least everyone is on the same page.

Well, almost everyone.

Micah stands. “What good is it going to do, putting Faith on the streets? These guys are fast, and they’re silent. They’ve never been caught mid-traffic.”

“But they’re getting sloppy,” Jaxon says. “Just last night, one of their bookies nearly got caught taking off down a sewer grate.”

It’s hard to imagine the ringleaders themselves making that kind of mistake, but if any of their hustlers get caught, they’ll be in even deeper shit.

“And of course,” Caleb reluctantly adds, “we’d be with her the whole time. At least two alphas marking her, tracking her every move.”

Micah quirks an eyebrow. “You don’t think that’d look a little suspicious?”

“Hey.” Jaxon puffs his chest out. “I can be discreet.”

Neither of his packmates look convinced. Thankfully, I’m convinced enough for the lot of them.

I write, THIS COULD BE THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THEM RESURFACE.

Three sets of eyes look over my shoulder, noting every word. I can feel their collective sigh—the hot air on the back of my neck like a fog of protective pheromones.

For the first time since I got to Wilder Den, I can see it. My chance.

If finding the remaining ringleaders, finding Fang, means I have to put my body on the line once again, that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

All I need is a little extra help.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Caleb

Faith sits quietly in the backseat, staring out the window. She’s got her guard all the way up for the first time in days. I guess returning to the open air of New Caniss—driving through the streets where she was kidnapped in the first place—will do that to someone.

“Don’t worry,” Jaxon tries to soothe her, “we warned the guys to be on their best behavior.”

We pull up around back. Faith is stiff as a board as I put my hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside.

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