Page 12 of Matched into the Mob

Damn. I was a fool. I had one choice and that was to come clean to my brother and tell him I wouldn’t be working today.

Being the older son, Flint was always aware of his destiny. And while he had no choice, it must have been comforting to know the direction his life was headed. For me and Hunter, our lives had been more uncertain. Sure our future was in the pack, but we could have broken the bond to La Luna Noir and gone off on our own.

Uncle Arnie’s two sons had done that, and his grandchildren, who were now college-age and older, had no connections to our family.

Being Beta of the pack didn’t mean squat. I used my initiative and worked hard but ultimately followed orders.

“Ranger, you’re late.” Flint was sitting behind his huge-ass desk in his huge-ass office. Or one of them. He had another at the club where he’d met his mate. Not that he was there as much as he was before he became a dad. The club was now Hunter’s responsibility.

“There’s a reason for that.” I tossed my empty coffee cup in the trash.

“Trouble?” Flint stiffened, always prepared for problems.

“Yes and no.”

Hunter passed by the open door, and I beckoned him in. He slouched on Flint’s expensive maroon sofa, and our older brother scowled. Hunter grinned, knowing how Flint hated his possessions getting dirty.

“I met my mate last night.”

“What?” they both yelled.

Hunter guffawed. “At the speed-dating thingy. Bro, you’re never going to live that down.”

“Yes and no.”

Flint leaned back in his chair, the one Tony had bought saying it was ergonomic. Shifters didn’t suffer from sore backs, but Flint, being a good mate, didn’t point that out.

I laid out most of what I knew: human, mate, Hawk’s information, Ben tailing him, and followed up with what Nate from The Daily Star had overheard.

Hunter leaped off the couch. “Ranger, I’m so sorry.”

I hadn’t expected congratulations, but that was a little odd.

Flint clapped me on the back. “That’s tough. Maybe if he dies, you’ll be able to mate.”

“What?” I screeched. “No one is dying and especially not my mate.”

Flint glanced over my shoulder at Hunter. They were no doubt mouthing something or my younger brother was making those weird-ass hand signals he and Flint used as kids. Sometimes Hunter and I ganged up on Flint when we were younger, but as he was older and stronger, he usually won an argument or fight. And other times, like now, I was the odd one out.

“You cannot seriously want to mark this guy? This Matt person?”

I’d been conflicted up until now, but I went on the defensive at Flint’s accusations.

“I can. He’s just trying to suss out some shit that Dane’s up to.” And there was a lot of crap to sift through. “I’ll take him to dinner and explain.”

“That’ll go down well.” Hunter paced around the office. “Ummm, you’re undercover in the mafia and I’m part of another mafia organization and we’re the bestest one and you’re my one true mate and you have to give up your life and live with me. AndI have to draw blood and mark you. And did I forget to mention I have a wolf inside me?”

“Fuck you, Hunter.” My nails transformed into my beast’s claws, and my canines elongated. While I wouldn’t shift in the office, I was tempted to punch him in the face.

My younger brother collapsed on the sofa.

“Fuck all of you.”

“Ranger, enough!” The authority in Flint’s voice gave me pause. “Sit.”

I took a deep breath and whacked Hunter’s legs off the couch and sat down. Leaning forward, elbows on my knees, I waited for Flint to rain down a verbal blow on my head.

“Mating a human is fine—I did it—but this guy is not our friend. He’s looking for dirt, and whether he finds it or not, these guys don’t stop. They’re relentless. You will forfeit your place in the pack if you mate him, Ranger.”

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