Page 54 of Whatever It Takes

The hours I spent trapped in the vehicle smelling Briar and Keir no longer seems like the punishment I thought it was a few hours ago. If I have to scent omega sex, I’d prefer it to be related tomy omega.

“Could you not contain yourselves long enough to return to your own home?” I ask, rolling my eyes as the unfamiliar woman studies me.

“Easton,” Arden growls, swiping a hand over his face. His dark hair falls over his forehead, and he shoves it back haphazardly.

Chelsea bristles. “This is technically my house, but I’m going back to my other house. Nice to meet you.” She waves and begins searching for something. “Thanks for coming to help out.”

I chuckle and glance down the hallway at the bathroom once more. Almost no one has the audacity to speak to me in such a way.

I’m strangely relieved to see my team found a woman who will be strong enough to stand up to their overbearing ways.

Calder and Keir make their way in with their arms loaded down with bags.

I look at Arden, to see if he has any suggestions on where they should put everything, but he’s preoccupied with his packmate Kase.

“Put them down in the living room, but from the smell of things, whoever sleeps on the sofa tonight will need to disinfectit.” I snort, wondering if Calder was able to secure same-day delivery, or if we’ll be waiting until tomorrow for new furniture.

Kase and the pregnant woman begin to collect the items they must be planning to bring next door.

From my understanding, Chelsea rented this home, met Arden, Kase, and Lincoln, and somehow charmed them to the point that she now lives with them. I care little, aside from the fact it’s convenient that she comes with a connection to the information I need on Titus’s business dealings.

Or that’s the hope.

While digging into her history, Calder found that Chelsea’s baby’s father worked for the Manzo family, and Calder believes the man may have made copies of the proof he had against Briar’s brother.

Keir and Calder come in with another load of things, dropping them in the living room and following Kase and the pregnant woman back out the door.

Arden catches my attention with how violently his teeth grind together. “Tell me you didn’t bring a kidnapping victim into my pregnant omega’s home.”

“Briar is my assistant.” I snort. “Did she particularly want to come on this assignment? Not really, but it’s not like she’s going to report me.”

I keep the information vague, not because I don’t trust Arden, but because it’s simpler. If Calder is wrong, and we don’t gain access to the leverage I’m hoping we will, I’d rather not needlessly share Briar’s true identity.

“You’re a fucking lunatic.” Arden sighs. “Be careful that it doesn’t come back to bite you in the ass.”

“You’re welcome for coming all this way to watch your back.” My eyes narrow at Arden as Briar finally exits the bathroom.

Yes, fine.

I’m not above a little manipulation, even of someone I consider a friend.

I may have purposely inflated the threat assessment when relaying the information to Arden and his pack, but if there is evidence of the Manzos’ wrongdoings and it is on its way here to Chelsea in a package sent by her dead ex…

Well, there is a slim possibility Titus may send some of his henchmen to retrieve it. I just intend to secure that package long before Manzo discovers its whereabouts.

The furniture will not arrive until tomorrow, which is a pity for Keir and Calder. Sweet Briar and I will be sharing the small bed in the downstairs bedroom. There are also no plates, silverware, or pots and pans. Hell, they may be around here somewhere still packed away, but that won’t do shit for us.

I direct Briar to the downstairs bedroom to check if the sheets have been changed, and while she’s preoccupied with that, I send her boyfriends away.

As much as I would love to do away with them indefinitely, I settle for instructing them to pick up groceries, paper plates, plastic cups, drinks, and takeout for dinner. We’ll have to tackle the rest tomorrow.

We also never ended up stopping at a pharmacy, so I recommend they also acquire a thermometer and necessities for her heat.

Once they’re out of the way, I search for Briar, but she walks right into my chest as I take the corner into the downstairs bedroom.

She grunts, shoving the sheets at my chest. “Ask them to get omega-safe laundry soap. They’re clean, but that woman’s scent iseverywhere.”

Shit.

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