Page 72 of Bitter Discord

“That wasn’t part of the original plan,” Rhodes said quickly.

“The plan just changed,” I snarled, turning on a heel to walk out of the room. “Two, Heath. They’ll be there to keep the BSA honest.”

“Teagan and Kody it is,” Heath said, and I heard the victory in his voice as Rhodes fumed. “Sorry, Rhodes. She makes the rules. You know the saying… happy wife, happy life.”

“Fuck you, Everson.”

I went out to Landon, waiting on the other side of the hall.

“Your father just manipulated me,” I snapped, his eyes going wide.

“I didn’t know Rhodes was going to be at the meeting, or I would have warned you they hate each other. You didn’t say anything in the car,” Landon said, daring to lower his head. “As for that accusation of manipulation… I think my father was just pissed Rhodes was playing the nice guy who worked well with you, even getting thanked for it, when he’s been a major asshole to us most of the time. He’s two-faced. Never a liar, but never truly open. He’ll be your ally. He’ll also spy on you. I think my father wanted to remind Rhodes of that.”

“He’s never… done that before,” I said, looking back at the closed door. “He… he railroaded me. I understand his mistrust of Rhodes, but…”

“I’m completely loyal to my father, but I wouldn’t lie to you. I don’t think it was malicious. I think my father lost his cool for a second and lashed out at Rhodes because he hates the guy. He flexed at Rhodes, who is probably always bragging to others in different areas about how he gets to meet all the werecats. Rhodes gets to know you in some political way. My father gets…more.”

I snorted. “Men,” I mumbled.

“He’s really stressed, Jacky.”

“I know.” We all were.

By the time Heath came out, I wasn’t angry, not that I had ever been too angry. In the end, I had to admit leaving two werewolves with the BSA was the best decision. We’d considered it when we talked about using them as a tip line, so there was no reason not to do it now.

“Don’t railroad me again, please,” I whispered to my fiancé as we walked out of the building.

“I’m sorry. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing but felt necessary. He infuriates me. I’ve been trying to ignore it, so it wouldn’t cloud your judgment, but he was there, in front of me, trying to change the rules.”

“Did something worry you? What made you think it necessary?”

“He was going to do anything he could to find a loophole and use how grateful you were for his previous help to get away with it,” Heath replied. “He would have found a way to make sure his people were at the scene. I can’t handle that possibility. I needed something, and I needed to give him no chance to argue with it. Jacky—”

“Just don’t railroad me again,” I said, lifting a hand. “You know him better than I do. You could have just asked me to leave some werewolves with him before we came.”

“You’re right.” He lowered his head as we approached our vehicles. “I’ll do better next time.”

“It was very reminiscent of when we were the Dallas pack,” Landon said as he walked past us, my keys in his hand. “Now, time to meet the werecats?”

“Yeah,” I said with a heavy sigh. “Once a few of them accept the plan, we introduce them to the BSA agents and get them under observation. After that… we wait.”

“Patience is a virtue,” Heath said. The lines on his face made him look years older than normal, that stress Landon had brought up. I could see how much he hated not having Arlo safely with the pack.

I reached out and smoothed the lines with my thumb, him leaning into my touch.

“I was hoping he would come home last night,” he said, turning to kiss my palm. “Send a sign, a signal, turn his phone on… anything. Bringing in the BSA…”

“I understand why you don’t trust them, but no one else has a plan, and this is the best I have.”

“It is the only plan there is,” he said, sighing. “The other alternative doesn’t work for me. I hate the idea of putting Arlo’s picture on television for the masses. I hate the BSA, but I’ll deal with them, and I amsorryfor behaving the way I did.”

I smoothed the lines again, then kissed his cheek.

“Forgiven,” I murmured, then got into my car, sitting in the driver’s seat until Landon gave me the keys. He relented after a few moments, letting me drive. I couldn’t be driven around by a werewolf everywhere, not when there were werecats expecting better from me.

Heath followed us again until we reached the mansion, parking on the road for ease. As we got out, I saw Zuri walk out toward us.

“I didn’t get word from you. What’s going on?” I asked her as she came closer.

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