Page 16 of Secrets and Ruin

Startled, I nearly dropped my cell phone.

“Damn it, Niko, don’t fucking scare me like that,” Dirk said as I struggled to keep my phone from hitting the desk.

“Welcome to Berlin,” Niko said, sounding stiff. “Who is that?”

Dirk said something in German, and Niko replied in kind.

I’m learning German.

“Well, he’s here,” Dirk said, his accent now as thick as I’d ever heard it. “Talk to you later, Jacky.”

“Let me talk to my sister,” Niko said, and I could see him holding out his hand. “While you get your things.”

“Jacky?” Dirk didn’t need to ask.

“Let him on,” I said, sighing heavily.

There was quiet for a moment. I could hear the activity around the airport, but nothing else. I waited, wondering if Niko was actually going to say anything.

“Now that he’s distracted… he looks good… comfortable.”

“He’s had time to adjust. He needed that time.”

“We all do… but that’s not why I wanted to speak to you. I’ve had time to think, and I wanted to ask something of you.”

“I’m all ears….”And full of worry.

“I would like to request that you keep Heath from contacting him while he’s visiting me. Heath is his Alpha, and I would prefer not to have him calling to order Dirk to do anything, even if it’s something simple. I don’t dislike him, but from this moment, he’s here as my son, and I won’t have pack business getting in the way of that time.”

I looked at Heath, who was still staring at his book, but I knew he was listening intently. When he looked up, his eyes were ice blue, but he nodded, silently agreeing with the request.

“That won’t be a problem,” I told my brother. “Dirk knows to call us if he needs anything, and if there’s something Dirk needs to know while he’s gone, it’ll come from me, not his Alpha.”

“Perfect.” He said something in German and didn’t translate. “With that settled, goodbye, Jacky. I will let you know if something happens.”

I said my goodbye as Niko hung up. With a heavy sigh, I looked at Heath as he closed his book and held it in his lap.

“Remind me to start taking German lessons soon.”

“I’ll join you,” he said with a knowing smile. “How do you feel?”

“Nervous as hell, but he’s there. They’re together. Niko will probably drive Dirk back to his territory, or maybe they’ll spend a day in Berlin first. I don’t know. Are you sure you’re okay with that request from Niko?”

“Well, it wasn’t a request for me. He was telling you he wanted you to play interference, but he didn’t need to. I have no problem with it. There’s nothing I could think to order Dirk to do while he’s visiting his father except to stay safe and… I’m not going to order people to do that. If there’s trouble, Dirk will make his choices, and I hope he at least calls you if there is.”

“Or Landon. There was no stipulation about Landon, but I bet that’s because Niko doesn’t know about them yet. Hopefully, Dirk finds a moment to reach out to Landon before things get too busy. I don’t think there’s anything planned for the trip, but… people invent ways to be busy on these sorts of trips.”

“Of course. Dirk’s gone back to where he grew up. He’ll probably want to visit old friends, see favorite places, do stuff with Niko.” Heath shrugged. “Landon knows that. Don’t worry about him. If Landon wants to talk to Dirk, he’ll reach out, and I’m sure Dirk will put aside some time.” He put his book down on the small table beside the recliner. “What’s next for you? Telling Zuri she’s in the clear?”

“That’s easy enough, then I’m going to bed,” I said, sending Zuri an email to let her know both that she could tell Jabari and that I was going to sleep. She got back quickly, telling me she would try to keep Jabari from calling for more information so I could sleep.

“And with that….” I stood, Heath doing the same. We didn’t head straight for bed, though. Going outside barefoot, I walked into the grass around my home and stared at the trees, my own form of meditation. A few minutes of this and I knew I would finally be able to relax and sleep.

It was nearly perfect until I heard a howl.

“Who was that?” I asked Heath, knowing he’d stayed on the front porch. “Someone in the pack just out tonight for a run?”

“None of mine,” he answered. “It wasn’t close, though.”

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