Page 287 of Secret Shifters Next Door

“Damn,” Dad said, nodding like he’d been expecting that answer.

A few seconds later, Dad’s phone chimed with a text. “Let’s go, kid. This Miles guy is at his office. Said he’s free.”

I gaped at him. “Me?”

“Yeah. You know these guys. You’ll be a good go-between.”

“Uh…wait. I know Blayne, and I’ve met a couple of the others for a total of like five or six minutes. That doesn’t make me some kind of ambassador.”

Dad grunted. “Well…better than nothing. Let’s go, kiddo.”

Twenty minutes later, we were at the front door of the security firm. Dad hit the entry button and we were greeted by a sultry voice. “Good afternoon, how may I help you?”

“Gio Francis. Here to see Miles Kelly.”

“Absolutely. He’s expecting you.”

There was an audible click as the door unlocked and we stepped in. A gorgeous woman at the receptionist counter looked up and greeted us with a smile. “Hello. My name is Kennedy. Mr. Kelly is down the hall. Third office on the right,” she said as she pointed us in the right direction.

We walked down the hallway and I kept my eyes down, terrified of seeing Blayne. I’d never been so uncomfortable in my life. We found the doorway the receptionist had told us about and walked in.

Blayne’s friend looked up and stood. “Mr. Francis.” He stretched his arm out and shook my father’s hand. His eyes flicked over to me for half a second before returning to my father. “Can I ask what’s so urgent?”

“The rest of your ownership team? Are they here?” Dad asked.

Miles nodded. “I called them as soon as I got off the phone with your nephew. Steff is finishing up a call and Tate and Blayne should be here any second.”

Before anyone could say anything, Blayne strode into the room. He looked much healthier than when I’d last seen him. His face had filled out and he looked much less pale and tired. The look in his eyes was absolute fire, though. He was not happy that we were here.

He pointed at Dad as he walked in. “What’s he doing here?”

Miles held a hand up. “Easy, Blayne. He wanted a meeting with us.”

“What the fuck could he have to say that we want to hear?” Blayne asked, his voice growing in volume.

“What the hell, guys?” From behind us, a new voice emerged. It must have been Blayne’s other friend Steff. “Getting a little loud, aren’t we?”

Dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have something I need to report to you all. Some intel my informants and family associates have brought to my attention.”

Blayne was seething as he stood behind Miles. “I don’t want anything from yourbusinessgetting near my boys or my company, Gio. Whatever your lackeys told you, you can keep it to yourself.”

Tate and Jared walked in while Blayne went on his tirade. Their expressions told me they weren’t totally surprised by Blayne’s reaction. They shut the door behind them and took seats on the other side of the room without uttering a word.

After Blayne’s outburst, Dad merely looked at him with a blank expression. He didn’t seem at all perturbed by Blayne’s words. “Maybe you’d change your mind about that if you knewunmarked cars have been tailing you and your families for the last week.”

All five men in the room went taut with tension. Glances bounced around the room, and entire conversations were had without saying a word. This was news to them. They’d had no idea, and that worried them.

“What do you mean?” Miles asked. “We’ve had our own teams watching us. They haven’t noticed anything.”

Dad smiled sadly. “I’ve heard your teams are good, but…uh…they aren’t used to looking for the same things my boys are. You’re being watched.”

“How did your guys know to even look?” Tate asked.

Dad shrugged. “A new group of young guns have been talking about trying to horn in on my business in the area. My brothers had some people on the lookout for them in case they decided to move in, so they were on high alert. The only weird thing was that they weren’t staking out any of my businesses or my family—they were hanging around you guys and your families. I’m here to warn you, and find out just what the hell is going on here. This ismytown. Whatever happens here is my business.”

Blayne opened his mouth, but Miles put a hand on his chest to silence him before he could speak. Tate, Steff, Miles, and Blayne all shared another look. Finally, Tate gave a nod and the others seemed to agree, even Blayne.

“All right,” Tate said. “You already know what we are from your dealings with Blayne’s brother, right? That’s what we’ve heard.”

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