Page 148 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Is this going to work?” I asked. “What’s your gut say?”

Langston glanced back at Trent. “We aren’t the best at what we do for nothing. We’ll succeed, I promise you that. Dallas will bein our custody soon. Once we have him? We’ll get him to fucking talk.”

36

AVERY

My phone rang, and my heart leapt into my throat. With shaking hands, I picked it up. Unknown number. My mouth, suddenly dry as sand, fell open. Was it Kyle, finally calling to get my answer?

It had been a day since the meeting, and I was at Cole’s house. Zayde wasn’t here yet. How would we trace the call without him? For a moment, I thought of calling out to Cole to come join me, but I had to know if Ashton was okay. Even though Langston and the others weren’t here, I was going to answer. I’d come up with some reason for Kyle to call me again. All I wanted was to hear my baby’s voice again.

Taking a deep breath, I answered on the fifth ring. “This is Avery,” I croaked.

“We’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty?—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I hissed, swiping the screen to end the call. My hands were shaking so much that I nearly dropped my phone.

“What’s wrong?”

I glanced up as Cole walked into the room, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Fucking robocall,” I said through gritted teeth and collapsed onto the sofa. “I thought it might have been Kyle.”

Cole sighed and joined me, putting an arm around my shoulders. “He probably won’t call this early in the morning. It’s not even ten yet. Stay calm. Farrah and the others will be here soon.”

The night before, we’d decided that Farrah and I would stay at Cole’s house. He wanted us close in case Kyle called. She and Trent would provide security, and Zayde would be there to track any call that came in. Cole, Langston, and Porter were going to North Crest later that afternoon to see about the tax-collecting thing and also to try to extract Dallas. Knowing I’d have plenty of support while Cole was gone did nothing to dispel the anxiety that was slowly worming its way up my stomach and into my heart.

“Just remember the plan, and it’ll all be fine,” Cole said, rubbing my back.

“You sound confident about that,” I said, giving him a wry smile. “I wish I could feel that way. You know how Kyle will react when I tell him I’m declining hisgraciousoffer of being his sex slave.”

I’d sacrifice myself in an instant to save my son without question. But we’d all come to the realization that even if I did agree, it wouldn’t go well. Why would Kyle give away his trump card? Him holding Ashton hostage was the only thing that could make me do what he wanted. Kyle had to know that once my son was free, I’d take the first chance I got to slit his throat. As scaredas I was about Kyle’s reaction, it was the only option I had. We couldn’t allow him to have both of us in his clutches.

“He’ll be pissed, sure,” Cole admitted, “but try not to freak out. Zayde will figure out where he is. From there, Langston, Trent, and I will take over.”

“Okay,” I said, but even to my own ears, I didn’t sound convincing.

There was a knock at the door, then Farrah peeked around the door. “Just me.”

“Come on in,” Cole said as he stood.

I rose as well, twisting my phone around nervously as I did.

Farrah gave me an awkward smile. We’d begun burying the hatchet, but that was one big-as-hell axe, and I might need a backhoe to fully bury my resentment and anger. Knowing that her father had forced her to do what she’d done didn’t make it any better. Honestly, I’d never had a great opinion of her because she’d always been so snippy and aloof toward me when Cole and I had dated in high school. The only thing that redeemed her was the way she’d already latched on to Ashton as family. It seemed the one thing Farrah really cared about was her pack, her family.

“What are you guys going to do with Dallas if you get him?” she asked, crossing her arms and leaning against the kitchen counter. There it was, that pack and family loyalty.

Cole shot me a glance before opening his mouth, but Farrah cut him off before he could utter a syllable.

“You aren’t going to hurt him, right?” Farrah glared at Cole.

Cole rubbed his hand over his face. “Look, I care about Dallas, too, but there are bigger things going on here.”

“That’s not an answer,” Farrah bit out.

Cole’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t want to hurt him, Farrah, but if it’s clear that he’s really on Kyle’s side, that means he’s an enemy.” Cole pinned her with his gaze. “And we will treat him like an enemy.”

Farrah glared back at him for several seconds. I could almost see the wheels spinning in her head, connections being made, realizations becoming clear. She didn’t argue with him, nor did she agree. Instead, she let out a humorless laugh and shook her head, turning to look out the window.

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