Page 11 of Pack Me Up
“Saint.” Jack’s voice is crisp and direct. “I need an additional two full teams for the upcoming tour.”
I try not to cringe. With my current staff, I can’t do that for him, and I can’t afford to turn it down.
My eyes drift up to Fox, who raises his eyebrows smugly.
I try not to roll my eyes. “I’ll see what I can do. Who are the teams for?”
“That’s something else I need to talk to you about, too. We are bringing Tommy and Brittney on this tour.”
Tommy and Brittney, two omegas they picked up on their last tour. Initially, I didn’t trust Tommy, but he grew on me. Brittney, I’ve barely seen since she stays away from everyone, especially alphas. Her family never came looking for her, so it was an easy job.
Jack continues, “We want you and your brothers on Brittney. We don’t need you specifically anymore; a different team will do, but she’s still running from her abusive past. If anything happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
The silence in the office is sharp. I glance at Fox, who’s watching me with a look that’s equal parts challenge and concern.
Jack keeps going, “I hear you fired most of your employees. I’m glad to hear it after the incident. I trust you, Saint. I wouldn’t want another security firm protecting my pack, my mate, and the people important to us.”
The incident. The incident where a member of my team helped his mate be attacked.
I take a deep breath and accept my fate. “Understood. You’ll have the bodies.”
“Good,” he says, and hangs up.
I set the phone down, careful not to slam it, and look at Fox.
He’s the one who breaks the silence. “So?”
I take a long breath, then let it out slowly. “Call your guys. We’ll set up a meet.”
His posture relaxes slightly. “They’ll answer to you. Or to me, if you want a buffer.”
“They answer to me,” I say, not blinking. “And they follow my rules. I’m going to want lots of progress reports from them.”
He nods, but there’s a glint in his eyes, something fierce and bright. “They will. I’ll brief them tonight.”
I look back at the spreadsheet, already reorganizing teams in my head.
It’s a patchwork plan, but it’s a plan.
Fox stands, straightens his shirt, and says, “You want me to run the first briefing?”
“I’ll handle it,” I say. “But you can stand next to me. Make them see what loyalty looks like.”
He smiles, this time for real. “You got it, Saint.”
He leaves, and the office goes silent again. I look at the loyal column on the roster, still short, still incomplete, but growing.
Brittney
DIRTY BETA GOSSIP COLUMN
THE HART’S EDGE IS GOING BACK ON TOUR
April 13th
Ispend the ride to the rehearsal space with my forehead pressed to the window. I don’t remember getting out of the car, but suddenly I’m standing in front of the building, the air sharp and electric, my pulse drumming in my wrists.
The Alpha Surge Records’ recording studio is where we will be preparing for the tour that starts in a month. It has rehearsal spaces specifically designed for this purpose.
