Page 46 of Secrets at Dawn
Toby nodded. “Well, have fun in Virginia Beach.”
“Why there?”
“Because it’s close enough for you to get back here on your own if something happens to me.” Not that Toby planned for something to happen to him, but they needed the insurance ofcloseness. Kinnison was an alpha, like Toby. The pack needed him, and so did the family.
“You’re a smart kid.”
“Thanks.” Toby waved. “Bring me back a T-shirt.”
Kinnison did that smile thing that wasn’t a smile.
Toby magicked him away.
Toby made sure his stalkers watched him put cash on Kinnison’s table right before he walked out the front door.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Griffin felt out of the loop, and it unnerved him. Even though he knew he wouldn’t hear from Toby all day, he still felt unsettled.
Not that he didn’t trust Toby. It was just that the plan put Toby in front of the very people who had already hurt him.
They’d agreed not to use cellphones and not to talk about the plan anywhere, including at the bakery and at home, just in case the bad guys were more organized than everyone assumed. But he’d searched the bakery and didn’t find anything. Then he cast a spell and still came up with nothing.
Griffin looked at the clock he’d put on the wall and then outside the glass bakery doors.
“He’s alright.” His dad was in charge of painting since he did a better job than everyone else, even Griffin. “You’d feel it if he weren’t.”
Riley was on a ladder, painting the corners where the ceiling and wall met. “Yeah. I felt it when Alpha Miller beat up Cass.”
Cass, who was banging away in the bathroom, putting in a vanity and sink, stuck his head into the hall. “I’m pretty surewhat Miller did went beyond just gettingbeaten up. But yeah, you’ll feel it. Don’t worry about him.”
Griffin sighed. “He’s an alpha. And not like Miller, who was a self-serving bastard. Toby will put himself in the line of fire if it means saving someone else. Me especially.”
Dad smiled. “I think he’d make a great alpha for the pack.”
“Right. Well. That wasn’t my point. We all have to make sure we don’t put ourselves at risk because if we do, he’ll step in.”
“Yeah, this whole plan did just that, didn’t it?” Riley stopped painting, holding the brush out. He frowned and then cursed when paint dripped onto his shirt. He put his brush in the small bucket he had and then climbed down the ladder. “Damn it. Cass, I messed up my shirt.”
Cass poked his head around the corner. “It’s fine, babe. That’s why you wore something old.”
Riley sighed and went into the kitchen, where the sink worked. He took off his shirt and ran it under the water. Griffin didn’t have the heart to tell him water probably wouldn’t get it all out.
“Anyway, I was about to say before the paint attacked me that we all need to have his back. I feel like I’m just spinning my wheels, too, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And I’m afraid it will drop right on top of Toby.” Riley continued to soak his shirt.
Griffin made his way down the hall, and that was when he saw it. Through the glass of the back door was the orange lick of flames.
Cass came out of the bathroom, sniffing the air. “Fire! Everybody out!”
Cass grabbed onto Griffin’s arm and pulled him down the hall into the main area where he’d just been.
Dad was at the front door, yanking on it, but it wouldn’t open.
He was also on the phone. Griffin hoped it was with the fire department. The call was quick. He held the phone as headdressed them. “They did something to the door. It won’t open. We’ll need to go out the back.”
Griffin shook his head. “That area is on fire, the door included.”
“Riley! Get over here!”
