Page 26 of Mates & Mercenaries

The way Kyle is staring at me with contempt in this fancy-ass hotel lobby doesn’t make me feel any better. I shoot him a smile, but of course get nothing back. He’s giving me a death stare, like he might rip my head off at any given moment. He could do it too—I don’t think anyone here would stop him.

Kyle pulls his phone out of his pocket and glances at it, before staring at me like my whole world is about to change.

“Edmund Hooper is ready for you now,” Kyle tells me icily. “He’s waiting up in room three oh seven for you. You won’t be able to miss it, there are guards outside.”

I nod, then start walking up the stairs. I don’t want the nerves to show on my face. I’ll be able to get out of this no matter what happens. It’s going to be fine. I will be fine. Creed wouldn’t have left me behind if it wasn’t going to be okay.

There really are guards waiting outside the room that I have been sent to. Too many of them to go unnoticed. The hotel staff must know what’s going on, but are just too frightened or too well paid off to put a stop to it. I don’t get why Creed would ever want anything to do with this. Danger and drama every single day. I don’t want that. I really hope he changes his mind. It’s hard to tell with Creed, he keeps so much close to his chest.

The guards step aside to let me in the room, but the icy atmosphere doesn’t go amiss. Great, I’m hated already. The outsider they are never going to want to let in. Thank God Creed gave me a basic script to use to try to get what I want out of this meeting.

“Edmund Hooper?” I ask when I see the short, stocky man who looks much older than I was expecting. The alpha wolf position is usually a young man’s game, reserved for the sharpest, the strongest, the most powerful in the city. This man can’t be the best in New York, can he?

“You gambled on a chance at meeting me. What made you so sure you’d win?” He’s fierce, not to be fucked with. I get that energy from him right away.

I raise a brow and take a little step closer, trying not to show any fear. “I’ve got a keen eye,” I admit with a one-shouldered shrug. “I knew the game was rigged from the start, so I used that to my advantage.” Best to lie than say I got lucky.

One of Edmund’s men brings us two glasses of whiskey. I’m wary to drink it at first because I don’t know what’s in that glass and I’m no fool. But when Edmund clinks his to mine and tosses it back without a second thought, I take a sip. I don’t immediately die, so that’s a plus, but I definitely don’t want to drink too much of it. I don’t want to get even the slightest bit tipsy.

“So, why do you think I might need a gun for hire…Rex, is it?”

I get the sense from Edmund’s smirk that I was invited to this meeting instead of Creed because he would prefer to interrogate and underling rather than the pack’s strongest.

I get the logic, but that doesn’t mean I’m someone to be fucked with either. Creed might be the alpha of our pack, but he doesn’t act like we’re underneath him. Not all the time, anyway. There are times when he might not exactly consider us in all of his decisions, but most of the time we deal with things as a team.

“I could tell you that I understand how this game works,” I reply confidently. “That I’m the best of the best. That you won’t find someone with better aim than me. But mostly it’s because I have an in with the man you’re trying to take down. I have worked for him before, under cover, of course. He doesn’t know me.”

“The man I’m trying to take down?” Edmund tries to act causal, but I can sense that I’m on the right track. Creed’s intel was right—these guys definitely know more than he’s letting on.

“Evan Santorini.”

Edmund stares at me like I might be someone he needs to fear. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing. I hold my head up high, refusing to back down. If Creed is right, then this is a conversation that we have to have.

“You have worked for Santorini?”

“As security detail at a party. One he had recently with Mason Thorne, Griffin Hanwell, and all their men.”

Edmund’s eyes go wide.

“Of course, there has always been a lot of strife between those three men, but they are trying to work together in an attempt to deal with any threats coming from outside of Chicago.” I give him a meaningful look, bluffing that I’m already certain he’s the one behind everything. “Which, of course, made the attack inside the house much more surprising.”

“Attack from inside the house?” He wants to play it cool, fine, but I’m totally sure that this is right. Confidence floods me because I know I can make Creed and the others proud. This will also be a really great way for me to get them off Skylar’s back and keep her safe.

“Yes, there was an attack on Santorini’s daughter. It’s caused a lot of distrust between the three leaders. I’m sure it will only take one match for a giant explosion. Giving an outsider, such as yourself, Hooper, a chance to swoop in and stake a decent claim.”

“Ah, so it worked.” Edmund winks, and I’m so glad I have this on tape. It’s just the evidence we need. “Strong and smart, I’m sure you’re going to do wonders for us. I’m very glad you managed to figured out a way to meet. I definitely want you working with me, Rex, especially because you have an in with the Santorini house. But there was another member of your pack with you, was there not?”

“Yes. Actually, there are two additional members of the pack who would love to work with you. We all want the way that things are in our city to change.”

“To have more power yourself, I’m sure.” Edmund laughs good-naturedly. “I understand that much. I was once a young guy with ambition like you. I can help you get there. I would like to have your men on board as well.”

He hands me a pager, old-fashioned technology that can’t be tracked as easily. I’m sure all the mob bosses use these for their most trusted men. I don’t think I’m quite there with Edmund yet, but it looks like it won’t take me long.

“I will be in touch with you using this device. When I do, I expect you and your men to meet me and be ready for action. I want you to be prepared for battle. Because this time, I won’t just go after Santorini’s daughter, I will go after him directly. And any other men who think they rule the crime scene. I will light that match and set the whole city of Chicago on fire.”

I force myself to smile despite this asshole talking about ruining my city. But I know it won’t happen. We won’t allow it.

“Sounds good.” I reach out for his hand and shake it. There’s a real feeling of evil when he touches me. Something completely unholy runs through this man. “Thank you, Edmund.”

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