Page 31 of Mates & Mercenaries

“It doesn’t look like he’s brought many of his guards with him,” Rex notes as we step out of the car. “When I met with him last time, they were everywhere.”

I hope that’s a good sign. But there’s no sure way of telling, is there? “What about Kyle and Dean?” I ask Rex. “Or Fred and Ben. Do you think they will be here?”

Rex shrugs. “I don’t know. It was only Kyle at the meeting last time, so I don’t think they are all well-respected members of the pack.”

It’s almost laughable now to think about the respect I once saw in the mob lifestyle. I ached for it before. When I left the military, it was all I wanted. Now I couldn’t care less about any of it. It’s all so meaningless, so pointless, when there are more important things like love and family.

“Okay, well, that might make this much easier to deal with.” I shrug. “Let’s go.”

Sam and Creed are stopped at the door by two scrawny-looking guards. Why the hell hasn’t Edmund bothered to bring someone a little bigger and better? I guess he doesn’t play things the same way the younger alphas do. Rex did tell me he’s older and definitely out of touch.

I wink at them, telling them that Rex and I will be fine. They know what their role is anyway. We’ve talked about everything we’re going to do on the drive over here, so once they are certain that Rex and I are out of sight and safe with our own jobs, they will shift and deal with those idiots with no problem.

“Ah, Rex.” Kyle. I guess he’s more respected out of the group of them. “The boss doesn’t want to speak with you today. He wants you to stay out here with me. He’s much more interested in speaking to the man in charge of your pack. The alpha.”

Clearly, that asshole is trying to be demeaning. Little does he know that we’re going to be placid and play along with whatever games he wants to play. We aren’t going to get sucked into his bullshit little game. Not today. The player is being played.

“So, I just go in here?” I ask Kyle coldly. I don’t need to keep up any façade with him since I’m pretty sure he knows I’m not exactly his biggest fan. “This is where Hooper is?”

He nods and makes a sweeping gesture with his hands, indicating for me to go inside. I check with Rex, who is practically baring his teeth already, before I head inside. Kyle is going to regret every stupid word that has come out of his God damn mouth.

“Edmund Hooper, how good it is to finally meet you.” I say as I walk in. I don’t know if this is a meeting because he trusts us and wants to work with us, or if he’s about to unleash a serious attack on me, but until I can figure that out, I need to play it cool. “My name is Creed.”

“I know who you are.” He indicates for me to take a seat, which I do. “It’s good to finally meet you as well. I understand you and your pack have ambitions in Chicago.”

“As a city, it’s fertile and ripe for the taking. I don’t see why we shouldn’t finally be given a chance to have some power. Under your control, of course.”

He laughs heartily. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to have to go up against you guys.”

“You wouldn’t have to worry about that, Edmund. We like how you work. We think you’re very smart to come to Chicago now and plant that seed of doubt between all the mob bosses.”

“We used the same tactics in New York to our advantage, so want to take things further.”

I nod like I agree with every word coming out of his mouth, but the background research that Sam did showed otherwise. It seems like Edmund Hooper really is too old for the alpha crime game. He’s been run out of cities by younger alphas, so he’s trying to stake a claim somewhere else. He can lie to me as much as he wants, because for now I will pretend to buy it all. Whatever he is selling, I’m here to lap it all up.

“Well, a man like you can take control of Chicago and make it the great city that it once was. I’m happy to be behind you all the way, and so are my wolves. So, what’s the plan?”

Edmund seems to relax a little bit, much to my relief. “I think the main guy we need to take down is Evan Santorini. And the best way we think to get at him is via his daughter. Skylar. Now, I don’t know if Rex told you, but the plan at the party failed because I hired amateurs. But you guys…I think you will be able to do a much better job of everything. I think you can kill Skylar with ease.”

“Kill?”

“Yes. Evan has been blaming Mason Thorne and Griffin Hanwell. If that suspicion is already there, then her death will truly make Evan act. They might even end up tearing one another apart, which will make my job so much easier. I can just basically stroll in and take over everything. Putting you exactly where you want to be.”

Where I did want to be. He’s basically offering me everything I used to want. I just need to kill off the one person who has brought me happiness. I don’t think I could kill Skylar even if I didn’t intensely love her. She isn’t part of this world and doesn’t deserve to die for something that has nothing to do with her.

“I see.” I rise to my feet and pause thoughtfully. “That is actually a genius plan, Edmund. I’m impressed. I can’t think of a better way to take over the city than to make it implode.”

“I’m glad to hear that you’re impressed, Creed. I knew I was going to like you. Now, Rex said that you guys worked security for Evan before, so you should be able to do so again. You can get in and kill that bitch, and ruin the Santorini family from the inside out.”

“Yes, of course, we can do that. Evan Santorini has no reason not to trust us since we did a good job for him last time. We even took out the threat that we thought was from Mason or Griffin. No one ever suspected you to be behind it all. You did well there.”

“Well, that is something else you can capitalize on, then. The mistrust that is already there, make that work for you.”

“Can do.” I tap on my chin in mock thought. “There is only one thing I can see going wrong with all of this. Something you need to consider.”

Edmund stares at me curiously, not sure where I’m headed with this, but he’s eager to hear me out. Good. Fucker.

“You messed up big time when you decided to go after what belongs tous.”

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