Mates & Allies

Fifteen minutes later, after Jett had found a notebook tucked in the top drawer listing passwords to the computer, Randy walked into the office. “So it’s done,” the cougar said. More footsteps followed.

The little boy poked his head into the room, then looked up at Jett with wide eyes. “Are you the new alpha now?”

Jett nodded. “Guess I am, kid.”

“Are you going to kill me? My father said that if the new alpha took over he’d kill me.” The boy’s lower lip trembled.

Jett knelt down so he was eye-level with the boy. “What’s your name?”

“Malciah. But everyone calls me Mal.”

“Okay, Mal. I’m not going to kill you.” It was then that he realized that Mal had been in the den with the two dead bodies and hadn’t so much as blinked an eye. He’d thought he had a rough upbringing, but shuddered inwardly to think what this child must have gone through that death didn’t bother him. “We, uh, need to do some cleanup. Do you have a someone you can stay with?”

Mal shook his head. “I can go to my room. I’m good at going to my room and staying there.”

“Why don’t you show me where your room is at? We won’t be long.” Jett glanced at Randy. “I assume you have someone who can help with the cleanup.”

“I do.”

“Call them,” Jett ordered. “I’m going to make sure Mal is settled.”

Mal flinched a bit at the word choice, then flinched again when Jett stood and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Okay, Mal. Why don’t you show me to your room?”

The boy nodded and then led Jett out of the study. He didn’t shrug off Jett’s hand, though after a few steps Jett could tell the boy wasn’t comfortable with it, so he removed his hand. The house was palatial, and upstairs the doors lining the hall reminded him a lot of Redsand. “No one else was staying here?”

“Nope. They didn’t like Stella.” Mal looked over his shoulder. “I didn’t like her either. She was mean to me.”

A surge of protectiveness roared through Jett. “No one will ever hurt you again. Stella was mean to me, too.” He glanced at Mal, and though there were at least two decades between them, he realized this is what it must be like to be a big brother. He’d watched the family at Redsand, noticed how protective some of the guys were with their younger siblings. He’d longed to have someone feel that way about him. Now that he had to care for Mal, and who knew who else, he realized he’d defend this cub with his life.

Mal stopped in front of a door halfway down the hall. “Zeb and Stella stayed in rooms at the far end of the hall.” He opened the door. “There’s a safe in the closet. I saw it open once, and it had a lot of money and some guns in it.” He pointed to a large entertainment console, next to which was a mini fridge, and an open door. “I have an X-box and a bathroom. There is lunchmeat and bread in the fridge. I can stay in my room.”

Again his heart broke for the boy. He might have had an old shed he needed to refinish himself, but it didn’t matter if it was with a fancy video game system or a shed, being exiled was being exiled. “Okay. I won’t be long.”

Mal shrugged as if he’d heard that line before. “You won’t forget me?”

Jett’s heart shattered into a million pieces. “No, Mal. I won’t forget you. No one will forget you ever again. I promise.”

A smile spread across the boy’s face. “The claw won’t know how to handle you. They’re not used to nice.”

“I can be the alpha when necessary. But yeah, I’m going to run things differently. I’ll be back shortly.”

Mal sat down in front of the video game console. “You can shut the door if you don’t want me to hear what’s happening. I’m not supposed to know about the guns and the money or what you did to my father and Stella.”

“Thank you, Mal.” Jett pulled the door closed, then pulled out his phone and sent a text to his mates.

Stella and Zeb turned on each other. Going to hold a meeting and mop up. Do you think Redsand would take in another foundling cougar? Zeb had a son.

~* * *~

Randy knew the name of the system that sent texts to every member of the claw, and thankfully Jett had enough computer knowledge to find the program and sent a message telling the claw that they would meet this evening at the community center. Randy’s phone buzzed with the text so Jett knew it had gone out. He’d received a reply from Tavo. Mom says sure if you think it’s safe.

And there he was, a professed bad boy who seemed to only care about himself, now looking out for a child and having to decide whether that child would do any harm to Redsand. Not that Aristotle and Erielle couldn’t handle their herd or one eight-year-old boy. They’d certainly been able to handle him and keep him on the right path.

Randy had texted a couple of members of the claw who came and helped him with the bodies. Jett had introduced himself as the new alpha, and both men had been ones that had encouraged Randy to seek his help. They knew just how corrosive his stepmother had been to the claw.

“Well, she hadn’t been very good to my father or me,” Jett said, deciding to leave it at that, though when asked, he did tell them that Stella had killed his father.

So much death. So much destruction. Other than finding out what they were doing with the bodies, and that they’d be taken to the claw’s mortuary—shit the claw had its own funeral arrangements—Jett let Randy and the men handle things. He sat behind the desk, going through ledgers and spreadsheets. Zeb had run his claw like a mini town. No a real one, he realized when he discovered they had their own zip code and town name.

Blistering Rock.

Jett released a long breath, realizing he’d heard the claw talked about a lot around his kitchen table. He’d just assumed it was some name that his father had given Judah’s claw. Then pieces clicked into place.

Blistering Rock and Wind Rock.

Both had lost their alphas. He led both now.

Randy returned to the office. “I’ve got to get some things out of my father’s study and let his—my—claw know about the meeting. You got my number. Hold down the fort here and keep a lid on this information until tonight.”

“Will do.” Randy paused for a moment. “Alpha.” He pointed at the phone on the desk. “Take Zeb’s phone with you. His guys will probably check in. If Zeb doesn’t reply they’ll haul ass back here to find out what’s up.”

Jett checked the notebook to find the pin since there was no way he could use the biometrics to unlock the phone, then verified he could unlock it. He went into settings and turned off face and thumbprint recognition, then shoved the phone in his pocket. “Thanks.” He paused for a moment. He should probably give a speech or something. But these guys knew what they were doing. “I’ll be back before the meeting. Randy knows how to reach me if something comes up.”

He turned and left the house.

His phone buzzed. Need help? Deke texted.

I’m good. Claw meeting tonight. Hope to see you in a few days. He walked back through the town, feeling a bit odd as he looked around and realized he was now in control of all of this. He slipped into the forest, found his bike at the cabin, then headed for his father’s home. He wanted his family claw at the meeting.

Once he returned to his father’s home, he rummaged through the study until he found the papers and filing cabinet with an old green, metal box that he’d remembered as a child. A safe, the key tucked into the top drawer of his father’s desk, sat in the closet, and inside was more cash than he’d thought his father had ever had and a gun. Damn it, had any of the cougars not been involved in illegal activities? He grabbed the keys to his father’s old beat up truck. He maneuvered his bike into the back, then got behind the wheel, adjusted the seat to accommodate his longer legs, and put the safe and the metal box on the passenger side floor.

He needed his ponyboy. He needed wolfman. He needed Colt, and he needed his mates. His body ached, and a part of him couldn’t imagine standing in front of the cougars and announcing he was their new alpha without them by his side. And yet, at the moment, he feared bringing Tavo or the wolves into this would only make the situation worse. He sent a text to Tavo, letting ponyboy know where he stashed the key and asking if he or Redsand could come and redo the locks on the main house and set up security. A quick affirmative reply came back.