Page 35 of Back to You
“The only person I really have in my life is my best friend, so I agree.”
“Well, maybe he’d be interested in having a pack, too.”
Vincent blinked.He hadn’t thought of that, but he could see it.“I’ll mention it to Peter.He’s not doing very well right now, though, so I’m not making any promises.”
Cam frowned.“Is there anything I can help with?”
“It’s just a bad breakup.He’ll be fine, but he’s going to need some time to heal.”
“I see.I’m happy to be out of the dating pool.”
“You’re not the only one.”Eventually, Peter would have to start dating again, but that wasn’t what he needed to focus on right now.It wasn’t what hewantedto focus on right now, either.
“Well, let us know if you need any help moving,” Cam said as he got to his feet.“You have an entire pack at your disposal, and I know that most of us will be happy to pitch in.”
Vincent looked at Ronan.They hadn’t actually talked about him moving in yet, but they needed to.“We’ll let you know.”
* * * *
THAT WASN’T WHAT RONANhad expected from their meeting.To be fair, he hadn’t known what to expect from the meeting at all.He’d known Vincent had wanted to talk to Cam about becoming a pack member, but he hadn’t realized it would come with five million dollars.
That was a whole lot of money that Vincent was giving up.It hadn’t been necessary for him to become a pack member, but Ronan thought it would help smooth things out.Most people would be welcoming because Vincent was Ronan’s mate, but a few of them wouldn’t be happy to have Vincent around.It wasn’t even that they might think he’d been involved with what his father was doing.He was a reminder of what had happened to them.
He was a reminder of what had happened to Ronan, too.Sometimes, that made it hard to look at him, but Ronan had promised himself that he wouldn’t allow Fulton to continue ruining his life, and he’d meant it.Vincent was his future.Ronan would work as hard as he could to forget the past and focus on the future.
“That went well,” Vincent said when they left the house.
“You didn’t expect things to go badly, did you?”
“I don’t know.It would’ve been easier for Cam to say no, wouldn’t it?It would’ve kept his pack peaceful.”
“It’ll stay peaceful.You don’t have to worry about people bothering you.”
“I don’t.I know Cam has everything under control.”
They started walking.Ronan didn’t have anywhere in mind, but he couldn’t help thinking about the conversation they’d had.“You didn’t tell me about the money.”
Vincent grimaced.“I’m sorry.Did you want to keep it?”
“I want nothing to do with it.I’m just surprised you didn’t mention how much it was.”Ronan had known about the money, but he’d had no idea that Vincent wanted to give it to the pack.
“I didn’t want to give you hope in case things went badly.I wasn’t against using it to get Cam to say yes to me becoming a pack member.”
“You were going to use it as leverage.”
“If I didn’t have a choice, but I’m glad I didn’t have to.It would’ve made me feel horrible.”
“It’s a good thing you’re doing.Most people would have kept the money, no matter how they’d gotten it.”
“I feel I owe it to those people.My father ruined their lives.You and I were lucky because we found each other again, and that’s everything I wanted, but some of these people lost their entire lives.They should’ve gotten more from my father, but since he’s dead, his money will have to be enough.”
“And you’ll get to see where it’s spent.I bet that your father is rolling in his grave right now.”
Vincent grimaced.“He’s buried in pack territory, isn’t he?”
“He is.I don’t know where exactly, but I can ask if you want.“
“I don’t think it matters.Itispoetic, though.He wanted to destroy these people, and now, he’s going to be buried here forever.”Vincent stopped walking and turned to Ronan.“So, I’m a pack member now.It doesn’t mean I have to move in with you right away, but it feels like something we should celebrate.Do you want to go to town?We can get coffee or maybe dinner.”
