Page 69 of The Return
“Ouch. No good conversation ever started that way.”
He led me to the couch and we sat. I turned and waited for him to say something.
“Someone is after you,” he finally blurted out.
“What? That’s ridiculous. No one wants to hurt—”
Jonas held up a hand. “Look at the facts. They burned down the shop, and then they were outside here with a rifle. They shot Kinsey. Someone is watching you, because there’s no way they could have known you’d be here.”
I swallowed hard. Was it possible? Why, though? It didn’t make any sense. “The worst thing I could have done was put soy milk in a drink instead of cream. There’s no reason anyone would be that angry with me. I mean, unless they took their dairy products really seriously.”
“This isn’t a joking matter, Core.”
I knew it wasn’t, but I hated the idea that he might be right. Especially when I couldn’t come up with a reason for it.
“You’re going to be staying here until we catch them.”
It wasn’t like I could argue that. I didn’t have to go to work or anything.
“I’m going to call the Council and have them send a new bodyguard.”
“What? No! We just told Kinsey you were going to watch me.”
He put an arm around me and pulled me close. “I’m not a professional, love. I can’t anticipate things like they could.”
“Then I’ll stay inside. I—what if it was one of the Council? I mean, they weren’t happy with me. How do you know they’re not going to send an assassin after me?”
“You read too much,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “The Council wouldn’t hurt any of their wolves.”
“As everyone wants to remind me, I’m human.”
“You’re pack. That’s all that matters.”
But now the idea was in my head. “Humor me. Do they have the power to kill someone?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“And weren’t they pissed with me? You said they left in a snit.”
“You called them out in front of—”
“Think about what you’re going to say here. I called them out. I challenged pack law without even knowing what it was. So is it inconceivable that they’d be angry with me?”
“Not mad enough to kill you. We’re wolves. We don’t solve problems with hitmen. We’re more up-close-and-personal types. And since their power is the highest in the pack, they could have offed you in the shop without a problem. No one other than me would have said boo.”
“You’d have gone against the Council for me?”
He tucked a knuckle under my chin and tilted my head up. “I’d scorch the earth before I let someone hurt you.”
Wow.
“You know what?” He slid his phone from his pocket, pulled up the contact list, then pressed the screen and held it out so I could see it.
“Who are you calling?”
He held up a finger. A few moments later, a familiar face appeared. “This is Councilor Delray.”
“Hey, it’s Jonas.”
