Chapter 315 Chapter 315
As Walker disappeared around the corner, a woman started to come down the stairs. She was an older version of Giana.
“Giana?” The woman smiled at her, the look fading when she noticed Deacon. “Is everything all right?”
Gia took a step and then stopped. “Everything is fine. This,” she motioned to him, “is my partner, Deacon, he’s on the same team as Nox.”
Her mother smiled again, a polite, forced one. “You’re here on business?”
Deacon nodded, “yes ‘mam, the Alliance has us visiting all of the clans delivering information from the king.”
A look of surprise replaced the fake smile. “Do you travel with my daughter?”
Giana nodded, “They have us paired with members of the incursion team now,” She glanced at Deacon, an impatient look in her eyes, “after they tried to take Jesse’s mate.”
Deacon realized she was trying to keep the attention from her.
“Are you able to stay for tea?”
Deacon watched Giana stiffen. “I’m afraid not, Mom, we have other clans to go see today.”
“Of course.” She moved down the stairs. “I’ll go see if Oren is free.”
“Walker went to get him,” Gia said quietly.
Her mother paused. “We’ll wait in the office then, rather than stand in the entranceway.”
Giana gave him a quick glance and followed her mother down the hall.
Whatever he’d thought her life was like, he was realizing how wrong he’d been, this felt like a war zone, not a home.
Giana’s mother led them into a large office. It was decorated with dark wood and much fancier furnishings than what he’d seen of the house.
She turned and looked up at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself.” She held out her hand, “Dani Marin.”
Deacon moved closer and grasped her hand lightly. He bowed his head in a brief polite acknowledgment of her status before letting her hand go. “Deacon Parrish, ‘mam.” When he lifted his chin again, he noticed she was looking at his neck.
She inhaled a deep breath and then gave him a polite smile. “I’ll go see what’s keeping your father.” With barely a look at Giana, she walked out and closed the door.
Giana sent him a quick look of panic. “She knows.” She whispered.
“She didn’t say anything, so don’t panic—before we need to.” He added quickly. The anxiety was coming off of her in waves. He went over to her and put his hand on the side of her neck. Using his thumb to tip up her chin, so she was looking at him again, he held her eyes with his own. “Where’s that girl that breezes over the finish line because she’s confident in her abilities?”
“She’s standing in her father’s office.” Her voice was quiet.
He nodded, “on official business, not at his daughter.” Deacon watched until she gave him a slight nod. “Okay.” Touching her cheek softly, he dropped his hand away. The last thing they needed was him kissing her when her father walked in and right now that’s what he wanted to do, kiss her until she was distracted from the fear and anxiety that was rolling off her.
“He’ll be waiting for Nash and Vance.” She said and then took a deep breath, exhaling loudly. “It’s always the three of them when I’m involved.”
Deacon didn’t say a word for a moment, he needed to override the anger that hit him like a punch in the gut. It pissed him off that they would do that. He could just picture three men towering over her. “You have me this time.” He smiled at her, hoping the anger was buried deep enough it wasn’t visible.
Before she could speak, the door opened, and an older version of Nox walked in. The way he walked into the room left no question that he was in charge. Deacon often wondered why Nox had this arrogant air about him, now he knew why. Behind Giana’s father, two men came in, both resembled their sire with dark auburn hair. Dani followed and went to sit in a chair near the corner of the room.
Walker was the last to come into the room. He closed the door and then leaned against it. He watched his sister, not the men positioning themselves opposite her.
Deacon noted he had at least five inches on the tallest of them, not that he was measuring, but it was a false comfort to know he had some kind of advantage. They weren’t tiny men, by any means, all were solidly built.
Her father gave Giana a hard look.
Taking her hat off, she cleared her throat, then looked at Deacon, “this is my partner, Deacon, he’s part of the incursion team.” She kept her gaze on his, “Deacon, this is my father, Oren,” she motioned to the first one that walked in, “and my brothers Nash and Vance.” She turned back to her father, “we’re here on behalf of the Alliance.”
Deacon stepped over to the desk and inclined his head the way Calum had almost had to beat into him. “Sir.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a slip of paper and held it out. “Due to a breach of the Alliance’s system, you’re to use this number. They will explain the new protocols to you when you call.”
Her father took the piece of paper opened it and looked at the number. “What of our phones, are they secure?”
“I don’t know the details regarding private phones, sir,” Deacon motioned to the paper, “they’ll have all the answers for you.”
Her father nodded his head slowly and then looked across the desk at Giana. “You’re driving to every clan to bring them this information?”
Giana nodded, “there are many teams out doing it.”
Oren Marin looked from her slowly to Deacon, he noted the gun his hand rested on. With a hard look on his face, he turned back to Giana. “Nox told us you’d almost been taken.”
Giana gave Deacon a quick look, “Nox shouldn’t be discussing things with people unless he’s been authorized to do so.” Her tone was a lot more respectful than Deacon would have managed.
“I’m your father and an Alpha with the Alliance.”
“I know, Dad, but someone has been sharing information and helping Aiden Tomas’ organization from within the Alliance members—so discussing anything without clearance is a problem.”
She wasn’t wrong. Deacon felt a tinge of pride by the way she was holding her own.