Chapter 745 Chapter 745
Oaklyn stood up. “You need to reach out to Brock and see if he can get us pictures of these three.”
Bear nodded.
Zain watched her transform back into the woman that he encountered in the bush that first day.
“Already messaged him,” Illias said.
“If you’re following any of them in the day light, it should be bear doing that, or you two might get recognized when you’re at restaurants or social gatherings,” Devin said quietly.
“Understood,” Bear answered.
“I need to go shopping.” Oaklyn nodded. “I can pick up a couple of wigs for Zain and myself, just to make it easier for us to track these three.”
Zain raised an eyebrow at the word track. He knew she was good at that. He, however, had no idea. On a computer, sure he could track anyone, but in person, he had no idea.
“That’s a good idea. Make sure you do it far enough away from the area you’re going to be socializing in.”
“Of course.” She smiled.
“All right, guys. Be careful and stay in touch.” Devin’s tone was less leaderlike.
“We will.” Bear nodded.
“I’ll have your phones all linked to Brock in a few hours. Any time you leave your rooms, you have that earbud in and stay in contact with each other.”
Zain nodded and looked at the phone. The tone Illias used told him that he wasn’t as sure about this plan as he was letting on. “We will, Illias. As soon as we have pictures, we’ll send them to you.”
“Good.”
“We’ll talk again after you’ve gotten a lay of the land,” Devin said.
“Okay.” Oaklyn went over to where Zain had set the briefcase and opened it.
“Take care. Bye.” The call ended.
Bear blew out a breath and looked at Zain. “It’s going to be interesting.” He glanced at Oaklyn. “Pick me up a few different colored toques while you’re out.”
She nodded and walked over with the case the earbuds were in. “I’m going to go get that done now.”
Zain sucked in a breath. “I’ll come…”
“No. You William the Third, need to be seen here. Go down to the café, look busy on your phone with business. Have a coffee and make a few fake calls. I’ll get us the wigs. You start building our profile as the rich couple.”
He looked from her to Bear to see him nodding. “I’ll hover around like a bodyguard or chauffeur or whatever it is I’m supposed to be.”
“All of the above, Bear.” She cringed. “What is your fake name again?”
He grinned. “Tim.” He shrugged. “I picked it. It’s a normal name.”
She smiled. “Very well, Timothy, you are our man for all things.”
He bowed his head. “Yes, ‘mam, Mrs. Jeggins.”
Zain put his hands on top of his head and blew out a breath. “Two weeks of this, and I might forget who I am.”
Bear laughed. “After this, I’m hoping we won’t have to pretend to be someone else.”
“Oh, where’s the fun in that?” Oaklyn went over and picked up her purse. “Do I have money for this or—”
“Oh.” Zain went over to his suitcase and opened it. “We have credit cards.” He shook his head. “Gobs of them.”
“Oh, fun.”
“Devin said he doesn’t care what we spend, just don’t buy yachts or jets.”
Oaklyn snorted. “It’s not yacht weather, and I don’t think we have a need for a plane.”
Zain looked in the first envelope to check they were hers. Closing it, he handed it to her. He didn’t know how they did it, but fake ID and useable credit cards seemed to be something the Alliance was able to get faster than usual. In a week’s time, they’d have everything ready. Maybe they owned a bank, he thought.
Oaklyn took it and looked in it. “These all work?”
He nodded. “Use cash for the wigs though.”
“Of course.” She tucked it into her purse. “I’ll see you later, Bill.” She nodded to Bear. “Timothy.”
Zain watched her leave.
“She’s having fun with this.”
Zain looked away from the door slowly. “She’s had to be someone else for years.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot that.” He cocked his head to the side. “You have too.”
Zain shook his head. “No. Zain is who I am. That other guy I was born as died when my family did.” He turned on his heel, picked up his suitcase, and walked toward the bedroom. “I’ll be downstairs in a half hour.” Right now, he just needed to panic by himself and maybe pray a little that they were able to pull this off. All of it. He stopped at the door and turned back around. “Listen, I need you to look out for her, even when she doesn’t want you to.”
Bear gave him a blank look. “I will.”
“No.” Zain blew out a breath. If he got any more tense, his muscles might seize or worse. “We’re mates, Bear.” He watched Bear’s brows shoot up. “Neither of us thinks it’s great timing, so I don’t know where it’s going, I just need her…”
“Safe.” Bear nodded. “I got it. I’ll watch out for her—and you.”
“Thanks.” He started to turn around again.
“Zain.”
He looked back at him. “Yeah?”
Bear shrugged and made a weird face. “I—don’t think there’s any perfect timing to finding your mate.” He gave him a lopsided smile. “I tell you, if I find mine, I will fall at her feet and beg her to have me.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Watching all the others with their mates has been like a knife in the gut reminding me that I’m alone and could be forever.” He nodded. “Forever is a long damn time.”
“You and Webb have a lot in common.” He sighed. “It’s complicated…”
Bear laughed. “It always is. Imagine Blaise when she realized her mate was related to Aiden Tomas—or-or Devin when he found out that Rayne had been Aiden’s girlfriend.” He shrugged, almost in slow motion. “There is no perfect time, my friend. You find them and hold on with all you got because our life will do anything to tear you apart.” He inclined his head. “I’m going to go change into something more casual.” He tugged at the collar. “I’m not a suit kind of guy.”
Zain watched him walk out. He had made some really good points. Webb had too. The problem for him was he might have to hide for the rest of his life—asking her to do that wasn’t a direction he was willing to go.