Steps Ahead

Steps Ahead
\-Blake-

An hour earlier...

Jaxon stepped back into my room quick after my call, door clicking shut soft behind him, both of us sitting down on the edge of the couch, knees close as we leaned in to brainstorm.

Something felt off about this dinner, clear as day, trouble waiting if I showed up, but the how do I stayed hidden, a puzzle we needed to crack fast.

Why push forward anyway? The coincidence of Sofia's invite landing right after Matilda's win and warning felt like fate dangling Hartman's secrets on a string, answers I could not ignore.

"Alpha, what do you think we can do now?" Jaxon asked, eyes expectant, fingers tapping his knee light.

I stayed calm, cracking my head for the perfect play, breath even as ideas clicked into place.

I needed the full picture, Hartman's moves through Sofia's loose lips.

"We need to appear like we fall for their tricks and at the same time not show up," I said calm to Jaxon, voice steady.

He tilted his head, tone cautious. "That sounds not too clear to me, Alpha. I don't understand."

My smile stayed faint, explaining smooth. "I want them to believe that I will be there, watch from a distance, but I won't be the one they will see." Light dawned in his eyes.

"Hmm. I get it now, so how do we make that happen?" Jaxon asked with curiosity laced in his eyes and voice.

"One of our men will take one of my famously known vehicles to Sofia and her father to the restaurant, we will be behind him in another vehicle with backup, should the need arise for us to act," I laid out further, fingers gesturing quick.

"Alpha, it's a great plan, but I know you. You are not the type that will fight in the open. How do you go about it, talking about the backup men?" Jaxon pressed, keen interest sharp.

My calm smile widened slight. "We will fight and we won't have to lift a finger, because the backup men won't be ours.

We will use Inspector Harrison curiosity about me and his eagerness, he's eager to get me and he will act towards any information about me."

Realization hit him full, nod firm, face lighting pleased. Genius move. Harrison bites every time.

"We will move out now, someone else in my vehicle and when we get there, we will put the call straight to Harrison," I said, both standing quick, exiting the room smooth.

Outside, instructions flew fast to the boys, vehicles rolling out silent, my posture tall in the trailing car, Jaxon driving steady.

★At The Scene ★

After Sofia's call confirmed her game, we dropped the text to Harrison quick, a bait he could not resist. And he fell for it perfectnand everything unfolded as we had planned earlier.

The Present Moment...

I watched from the shadowed lot across the street, eyes narrow on Harrison hauling Johnson away to the station, my man playing scared just right.

I decided to wait for the police call, so as not to draw an suspicion from Harrison or the police as a whole. Ten minutes ticked slow, phone buzzing sharp in my pocket.

I picked up prompt. "Hello, who's this?" I demanded, voice firm.

"This is Inspector Harrison, please your attention is needed right now in the police station. We have someone who claims to be your friend with us," Harrison explained, tone clipped.

"Alright, I will be on my way to the station right now," I said, ending the call crisp. Stood up slow, breathing in and out steady, one last task for the night ahead.

It was clear that Sofia and alpha Hartman had a plan to take me out and I was lucky to get away from them this time with countermeasures.

I will have to deal with their situation when I return, but for now... I needed to get to the police station.

"Blake, it's time to bring your A-game to this," I whispered to myself low, sliding into the vehicle smooth.

Ten to fifteen minutes later, I pulled up at the station, acting mode locked in full. Set eyes on Johnson instant, screamed out loud.

"Johnson, are you okay? What happened to you and why are you here?" Concern flooded my face genuine, steps rushing close.

"I wanted to get food, but some unknown men surrounded me. I guess they are thieves. Thanks to the police, if not I would have been killed," Johnson explained, British accent thick and nice.

Harrison stepped up, stern look drilling my eyes. "McAllister, who's Johnson to you?"

"Johnson is my friend I met in England some years back. He came to visit me here in Sydney and he wanted some snacks.

I couldn't stand up in time to help him out, because I had a lot of office work I took home to sort out, so he decided to drive out for food with the help of my description," I explained, make-believe worry creasing my brow deep.

Harrison paused long, figuring if more hid behind my words, eyes narrowing sharp.

"That was exactly what he said to us. You shouldn't have allowed a stranger out by himself this late. We are fighting some crisis at the moment in the city," he said, stern gaze holding firm.

"I'm sorry about that, I was just engrossed in work," I replied apologetic, enjoying the play, acting skills pulling him right in.

"Okay, you can take him home. He still looks frightened," Harrison said, sly smile creeping his face. Something off there, sensed it quick, played along perfect.

Once outside the station, refused a single word to Johnson, silence thick in the car. Got to a spot far enough, pulled phone out fast, typed message clear on screen for him to read.

"Take off your clothes now!" No hesitation, he stripped quick, handing suit over. Checked close, big bug planted neat by Harrison. Determined fool.

I destroyed it instantly, crushed under heel, then tossed him my jacket to cover up casual.

"Harrison, I will keep being ten times ahead of you!" I whispered to myself in excitement, as I returned into the vehicle.