Chapter 34

Bear came into the room before the porter closed the door. He turned and locked it and then looked at them. “Did you call Illias?”

Zain pulled out the phone. “I was just going to.” His heart was still racing from the drive to the hotel.

“Good. The airport was too busy, so it was a smart choice to wait.” Bear nodded.

Oaklyn came out of the bathroom smiling. “That’s quite the setup in there.” She laughed. “Bigger than my place.”

Zain had to wonder where she lived that the bathroom in a hotel room was bigger. “I’m going to call Illias.” His chest felt tight, and he knew in his gut that whatever the reason he was to call, Zain wasn’t going to like it.

Oaklyn nodded and came over and stood beside him. “Let’s hope for some good news.”

“Like Aiden Tomas died painfully last night in a car crash,” Bear said quietly.

Oaklyn looked at him for a moment. “You’re not from a bear clan, are you? Your scent is not anything I know, and I know bears.”

He grinned. “Lion.”

Zain watched the shocked look on her face. It was a normal reaction when people met Bear.

“So, is Bear your nickname?”

Bear shook his head.

“Well, bless your folks for being original and having an odd sense of humor.” She smiled at him, and Zain had to wonder if the words she spoke were sincere or if she really meant something else. “Okay, make the call. I want to go check out this place and see how the other half lives.”

Zain brought up the number, hit send, and then put it on speaker. He set it on the table and stared at it while it rang. He crossed his arms over his chest because they were vibrating.

“All good on the flight?” Is how Illias answered the phone.

“No issues,” Bear answered.

“Good. Hold on. I’ll go grab Devin.”

Bear glanced at him; the apprehension was clear in his eyes. He was worried too.

It felt like an eternity before Illias came back on the call.

“Okay, Devin’s here.”

“Guys, there’s been something unexpected discovered. Brock is in with the company that works out of the main floor of the building and will be helping at the party.”

“Everything is okay with him?” Oaklyn sat in the chair and leaned closer to the phone.

“Yes. He’s in. Apparently, he’s using a ‘cologne pin’ so no one can smell that he’s a shifter.”

“A cologne pin?” Zain had heard of all the cheats the Alliance used and had never heard of that.

“Yes. I have no idea, so don’t look to me for details. It’s something he and Marilyn came up with.”

All three of them exchanged looks. If Marilyn was involved, it was just easier not to ask.

“Okay.” Bear nodded.

“There are three shifters working for the company as well.”

To Zain, it felt like time stopped. “Working for Aiden or the company?”

“Unknown.”

“What kind of shifter are we talking about here?” Oaklyn’s forehead was creased.

“Brock isn’t sure. He can scent a shifter but hasn’t been around many other than his clan, so he can’t differentiate.”

Bear blew out a breath. Zain was holding his. They were supposed to work with Brock to pull this off and if there was a possibility of other shifters working for Tomas involved, they were going to be burned before they got started.

“We’re sending Eaton from Special Ops to lend a hand. She won’t be there for a day or so though, we don’t want to chance putting more on any flights so soon after Brock and then you three.”

Bear glanced at Zain, his head tilted, asking if he knew Eaton. Zain shrugged. He knew her to see her, but that was all.

“Gideon is nearby already, but if possible, we want him to stay out of sight. Dobry and Demir from Taggart’s team are still watching the building, but one of them could be called upon if needed.”

“Okay.” Zain blew out a silent breath. “What do you need us to do?”

“We need you to follow and isolate the three unknowns so we can get them out of there.”

“And if they’re working for Mister Tomas?” Oaklyn looked at the phone.

“We’ll decide when we know. If they’re innocents that have no idea who they’re working for, then we need to get them out of the way before anything happens to them.”

Zain agreed with that part. Enough had been hurt because of that man. “Okay. We’re going to need a car.”

“We’re working on two. One for Bear to drive you around in and another that won’t draw attention. That and some gear. You’re still going to have to play at being socialites when you’re not following those shifters.”

Oaklyn glanced at Zain. Her expression was very controlled, so he couldn’t be certain what she was feeling about all of this.

“We’ll need to be in contact with Brock outside of the way we already arranged to speak to him.” Bear nodded his head slowly, a look of focus on his face.

Zain hoped her was thinking ideas through, because he was drawing complete blanks.

“Already done,” Illias said in the background. “Only use the three phones that were in the case. The earbuds will link to them automatically. Brock has the same setup. I just need to patch his phone into your party setup so he could shoot you a text and you would be able to hit the button to connect to the earpiece.”

Zain gave the phone a surprised look. “Learned a few new things.” He hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

“Don’t you know it,” Illias sounded proud.

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.