Chapter 196 Chapter 196
Blair grinned at her as he got out of the truck. “At least it was Coop sitting there by the truck.” Her cheeks flushed as she accepted his hand and let him pull her across the seats to get out. “Would have been much worse if it had been Gage standing there.”
“I suppose.” She stood in front of him and rubbed her hand over his chest.
He didn’t know why, but he loved when she did that. Searching her eyes, he glanced at her neck. His mark was swollen and very plain to see. How their bodies knew not to heal those when they shifted, he had no idea but was glad that it was bold and visible and announced to all that she was his. Forever, only his.
“Stop it.” She hissed.
He chuckled, “I can’t help it.” Pulling her close, he kissed her hard on the mouth. Like a stamp that said ‘mine.’
“Do you think it carried it over here?” She gave him a hesitant look.
Shrugging, he was just about to say he doubted it until he spotted Calum leaning against his small room. He was trying hard not to grin and failing badly. “That can’t be good.” He motioned with his head to the other man. “He’s waiting at my door.”
Kobie gave him an assuring look. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.”
Calum wiped the smirk off his face before they reached him. Blair caught the slight movement as he looked at his throat and then at Kobie’s.
Blair hoped the warning look he was giving was also noted.
“Good run?” Calum asked without in a serious tone.
“Yeah.” Blair put his arm around Kobie and hugged her against him. “What’s going on now?”
Calum straightened away from the wall. “Jesse is at his last stop,” he smirked, “and not happy about the location at all.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen, then held it out to them.
Blair looked at the picture and smiled. It was a forest, thick growth, full of trees and Blair doubted the inner part ever saw daylight. “Damn, that’s going to be some hard work to get in there.”
Nodding, Calum tucked his phone back in his pocket.
Blowing out a quiet breath, he studied him. “You didn’t wait here just to show me that.”
Calum shook his head, then crossed his arms over his chest. “No. I didn’t.” He glanced at the house briefly before continuing. “Niles is awake,” he shrugged, “still grumpy as fuck, but not being stupid—yet.”
Blair nodded. He still believed there may be hope for the man. “And?” He knew there had to be more. Calum was tense and for that to show it had to be something big.
“Spoke to Shep tonight too.” He inhaled a sharp breath through his nose. “A team watching some of the locations spotted your brother.” He waved a hand toward the makeshift guard shack, “the pics are in there.”
Blair’s spine stiffened, “spotted him somewhere or do they know where he lives?”
“Where he lives.”
Blair dropped his arm away from Kobie and put both hands on top of his head. He felt the heat of his blood pulse through his veins, filled with fury and retribution.
“I requested our team be the ones to take down that location,” Calum said in an even tone.
Blair nodded and dropped his hands away. “Good. Yeah.” Putting his hands on his hips, he looked down at the ground, trying to focus through the vivid images of revenge.
“Slow down, Blair, we’re not going there until Jesse is back, we do some surveillance, and,” Calum paused until Blair looked at him again, “you guys get your training in.”
Blair frowned, “how long with that be? He could be somewhere else by then.”
“They’re going to track his every move.” Calum straightened and pointed at him. “You need to pull it together and get things in order here before you go rushing off on some suicide mission.”
Blair clenched his jaw and nodded. “Fine.”
Calum looked at Kobie, gave her a quick nod, and then walked away.
“Hey,” Kobie was right in his face now, her hand on his chest, “we’ll get him. Together, when the time is right.” She held his look as she rubbed her hand in a slow circle on his chest.
Blair blew out a breath and then wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. “It consumes me, babe, the feelings of righting all he’s done.”
Her warm arms moved around his waist. “I know.” She nuzzled her face into him, “and you will. Right all of his wrongs and stop him.” She leaned back and looked up at him. “But not now.” Her look softened. “Right now, you and I are going to go have a hot shower and get some rest.”
“Together?” He still couldn’t believe she was his, that he was hers.
“Always.” She smiled and then backed toward the door of his room.
Blair nodded and let her pull him along with her. “Always.”