Riley nodded, as well as Wyatt. "What did she do to you?"
"Permits. All of a sudden, the county says they don't have them. I know they do." He looked to Aver. "For the Gallows' job?"
Aver thought about it before nodding. "Those were approved before I left for Seattle. They should absolutely have them on file."
"Well, they don't, and until they are found, or I get new ones approved and paid for, we're dead in the water, and the Gallows have a hole in their yard where they wanted their pool to be."
This was my first time experiencing the phenomenon I'd been warned so much about. John's lame-ass power play when he showed up late to the ceremony had been one thing. This was a whole different level of meddling.
The door opened again, and the five of us turned toward the kitchen doorway. Nash walked through first, followed by Phineas. Both had been smiling, each holding a twin. For a second the room was silent as they stared at us and we stared at them, both groups waiting for the other to explain.
"Well?" Wyatt prompted.
Nash frowned and scratched his chin. "The doctor said they're growing fine?"
I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's right, you had the twins' check-up today."
"And they're both in perfect health." Phin beamed.
"But you all aren't—what's going on?"
Branson, Riley, and Wyatt launched into an explanation while I continued to make tea. We'd need a bigger pot if this was going to keep happening.
"If you're doing drinks, Hol," Nash said, "Can I get a coffee?"
Aver frowned and joined me on the other side of the island. "You aren't a barista, mate," he said quietly while we both had our backs turned to the group.
I grabbed a pod for the coffeemaker, checking to make sure it wasn't decaf. "I know that, Aver." I kissed his cheek. "I like to help people. I can't do anything to make this situation go away, but I can be of service during." I closed the top of the maker and pressed the right buttons. The hairs on my nape tingled, and I turned, seeing Aver doing nothing but staring at me. "What?" I looked down like I was afraid my pants were unzipped.
"Nothing," he murmured. "Just, that you are amazing."
"That settles it," Branson said. They'd been plotting while Aver and me had been talking. "Nash, check in with the fire station. Make sure nothing's been said against you. I'll go with Riley to file a formal complaint with HR, and then after, we'll visit City Hall and see if we can't figure out more about the permits. They had them at one point. There has to be record of that."
Wyatt put his empty mug in the sink and then headed down the hallway. "And I'll make this shitty lemon day into amazing lemonade," he said as he headed toward his bedroom.
As quickly as they'd come, the group dispersed. Nash took his coffee to go, leaving with Phin and the twins. In seconds, it was just me and Aver again, alone in the kitchen.
And they said life moved fast in the city.
My gaze found Aver's, and we stared at each other, both realizing the same thing at the same time. We were alone again. Maybe not quite as alone, but Kansas and Wyatt sometimes slept when Calvin did, which meant we could get back to what we'd been doing before everyone came home.
Aver lifted me up on the island and nestled between my legs. "Where was I?"
I clenched my thighs, squeezing Aver's middle section. "You're where you belong, mate."
Aver growled before claiming my mouth. Riley had been right. That word worked both ways. Pow, straight to the penis.
Chapter Thirteen
Aver
If Delia thought her traps would slow down Branson's search for evidence, then that woman truly did not know her son. Without the permits, he couldn't work. And without work, he had nothing to do but search his childhood home.
We'd taken down every painting, tearing the backings off them all. Then he had us searching and removing anything with space inside to hold anything. We'd removed vases, small trinket boxes, and every single dish, pot, or utensil from the house. Every piece of furniture had been taken apart and searched. And so far, we'd found nothing. Other than a death certificate which seemed to do nothing but give us all more questions.
Branson was a few short steps away from demolishing the home completely, so I offered to join him the next time he went.
I didn't want Hollister in that house. I definitely didn't want him touching anything that belonged to Delia. He'd said that bits of the emotional memories lodged inside him, that if the emotion was powerful enough he would sometimes feel ecstatic or furious for days after. I didn't want any part of Delia staying with him. So far, he'd been the only one of us who had escaped her latest scheme, but that was only because Hollister hadn't been around when Delia had been arrested.
Clearly, the councilman had been right, and Delia had outside help. It was only a matter of time before that outside help told her about Hollister.
I turned and offered my hand to Hollister, walking up the path behind me. His stomach had grown just like he wanted, though he'd only just begun to show.
He'd been attractive before, but with the glow of pregnancy and the confidence of a shifter, he was breathtaking. He was also unhappy with me.
"I'd be careful, Aver."
"No, pet."
"Aver." He said my name like he was trying to get my attention, but I was already looking at him.
"Yes, Hollister?"
He stuck out his bottom lip. "Please."
Fuck I loved this man. His strength, his sweetness, his vulnerability, and his boldness. Quietly, I'd continued planning for our mating party. Things would be close. As it was, the party would be a few short weeks before the interim Alpha period ended and the pack met to decide their new Alpha. With any luck, Hollister would go into labor well before that day. "I'm only trying to protect you. That woman is poison. I don't want anything of her inside of you."
The door opened, revealing Branson on the other side. "I agree with Aver, if you guys are talking about what I think you're talking about."
Hollister pouted harder. "You can't keep me from helping." He lifted his chin in defiance.
Branson smirked my way. "I won't make you do anything, Hol." He turned back into the house.
"What does that mean?" Hollister asked, close on Branson's heels. "Branson? What does that mean? I won't make you?"
Branson just laughed, and I tugged Hollister back into my arms. "He means me. Your alpha, remember?"
Hollister blinked rapidly and lowered his face. "Yes. I remember. And I normally love it, Aver. But I have an ability. And I could use that ability to help. Not helping is killing me."
Branson appeared at the top of the landing. "I have an idea, if Aver is okay with it."
I would have to be now. Hollister looked to pleased at the prospect of helping.
We ended up in Branson's old bedroom. The bed had been lifted and dismantled along with the rest of the furniture. Only the safe remained, nestled in a carefully cut hole in the floor. "If I'm going to go through the trouble of trying to pry this thing out, maybe you can give me an idea first if you think it's worth it?"