Trey didn’t look so surprised by the claiming marks. “It’s about damn time.”
“The bond hasn’t formed yet,” Taryn observed.
“It will.” Dominic took possession of Mila’s hand and said to her, “Now let’s go greet your family.”
“Taryn and I will join you,” Trey stated. “It’s important that Vinnie, as another Alpha, receives an official welcome from the two of us.”
Aware of the dynamics, Dominic gave a curt nod and began a brisk walk through the tunnels. “Where’s the rest of the pack?”
“Some have gone with Riley and the kids to the playroom,” began Trey, keeping pace with him. “Others have retreated to various rooms within the caves. Only Dante and Ryan are in the living area, waiting for us to join them.”
Dominic understood why Trey had sent their other pack mates away. If there were more Phoenix members than Olympus members present in the living room, it might look both confrontational and as if Trey didn’t trust that he could deal with any problems without additional backup.
“How pissed do you think your family will be with Dominic?” Taryn asked Mila.
Her nose wrinkled. “Not much. My parents adore Dominic, and the others like him a lot too. They just won’t be happy that they weren’t with me when I woke up.”
“Understandable,” said Taryn. “If Kye were hurt, and then fell unconscious, I’d want to be one of the first people he saw when he woke.”
Finally reaching the entrance to the dwelling, all four of them stood just outside the door. Dominic kept possession of Mila’s hand, skimming his thumb over her knuckles. Whoever was manning the security shack must have given the Olympus Pride directions to the dwelling, because Vinnie’s vehicle soon came into sight. It followed the rocky trail into the parking lot at the base of the mountain.
Vinnie took the lead as he and the other pride members began to climb the steps of the cliff face, but Valentina pushed past him when they neared the top.
She pulled Mila into her arms and hugged her tight. “You are fine, yes?”
Pulling back to meet her mother’s eyes, Mila smiled. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
James stroked her hair. “Hey, sweetheart.”
As Mila and her parents talked quietly, Trey turned to Vinnie and said, “Welcome to Phoenix Pack territory. You’ve already met my mate, Taryn.”
Vinnie gave her a respectful nod. “Yes, I have. I don’t believe you’ve met Mila’s brother—he wasn’t present at Madisyn and Bracken’s ceremony, or the battle on Mercury Pack territory.”
Alex inclined his head respectfully at the Alphas and then slid his hard gaze to Dominic. “Not impressed that you drove off with my sister, wolf.”
“Don’t care,” Dominic said simply, and nor did his beast.
Vinnie twisted his mouth. “I see that you and Mila have officially claimed each other. But I don’t sense a bond.”
“You will soon enough.” Dominic could feel the promise of it—like a low buzz of static electricity in the air.
Valentina turned to him, her hands on her hips. “You did not take Mila to her home. This does not make me happy.”
“As I told you at the barbershop, Mila’s my priority,” said Dominic. “I needed her to be somewhere safe. This is far safer and more secure than her apartment building.” And he wouldn’t apologize for putting her first, even though he liked Valentina and understood why she was upset.
Valentina’s mouth tightened. “I cannot argue that.”
“But you want to,” James said to her, his lips twitching. Valentina sliced him a look that should have made his balls crawl up into his stomach.
Trey gestured at the door. “Let’s go inside so we can talk.” He and Taryn led the way as they stalked through the tunnels.
Valentina looked around. “It is an unusual home you have, Dominic.”
“My cat loves it,” Mila told her just as they reached the living area where Dante and Ryan were each sprawled on an armchair. When both males stood, Mila introduced them to Alex, who made himself comfortable on the reclining end of the sofa like he’d been a regular visitor for years. Yeah, her brother wasn’t the type to lean against a wall, on guard. He’d lounge around, casual and composed, fully confident that he could eliminate any threat at a moment’s notice. Which he could.
At Taryn’s invitation, the others all took a seat. “What happened to Rosemary?”
“She was arrested,” said Vinnie. “The police may not charge her for shooting you, Mila. Some will say it’s shifter business, since you’re Dominic’s mate. I told them you are also part of his pack. But others will claim that the human authorities should intervene since Rosemary didn’t just shoot you, she held two supposed humans—meaning Archie and Evander—at gunpoint in the barbershop. The cops won’t care about the bobcat or the hyena who were also present.”
Luke scratched his chin. “Looks like Rosemary got sick of waiting for an assassin to take you out, Mila. She took the matter into her own hands.”
Trey exchanged a look with Taryn and then cleared his throat. “I have news. Nick called me ten minutes ago. With the help of other hackers, his contact cracked the anonymity network.”
Dominic blinked. “Well, fuck.”
“It’s run by a polar bear shifter by the name of Dale Forester. I’ve personally never heard of him.” Trey looked at Vinnie, his brow raised in question.
The Olympus Alpha shook his head. “His name doesn’t ring any bells.”
“He’s a lone shifter with more money than sense,” said Trey. “Invents security systems for a living, and he’s damn good at it. His estate is well protected. Getting to him won’t be easy.”
“Leave the matter to my brothers,” Valentina told Trey. “They need only his address. They will get to this shifter and make him pay. No security system can keep them out.”
Taryn glanced at her mate and then nodded at Valentina. “If you think your brothers can reach him, tell them to have at it. I want the bastard to feel the pain he’s caused others.”
“My brothers will ensure that he does,” Valentina assured her.
“Nick’s contact collapsed the site, which means there is no longer a price on your head,” Trey told Mila. “It wasn’t John Norton who put the hit out on you. Nor was it Emmet Pierson or his daughter. Does the name Dean Simmons mean anything to you?”
Mila’s brow furrowed. “He’s one of my clients. He sometimes brings his nephew, Finley. In fact, Dean was at the barbershop when Rosemary barged in earlier and . . . Wait, you’re saying he put out the hit?”
Trey simply nodded.
Totally stunned, Mila gaped. Even her cat was taken aback. “But why would he do that? I barely know him, and I’ve never had any trouble with him.” She looked at Dominic. “This doesn’t make sense.”
Dominic squeezed her hand, anger building inside him. He’d been so close to the fucker responsible for the hit, and he hadn’t even known it. “How long has the bobcat been a client of yours?”
She frowned thoughtfully. “Since about a month before the jackal attacked me.”