Wolf Pack (19 page)

“That’ll work,” Cole agreed. He entwined their fingers together as they walked down the path. It was sort of romantic the way the sun was beginning to set in the quiet of the territory as they strolled without hurry.

The Alpha house came into view as his cell phone rang. He looked at the display and saw it was his commander. “I have to take this.”

“Go ahead. I’ll head in and visit with Taylor until you get there,” she said.

Cole nodded. “Thanks.”

Kendra walked off, and Cole turned his back as he answered the call. “Hello?”

“Agent Babcock,” Commander Green said. “I’ve got some news for you.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Lake Worth PD has picked up two men that match the description of Spencer Core and Julian Costanzo,” Green told him. “They don’t have any identification and are giving different names but the cops think they’ve found our guys.”

Cole was relieved. They’d all gone in early to get the paperwork done and had knocked out quite a bit so they’d be able to take tomorrow off. Cole knew everyone was ready to get it over with but Zak had insisted they needed a day to unwind.

If the police did pick up Core and Costanzo then Cole could pass off the rest of the case to Zak’s team to finish up. “Should I go in?” he asked his boss.

“I already called Zak. He said you weren’t in the city and he was closer so he’d head over there. Abilene can go as his backup. I wanted to let you know so you could inform the Alpha and let the others around there know. It’s about time things went back to normal,” Green said.

“Okay. Thanks.”

“You did a good job with this case. I knew adding you to the agency would be great for us,” Green stated.

Wow, he hadn’t expected such a compliment. “Thank you, sir.”

“You’re welcome, now enjoy your weekend.”

“Will do,” Cole responded. He ended the call and strode to the back door of the Alpha house. He’d learned that Kendra always went in through that entrance since it led into the kitchen, which was where Taylor hung out when he wasn’t in his study.

Since Kendra was expecting him he rapped on the door before he pushed it open and entered. Taylor and Kendra were both at the kitchen table but the looks on their faces immediately set off warning bells.

Even though he didn’t have his weapon on him since he’d been at a friendly barbecue, his hand automatically went to his waist. Kendra turned her head a fraction of an inch to his right.

That small warning was enough for Cole to dodge the punch aimed in his direction. Cole grabbed the fist and pulled hard. Whoever was on the end of it fell toward him and Cole kicked his legs out from under him. A large body tumbled to the ground, and Cole followed through with a punch to his ribs.

“Stop!” a new voice shouted.

Cole glanced up at the serious tone. A dark-haired man with a crooked nose and narrowed brown eyes had a gun pointed to the back of Kendra’s head. Cole froze.

“Now, slowly step away from the door and come join your friends at the table.”

There was no question in Cole’s mind who was holding his girlfriend hostage. Spencer Core was not in fact in the Lake Worth police department custody. He was standing only a few feet from him. Which meant the man gasping for breath on the floor had to be Julian Costanzo. Cole glanced down—yep, he recognized Julian from his picture in their file.

“Get over here now,” Spencer demanded.

Cole stepped over Julian as he kept his eyes on Spencer. Kendra’s hands were fisted on the table while Taylor was looking between Cole and Spencer.

“Okay,” Cole said as he stepped closer to Spencer. He knew that Taylor wasn’t going to remain seated and he wanted to be able to get Kendra out of harm’s way.

Spencer wasn’t paying any attention to the Alpha, which was a huge mistake. Kendra’s eyes were wide but the small smirk on her lips was interesting. She wasn’t afraid and he had to respect that. Yes, Kendra and Taylor might have allowed themselves to be taken hostage but they had a plan. Cole wouldn’t bet against them.

“Spencer Core,” Cole said. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Am I supposed to be impressed that you know my name?” Spencer sneered. “You wouldn’t be a good agent if you didn’t, and from what I’ve been able to find out, you are.”

Keep him talking.
Cole needed Spencer to be distracted by him so Taylor could make his move. “You’re not doing Shawn any favors by being here. We have your rogues and pack. What exactly do you think you’re doing here?”

“Shawn?” Spencer scoffed. “That man was never as smart as he thought he was. The entire plan of building a pack with the rogues was my idea. He stole it.”

“Which worked out well for you when he was arrested,” Cole guessed.

“Kept him alive,” Spencer said. “For now.”

“Then what do you want?” Cole questioned.

“Trent Compton,” Spencer said.

“Why?”

“That’s not any of your business,” Spencer snapped. “I thought I could take the Marshal here to get him but she tells me that the Coalition took custody of him.”

Kendra was smart. She’d known that Cole would be coming in any minute and had stalled for time.

“That’s right,” Cole said. “But I don’t know where he is.”

“I’ll bet an Alpha, Marshal and Coalition agent would be enough to trade for one punk kid,” Spencer told him.

“If he’s a punk kid what do you want with him?” Cole pressed.

“It doesn’t matter,” Spencer shouted.

“I think it does,” Cole argued.

“Listen, asshole.” Spencer took a step closer, which put him next to Taylor. “He’s mine. That’s all you need to know.”

“Okay.” Cole lifted his hands in surrender.

At that moment, Taylor was out of his seat barreling into Spencer, moving too fast for even Cole to follow. Cole lunged for Kendra but as soon as Taylor had moved she’d hit the floor and was crawling under the table.

There were sounds of a shuffle and a fist hitting flesh as Cole ducked to find Kendra. Cole had faith that Taylor could easily take care of Spencer. The Alpha was a powerful man. He reached for Kendra and pulled her close. “You okay?” he asked her as he ran his hand over her, checking for himself.

“Yes.” She nodded.

He glanced over his shoulder when he heard someone shout out in pain. Taylor had Spencer on his stomach with his arms held tight. It had only taken a few minutes but Taylor was back in control.

“Kendra, grab me the restraints from the drawer. Cole, get the other guy tied up,” Taylor ordered.

With reluctance, he let go of Kendra and went back over to Julian. After he rolled Julian onto his stomach, he glanced around for something to secure his hands. Kendra was there with a pair of plastic cuffs used by his agency to secure prisoners.

“Where’d you get these?” he asked as he took them.

Kendra only smiled.

Cole shook his head. Some things were better off without him knowing. He secured his guy before he glanced over at Taylor. Taylor had not only tied Spencer up but Spencer had also been knocked out.

“I need to call this in,” Cole said. “My boss told me that Core and Costanzo were in police custody.”

Taylor looked down at Spencer. “Obviously not.”

He chuckled as he pulled out his cell. Green answered on the second ring.

“It’s not Core and Costanzo in custody,” he told his boss.

“Zak called in a few minutes ago and told me that but how do you know?” Green asked.

“Because they’re tied up in Taylor Rosas’ kitchen,” Cole told him.

“Damn it,” Green cursed. “I’ll get agents over there.” He hung up on Cole, and Cole turned with a grin. This was kind of fun.

Cole wrapped his arm around Kendra’s shoulder and led her back to the kitchen table. He sat and pulled her down onto his lap.

“I’ll make some tea,” Taylor said. “I think that’ll be better than loading up on caffeine.”

He nodded. “I agree. I’m jumpy enough on adrenaline, I don’t need coffee.”

As Taylor filled a kettle, Cole kissed the side of Kendra’s neck. She shivered, making him smile.

“Would you like to talk while we wait for your other agents?” Taylor asked as he joined them at the table.

“Might as well,” Cole stated.

“Let’s start with what I think we should do,” Taylor suggested. “You throw in any questions you might have.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

“I don’t have to report to the Wolf Council until I want. I say we take things slowly and introduce you to the pack first but let them know you’ll be replacing me soon,” Taylor said.

“And no one is going to question this? Want the job for themselves?” Cole questioned.

“No,” Kendra said. “We already knew Taylor was looking outside the pack. We don’t have anyone here who’s qualified.”

“I don’t want you to leave until I feel completely comfortable,” he demanded. If for some reason Cole failed at being an Alpha he didn’t want to hurt the pack.

“Deal,” Taylor agreed.

“And I can still work?” he asked even though Taylor had already said he could. Cole wanted to make sure he had all his concerns on the table.

“Of course,” Taylor said.

“Cole will be staying in my cabin when he’s needed for training or if he needs to deal with the pack,” Kendra said.

Taylor grinned. “You don’t have to live in this house, ever, if you don’t want to. Kendra’s cabin is an option, or one of the empty houses, even build your own place if you see fit.”

He sighed in relief as a knock sounded at the front door. “That’s probably the agents.” He kissed Kendra’s temple before he stood and placed her on her feet.

“I’ll check our prisoners,” Taylor said.

Cole strolled to the front door, feeling better even if he hadn’t gotten half his questions out. It appeared that Taylor would work with him no matter what. He was going to do it, now he only had to say the words out loud.

“Come in,” he said after he’d pulled open the door.

Cody and one of his team members, Ryder, grinned at him.

“I heard you caught our guys for us,” Cody said as he entered.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “I’m tired of having to do all the work.”

“I’ll take them out of here then,” Cody said. “Where are they?”

Cole led them to the kitchen, where Taylor already had Spencer on his feet.

“Let’s go over what happened real quick for my report,” Cody ordered. “I’ll start with the Alpha, and Ryder can take Kendra’s statement. Cole, why don’t you wait in the other room?”

“Fine,” he agreed as he walked away to wait in the living room. Pictures of people he didn’t recognize littered the shelves and fireplace. Members of the pack? He peered at one photo after another as he memorized faces. That should help when he actually had to talk to them.

He pulled out an old album and took it to the couch. He sat then opened the cover. The first picture was of what appeared to be the entire pack from a few years ago. He recognized both Taylor and Kendra. They looked about five years younger but the same smiles where on their faces.

Cole flipped through the pages before he rose and replaced the album to pick up another.

He’d been through five books of photos and was being bombarded by feelings he’d never had before when Cody stepped into the room. Cole took a deep breath. He was trying to keep the scowl off his face, but it wasn’t easy when he wanted to go back to Kendra’s place. The agents who had come to pick up Spencer and Julian were only doing their jobs, and Cole liked Cody and Ryder, but he was tired.

“I’ll need a more formal statement later but I have enough to take them in,” Cody told him.

“Good,” he said.

“I guess we can get out of here,” Cody told him.

Cole tried not to breathe a sigh of relief. There was no reason to be rude so he only nodded. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

Taylor showed them out then returned to the kitchen. “Now that we’re alone, tell me you’re going to take over my pack.”

“I’m going to take over your pack,” Cole declared.

Chapter Thirteen

Cole plastered a smile on his face even though it was getting harder throughout the day. Three weeks he’d been training for the Alpha position with Taylor, and while he was more comfortable he wondered if he’d ever get used to people constantly wanting to talk to him.

He glanced across the expansive clearing that served as the gathering area for the entire Lake Worth pack. Kendra stood holding a beer bottle while she spoke with several of the inner circle shifters. Taylor was helping Cole to pick his own trusted advisors, and of course Kendra would be part of the group. Since she was busy, Cole searched the crowd for another friendly face.

Not that he minded the sweet older lady who was talking to him, but did he really need to know what she’d crocheted for all eighteen of her grandchildren.

“Hey, man, can I speak to you?”

Cole could have kissed Zak. He was lucky that his friends had volunteered to come to the pack gathering. He hadn’t asked, but Jamie had heard about his plans for the weekend and within ten minutes all of his friends had changed their plans and now they were with him.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he told the lady. “Can you excuse me?”

“Of course, dear.” She reached up and patted his cheek before she tottered off.

Cole turned to Zak. “Thanks, man,” he whispered.

Zak handed him a full cold beer bottle. “When she reached the thirteenth description I thought your eyes were going to glaze over.”

“I think I just aged ten years,” he confessed.

A hard slap on his back had Cole tilting forward. Cole glared at Zak. If the tiger shifter looked any more amused Cole would have to beat him. Damn, he felt at home like he hadn’t in such a long time.

“So, Jade told Abilene that you called home, spoke to your parents.” Zak steered him away to more privacy.

He really shouldn’t have been surprised. The Coalition rumor mill was always hard at work. Not that he minded when he wasn’t the subject of their attention. But he actually didn’t mind speaking about his parents with Zak. He’d shared the story already with Kendra and Taylor anyway.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Zak said when Cole didn’t say anything.