The full moon, surrounded by millions of stars, shone like a beacon over the roof of the single-story motel. David knew he couldn’t screw up. He’d sworn he could remain alert, and Josiah had stuck up for him. He had to do this right. But his body tingled with anticipation at seeing Jax again.
“Are you sure he’s in there?” Brooks asked, looking uncertain. David reached across the front seat of River’s Mustang and took the beta’s hand in his.
“Yes. See how the curtain is pulled back over a chair? That’s the signal. Are you ready?”
Brooks turned large hazel eyes to his mate and studied the alpha a moment before nodding.
David’s heart contracted. Brooks had never once doubted him, and the alpha knew how much seeing Jax meant to the beta. He was determined to allow the two to have their reunion while keeping his distance, making sure no danger came to the two men he loved most.
David looked around to make sure no one was watching them before climbing out of the car. The two werewolves paused on the sidewalk, all their senses on alert, before walking toward the door bearing the numbers 117.
David knocked. Immediately, the door swung open, and David ushered Brooks inside. When he turned from closing the door, Brooks was already in Jax’s arms.
Jax smiled softly at David over the beta’s shoulder. Wearing a navy button-down shirt and dark slacks, long dreads cascading over his broad shoulders and a diamond earring in his ear, he looked even sexier than the last time David had seen him, although an aura of something David couldn’t identify hung about the human. When Jax took Brooks’ face between his hands, the alpha’s eyes landed on the gold band resting on the fourth finger of Jax’s left hand, and possessive rage coiled in David’s chest.
“I’ve missed you,” Jax said to Brooks, and the beta surged forward to press their mouths together in a kiss that quickly grew heated.
David watched for a few moments, before stepping forward and pressing his lips to Jax’s, savoring the feel of their softness and the once-familiar scratch of beard against his skin before licking his way inside for a taste while Brooks pressed kisses to David’s neck.
With his hand resting on Jax’s side, David could feel the warmth of the human’s body beneath the material of his shirt. Although he wanted more than anything to tumble onto the bed with his mates, he reluctantly pulled back and watched as Jax and Brooks continued to kiss.
David walked to the window and looked out, resisting the grunts and moans of pleasure behind him.
“Jax, please,” Brooks begged, and David’s cock jumped at the sound of his mate’s need.
“I can’t. I’m sorry.”
David turned.
Brooks lay rumpled on the bed, but Jax was sitting up. His shirt lay on the floor, and his jeans were undone.
David walked over to the human. “It’s okay; you can. I’ll keep watch.”
Jax turned tormented eyes to the alpha and shook his head.
“I can’t. Sorry, but I just…can’t.”
David and Brooks shared confused looks, but they didn’t press Jax about it. David assumed Jax needed to keep himself in his role or risk ruining the operation. Sex with one or both could damage the mind set he’d worked so hard to develop over the past year.
Jax stretched out on the bed and lifted an arm in invitation for Brooks to snuggle underneath. He lifted the other and raised a brow to David, who fought himself a moment before giving in and settling down on Jax’s other side lacing his fingers with Brooks’ across Jax’s midsection.
“I suppose we should get down to business,” Jax said, long fingers running through Brooks’ sandy-brown hair.
“Have you learned anything else?” David asked.
Jax’s expression darkened. “I have a relatively good feel for the building now.” He removed his arm from around David long enough to take out a map he’d drawn of the parts of the place he’d seen and what he’d figured out while blindfolded. He handed it to David.
“They call it the Omega Oasis. An underground ring brings omegas in from all over the U.S.” Jax shook his head. “This goes much deeper than we thought, although I don’t think the government’s involved. Just a group of rich perverts. As far as I know, Parker keeps his proclivities under tight wraps. While shouting to the rooftops that werewolves are disgusting abominations, he’s privately sporting wood for the omegas and going to the place every chance he gets. His constituents would be horrified.”
“What can we do to rescue those omegas?” David asked, hating to think what the victims had to be going through.
Jax leaned his head against the wall, looking troubled. “I don’t know. The place is underground and heavily guarded.”
“What if you just concentrate on taking Parker down?” Brooks asked. “Bust the whole thing wide open. With the new law protecting shifters, the FBI should be interested in this.”
“Since Angela spoke to him, and we have suspicions this is a nation-wide thing, Mark’s been in contact with the FBI,” David said. “They’re keeping an eye on Parker.”
“He has plenty of people to do his dirty work,” Jax said. “They’ll have to catch him red-handed.”
David sat up on the bed and turned to look at Jax who remained relaxed, still stroking Brooks’ hair. “You can set him up. But please be careful, Jax. This is only going to get more dangerous for you. Do you think Blake suspects at all?” David hated even saying the man’s name, but he worried for Jax’s safety.
“He would never be taking me to that place if he did, and Parker must trust me to some extent to allow it.”
“Are you sure? Couldn’t it be a trick to see if you’ll tell the Congress?” David asked, stomach knotting.
“I’ll just have to make sure he never has reason to think I’ve leaked anything.”
“How’d you get away tonight?” Brooks asked.
Jax kissed the beta’s head and held his hand out to David, curling his fingers in invitation. With only the briefest of pauses, David settled down again. He continued to listen with his wolf for any sounds outside, but lying so close to Jax eased some of his tension.
“I drugged him,” Jax said.
Brooks and David both looked at Jax in surprise.
“You what?” David asked.
“I put something in Blake’s nightcap to ensure he wouldn’t wake up until morning. I’ll be back home and in bed before he ever opens his eyes.”
Brooks looked unconvinced. “Are you sure? What if it doesn’t work well on him, and he wakes up sooner?”
“I’ve tested it on him. Don’t worry.” Jax leaned down and kissed Brooks soundly before doing the same to David. The alpha felt like he could sink into those lips forever but allowed himself only a few seconds to enjoy it.
Jax smiled. “Enough business. Tell me about our kid. I want to know everything he’s up to.”
Brooks eagerly began relating all the new things Jarrod-Grant had learned to do.
David listened with one ear while remaining vigilant. Could it be possible their hell could be over soon? The alpha was afraid to hope.