Taze (Rise of the Pride #11) - Theresa Hissong Page 0,20

her. She was an essential part of the effort to stop the drug given to the Gadaí, but if she was going to have the two men in her life causing her stress, he’d rather pull her from further assignments.

He texted Calla, requesting she come by his office after lunch. He didn’t want her to feel anxious by telling her to come by right away. The female had come to him a broken shell of a child, and he’d taken her and her brother into his home and family.

They’d thrived with the love of the pride. Both of them worked hard to get their high school diplomas by utilizing a home school program after Garrett had pulled some strings to get Talon and Liberty custody of the two juveniles.

“Talon?” Winter called out as he knocked on the open office door. “Got a minute?”

“Sure,” he replied and waved toward the guest seats in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

“I wanted to go over some information with you regarding the businesses,” Winter began, dropping two packets on the desk; one for each company Talon owned. Talon had been the head of Shaw Security Specialists and Shaw Construction for many years, but when the threat to their species caused his safety to be questioned, he gave Winter the reins to them.

“What are these?” Talon frowned as he opened the folders.

“Sales reports,” Winter frowned. “The security firm is slow, but the construction side is thriving. I’d like to shift some of the humans around. We have three security guards at the firm that are also laborers. They have shown a willingness to move over since there is no work for them at SSI.”

Talon thumbed through the reports and shook his head at the drop in clients. It was important he keep the security firm open to give some backing to the Guardians’ activities. They’d helped find local missing children and elderly humans with dementia many times over the years. Other times, they worked security for some big named celebrities or performers when they would come through town.

“I agree with your decision.” Talon nodded and closed the folder. “Give them the same rate of pay they were making at the firm, though. Those men have families and need the money.”

“Will do,” Winter replied and took the folders as he left for the office.

Talon rocked back in his chair, ignoring the protest from the springs at his large size. Closing his eyes, he remembered a simpler time when things weren’t so crazy and humans weren’t out to collect them like test rats.

So far, they’d kept most of their secrets, but at what point would everything come out? It was the ultimate question, and no one could give him a solid answer. He wanted to keep his life secret, and for the most part, he had, but with each passing year, something was always waiting for them around the bend.

Gods, he hated it.

Liberty arrived with lunch, and they took some time to eat together. It was nice having his mate home for once. She’d been working a lot lately at her bar, The Deuce. Ever since the Guardians and Protectors had been split up to work half on the land and the other half with the FBI, she’d be working for Olivia on nights Dane and Cole were off together.

“Alpha?” Calla called out as she knocked on the door.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Liberty said as she gathered their plates and climbed off his lap.

“Come in, Calla” he greeted her. “Have a seat.”

Liberty stopped to give the female a warm hug and shut the door on her way out. There was a sadness in her eyes as she gave him one last glance.

“Is there something wrong?” She immediately clasped her hands together and he saw her jaw clench.

“I want you to relax,” he said right before he sent out a wave of calm to give her a moment to breath without worry for once.

“Thank you, alpha,” she replied, but sighed heavily. “If you’re trying to calm me, that means you have some news I probably don’t want to hear.”

“It’s not that,” he promised. “I wanted to talk to you about your visit with Harold.”

“I had a feeling he was going to come to you.” Calla scowled but straightened her spine. Whatever calm he’d sent her was replaced with determination. The female had manners, and he respected her for that. She’d never been a problem child like most teenagers, but she was also kidnapped and tortured while