Shaw (Alpha Geek #6) - Milly Taiden Page 0,53

much-needed improvements. Shaw didn’t like that Poppy was being used as bait, but his mate had given them the green light. He wouldn’t stand in her way, but he would definitely stand by her side and take a bullet for her if that’s what was needed.

He loved her.

It was too soon in their relationship to tell her. Especially after everything they had gone through in such a short amount of time, but he knew it was true.

He loved her.

Not only because she was his mate, though that helped, it was also because of who she was. Poppy was a magnificent woman. She had a good, caring soul. She was funny and sexy as hell. Just being near her made his entire body come alive.

And he wanted that—he wanted her—for the rest of his life.

He just had to find the right time to tell her, and the middle of a shit storm sure wasn’t that time.

Agent Lewis left to go start off the plan to end all plans, closely followed by Bennett, who managed to sneak a backward apologetic smile to Shaw. At least Bennett understood what it was like for him to put his mate on the line. Thankfully, the pregnant Dakota had been benched from the fight. Apparently, she had not taken kindly to that particular development.

There should have been another way, rather than putting Poppy right in the eye of the storm. But it did seem like everything going on was happening in a vacuum: fast, in a swirl of activity, and it would just plain suck.

Nick leaned back into his seat. “Now that the asshole is gone…” There was no doubt in Shaw’s mind as to whom Nick was referring. Agent Lewis was, at a minimum, a pissant. “We can talk for a second. I have a few things to clarify with you. First, your nana is doing well. Last time I heard from her was this morning; she had joined the Pilates course at the nursing home. Second, we need to discuss your employment with my company and how you hacked in.”

“I fixed it all. And made your system stronger. I’m really sorry. I should have gone through Bennett to get my hands on the serum.”

“Or not at all,” Nick pointed out. “Be that as it may, I knew, you know.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Shaw nodded. “That makes sense. Why did you let me steal it if you knew?”

“I wanted to see what you were going to do with it. I figured you would use it to turn yourself. Don’t think I didn’t notice the stench of air freshener in my office. Though this isn’t at all where I thought it was all going to go. I thought I would just have to wrangle a young, stupid shifter. But you’re a good man, Shaw. I’m happy to be fighting next to you on this. I believe you’ll do everything for the right reasons now.” Nick looked over to Poppy, his words loaded down by meaning. “Are you ready to do this?”

The question was geared toward Poppy. She gave Nick a tight nod, and Shaw took a step toward her, putting his hand on the small of her back. He could only hope that the supportive gesture was felt by her.

Nick handed her his phone, and Poppy took it. Shaw was pleased to see that her hands were shaking. There was even a determined resolved on her face as she dialed her cousin’s number.

With his shifter hearing, Shaw could hear the ringing. And he heard when Carl picked up.

“This call better be about my brother, you piece of shit.”

“Carl, it’s Poppy. It is about Curtis. You have to meet me, just you and Carson. No cronies. Just the three of us so we can resolve this.”

“You’ll give us back Curtis?”

“Sure will. So long as you promise to leave Shaw and me alone.”

“Not fucking likely. We want the money, Poppy.”

“Shaw is working on that right now,” she lied.

It was a good thing the conversation was happening on the phone. The fib rolled off Poppy’s tongue like it was nothing. She rattled off the address of the safe house, and Carl indicated that they would be there soon. That could only mean that while they had been talking about plans and how to proceed, the two remaining Cain brothers had driven back into town.

The fight was coming to them.

Poppy gave Nick his phone back.

“There is no way they’re just going to show up alone. They have