Frank Grimes' POV
Grand Island, Nebraska
I got in the car and drove away from the two surviving werepanthers, my stomach rolling over the lost opportunity. I'd done what I could to try and get her to trust me, and it didn't work. There was too much history in the way. "Where to, sir," Tom Nichols asked me.
"Tell everyone to meet at the 7-11 off Highway 30. We need to talk to the others," I told him. Meghan made the calls to the two Brotherhood vehicles while Tom linked to the two Pack cars.
We pulled into the parking lot of the convenience store. I got out as soon as the car stopped, and Meghan got out and moved to my side. Tom and Meghan were Arrowhead warriors, and their job was to protect me. I didn't need protection from the others here; they were friends.
The four men, two members, and two prospects from the Denver Steel Brotherhood chapter got out and gathered around me. "You guys did a great job, and I appreciate it," I told them. I handed each of the men envelopes; they started to object, but I held up my hand. "You lent us your time and talents, so this is the least we can do to pay you back. We're good now. Get some steaks, some sleep, and head back to Denver when you're ready."
The leader of the four smiled. "I guess we can use some beer money, Frank. If my Brother needs help again, have him call." There were handshakes all around before they got back in their cars and left.
"What about us, sir?" Brent and Laura were another mated warrior couple that had come down with us.
"You two have the first watch," I said. "Maria's had a long day, and I don't expect her to go far before she finds a place to crash. Stay close enough to watch, but not close enough for her to pick you up. How is the GPS signal?"
"It's strong," Laura said. "She hasn't moved from the park yet."
"I put the tracker under the cushion on the baby seat, so even if she changes cars, it should stay with her. When she's on the move, stay far enough back that she doesn't make your car. Exchange texts with Tom and Meghan if you're outside the range of the Pack link."
Brent nodded. "Rules of engagement, sir?"
"Our goal is to keep them alive and out of CIA hands. If anyone tries to grab her, it's kidnapping. Use deadly force if needed."
"Shifting, sir?"
I looked over to Laura. "If there is no other option to save their lives, shift. I don't want anyone to figure out we're working with her if we can avoid it." I turned to my other warrior pair. "Tom, you and Meghan can drive me to the airport in Lincoln. I need to get back to Arrowhead, and I'll take the standby team with me."
"It's a ninety-minute drive," Tom said. "We should be back in four hours with stops to eat and gas up."
Laura looked at her phone, which had the tracking app going. "Maria is on the move," she said.
"Go." The pair jumped back into their car and headed back towards the park. I looked over at Tom and Meghan. "Grab your snacks and use the bathroom, I guess." A few minutes later, I had a cherry Slurpee next to me in the cupholder as we drove south out of town towards Interstate 80. I took the secure phone out of my bag and started calling. "Hey, baby," I said as my mate picked up. "I'm finished here and heading back to the jet. I'll be back in Arrowhead by morning."
"Are they with you?"
"No." I related to her the conversation with Maria. "She's refused help for now, but we will be monitoring her from a distance just in case."
"She's not wrong about some of her worries," Colletta told me. "Have you heard back from the Attorney General?"
After our meeting, she was supposed to ask the President if she had authorized a CIA operation to capture Werepanthers. "No, nothing."
"I'll follow up. You need to follow up with Chase and Rori. Come up with a plan for how to integrate Maria into Arrowhead should she change her mind about asylum."
"I will." We talked for a few more minutes before I called Chase. I updated him on things and asked him for a favor. He agreed, especially after I told him why.
I put the secure phone down and picked up my cellphone. I found the text string with Frank Donovan and asked him to call me when he had a chance. He called a minute later. "Hey, Frank," he said.
"How is Claire doing?"
"She's a mess, but she's alive and awake," he told me. "I don't know what to do, Boss. The doctors say she'll be in here for two weeks. That gives me time to figure out the next step."
"Will she let you help?" It was only on the flight up that the two confessed their attraction for each other; their relationship was still new.
"I don't know. There's no one back in Washington who can care for her, and she doesn't want to go back to North Dakota so her parents can take care of her. I'd take her to my place, but my apartment isn't suited for someone with her needs. She needs home care, hydrotherapy, physical therapy; it's practically a full-time job. She's facing months of physical therapy before she can walk without crutches, and I still have a job of my own."
"Have they told you what your next assignment is after the Task Force goes away?"
"No. I'm worried about that, too. I can't take family leave to care for Claire unless we're married, and I can't afford to be on a leave of absence for six months either."
It sucked, but I had an answer. "If I go to your bosses to get it approved, would you consider the two of you going to Arrowhead?"
"Arrowhead? Why?"
I set the hook. "There are dozens of female Omegas, low-rank wolves, at Arrowhead who could be useful for the DEA. They don't want to become fully-trained agents, and they won't leave Arrowhead for extended training assignments. Most have come out of bad situations, including slavery and abuse, so they don't trust easily and don't have the mindset to be warriors."
