Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound #11)(77)

Angus remembered Tiger saying he could hear the signal a listening device gave off. He and Tamsin exchanged a glance.

Tamsin nodded glumly at him—on the way, they’d agreed Angus would lay out the problem to the others.

Ciaran sat next to Tiger, copying his stance of leaning his elbows back on the breakfast bar. Ciaran would avidly listen to every word, but Angus wouldn’t hold back. His son deserved to know the danger.

Angus related the story of his brother and his rebellion, how Gavan had been caught, given a flash trial by Shifter Bureau, and executed, how Angus’s mate had been caught and executed with him. He told them how Tamsin had joined the group for a while and then thought better of it when Gavan had showed her his stash of human weapons, collected so he and his band could wreak havoc. Now they had the question of what to do about it.

There was a long silence when he finished.

“So what do you think?” Angus asked them.

Tiger spoke before Ben could. “Destroy it. Weapons reaching Shifter or human hands is a bad idea.”

“Agreed. How to do that is the problem.”

Ben rubbed his chin. “The military gets rid of its surplus by selling things off to other countries—not a viable option. Or they melt things down, explode the ordnance, bury it in a deep hole if it’s nuclear.” Ben turned a worried gaze to Tamsin. “Please tell me nothing is nuclear.”

Tamsin shook her head. “I don’t think so, but I’m no expert. I saw guns in racks, grenades, lots of ammunition.”

Tiger broke in. “You need special facilities to melt down guns or blow up grenades.”

“We couldn’t go to the DOD and ask to use a facility for a little while, could we?” Tamsin asked, then sighed. “Nah, didn’t think so.”

“Not selling them,” Angus said. “Not to people in other countries or to criminals here. Not giving them to Shifters either.”

Tamsin held herself tightly, arms folded. “Someone might have found them already—they might not be there anymore. Or Gavan might have moved them or sold them. Or one of his guys did after Gavan was caught.”

“If Gavan moved or sold them, that in itself worries me,” Angus said. “So first step, find out.”

“With Shifter Bureau all over Shreveport watching out for me,” Tamsin pointed out.

“That’s why you have friends,” Ben said. “Friends who are good at stealth. I can look for you.”

“Friends who can protect you,” Tiger put in. “I will keep you safe.”

Tamsin spread her arms. “Aw, you two are so nice. You barely know me—why would you do this?”

“We know Angus,” Ben said. “He’s cranky, but he’s a good guy. And I know about people. Tiger will tell you he can scent the difference between good and evil, and I think he really can.”

Tiger’s lips twitched, the closest he came to smiling. “There is more to it than that. But I know.”

Tamsin steepled her fingers and brought them to her lips, her banter fading. Angus saw thoughts dancing behind her eyes and imagined they were similar to his. They had to decide whether to heave the recon onto Ben’s shoulders or risk it themselves. Plus, they had to trust that Ben wouldn’t suddenly go wild at the sight of all the weapons and use them himself, such as for avenging the death of his people on the Fae.

“Are you sure you can do it without Shifter Bureau spotting you and following you?” Tamsin asked Ben. “Or anyone else for that matter, like the human police?”

“Hmm,” Ben said, and then he vanished.

Tamsin yelped, and Angus jumped. He knew Ben had some magic, but he’d never seen it in action before.

Tiger didn’t move, and neither did Ciaran. “He’s right there,” Ciaran said, pointing to a shadow between the large refrigerator and the hall to the back door.

Angus peered where his son indicated and gradually, Ben’s outline became clear, like an object slowly illuminated by dawn light. Ben stepped forward, solid and substantial once more.

“Hard to fool cubs,” he said. “They know how to look at things. Can’t fool Tiger either.”

Tiger only nodded, not boastful.

Tamsin gave Ben an admiring look. “Convinced me. How do you do that? Slip between molecules of air?”

Ben raised his brows. “What kind of books do you read? It’s sort of misdirection. Using light and shadow to my advantage. A glam to make watchers look somewhere else. I practice.” He huffed on his fingernails and brushed them against his shirt.

“What do you think, Angus?” Tamsin asked. “Have him dodge in and check it out?”

“Your call,” Angus said. “Your stash.”

“Not mine. It belonged to your brother. So your call.”

Ben let out a laugh. “I don’t know if watching you two defer to each other is sweet or hilarious. I should go. If Tamsin is caught, it wouldn’t go well for her.”

No, it would not. Trusting Ben was the best option. If he tried to do anything duplicitous with the arsenal, Angus would let Shifter Bureau, Dylan, and the human police chase him. Angus liked Ben, but he would choose Tamsin’s safety, and Ciaran’s, over all others. Always.

“Ben goes,” Angus said.

Tamsin nodded. “I agree.” She let out a breath. “Let me give you the directions.”