Wild and Free (The Three #3)(170)

Cain sat back in his chair and I watched his jaw get hard.

It was a little freaky seeing the spitting image of my man, who was sitting beside me, also sitting across the breakfast table from me. I knew I’d get used to it. It didn’t make it any less freaky.

There was a sharp rap on the door and all eyes went there. But before anyone could call the invitation to come in, the door opened and a vampire stood there.

He was looking at Gregor.

“Sir, if I can have a word,” he called.

“Nothing you say cannot be heard by those in this room,” Gregor called back, circling a hand in front of him. “Come in, Terrance.”

The vampire stepped in and started to close the door, but he also started talking before he accomplished that feat.

“We’ve had a communication from Gastineau,” he declared.

I pulled in a breath and leaned closer to Abel, who, in return, draped an arm on the back of my chair.

“His rescue attempt of Serena was unsuccessful,” the vampire Terrance went on.

“Oh no,” Sonia whispered.

“Phantom losses were significant,” Terrance stated. “He’s requesting reinforcements.”

“So he found her,” Gregor noted, tossing his napkin on the table and pushing his chair back.

“Indeed,” Terrance agreed.

“Did he report that Etienne was at that location?” Gregor asked, moving along the table to the door.

“No, sir, he didn’t report that. He didn’t report anything except their failure and his desire to make another attempt. He’s on Skype right now. He wishes to speak directly to you.”

Gregor nodded, not looking back to the room as he said, “I’ll return with news.”

He walked out the door, followed by Terrance, and Terrance closed it behind them.

“Not good news,” Leah murmured.

“Phantom losses were significant,” Cain stated in a way that got everyone’s attention.

But his attention was solely on his brother.

“Do me a favor,” he went on quietly. “Wait. A day. You want to give me a gift, wait two. See if that witch gets a vision. See if the others can locate the leader. Just wait, give it a little time, so maybe we’ll know what we’re facing, or when you go in, you’ll have a target that’s worth the risk.”

“The Three have to agree,” Abel replied, and I felt something loosen inside me.

Maybe he was giving in.

Cain pushed back his chair, his gaze moving around the table, before he said, “Then you’ll all be doing me a favor. I finally have my brother. I don’t want to lose him.”

On that, he tossed his napkin on the table and stalked out.

“Shit, I need a cigarette,” Jabber muttered, pushing his chair back.

“I’m with you, brother. It’s time for a smoke break,” Hook stated, getting up to follow Jabber.

Moose did the same.

Poncho stayed seated.

“Any way you can get your auntie to speed things up?” Abel asked him.

“Not good to interrupt her when she’s working,” Poncho answered.

I sighed.

Abel’s jaw got hard.

“Is she really sacrificing a yak?” Leah asked.

“Ox,” Poncho told her.

Her eyes got big and they turned to me.

I gave her a lip curl but shrugged.

“I would agree with Cain,” Lucien interrupted his bride’s and my nonverbal communication. “A day, two, we can wait. Cosmo is working that vampire. Perhaps he’ll break him.”

“Abel?” Callum called after Lucien finished giving his vote.

And when Abel gave his, I knew it not only came from the fact that he wanted to give his brother this, but he also wanted to give it to me.

“Two days. Then we go,” he said.

“Agreed,” Callum finished it.

It didn’t escape me that they didn’t ask for Sonia’s, Leah’s, or my opinion, but since the vote went the way I wanted it to, I kept my mouth shut.

“We should train,” Abel announced.

“There’s little else to teach you, brother,” Callum told him. “By the fates, you’re a natural.”

“Then we should attack each other to blow off some steam,” Abel returned.

Callum held his eyes and nodded slowly. “All right, Abel.”

The men pushed back, including Lucien, his eyes to Xun, which meant they were training too.

Considering I didn’t think I was destined to karate chop my way to saving the world, I stayed where I was and reached for the silver coffeepot.

I had it by the handle held up in the air when I felt Abel’s hand curl around my neck.

I tipped my head back, he bent in to give me a short, soft kiss, then he was gone.

With similar gestures for their mates, Callum and Lucien were gone with him. Without bitches to kiss, the rest just filed out.

Leaving Leah, Sonia, and me with Poncho.

“Don’t you smoke?” Sonia asked him, and he grinned wickedly at her.

“I do, beautiful, but I do not when I got a shot at sittin’ at a fancy-ass table with three gorgeous women, drinkin’ coffee, and shootin’ the shit.”

That was Poncho. He was a flirt.

I gave him a smile.