Wolf with Benefits
Page 66
So when the Reeds raised their pups, they raised them to protect their own, which meant protecting blood kin and Pack kin. It meant protecting their siblings and their cousins as well as old Missus Sandy Mae up the street who often ended up on the wrong side of full-humans in a nearby town because she was kind of crazy.
And protection was something the Reeds did not take lightly.
Thats why working for Llewellyn Security was such a great job for Ricky. Not only did it allow him to protect the New York Smiths, a job hed been born into, but also protect others for money, a job that helped him have a very healthy retirement fund as well as go on little excursions like this one.
Of course, it didnt hurt that he was getting to go with sexy little Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Nope. That didnt hurt at all.
Speaking of protection . . . Ricky studied the unopened box of condoms in his medicine cabinet. After a moment, he shrugged and grabbed one box . . . then the second. Couldnt hurt, he murmured after tossing the boxes into his duffel bag.
Ricky lifted his head, sniffed the air. Rory.
By the time he made it back into the small living room, his brother was walking through the door. His expression told Ricky he was not happy.
Youre going to Siberia?
No. Were going to Russia. Probably some place close to Moscow. Right, Toni?
She reached into her backpack and pulled out the itinerary shed been given by Cella Malone.
Were going to Lake Baikal. Wait. She blinked, lowered the paper. That is Siberia.
Rickys eyes crossed. Good Lord.
Were going into Siberia? Ricky demanded.
Thats probably where the team is from. Most of the Russian teams likely train there off season. It made sense. She doubted any nosey full-humans were going to bother the shifter-only teams while they were training for games in Siberia. And Lake Baikal had freshwater seals, which the polars probably loved.
She looked at the wolf and immediately felt bad for him. He hadnt signed on for this. Moscow, or a place close to Moscow, was one thing, but asking him to travel to Siberia was definitely asking too much of the man.
Look, Ricky, you dont have to
Ive already contacted Vic, Rickys brother said, and walked around the couch Toni was sitting on and laid a case he had on the coffee table. He opened the case. Hell be meeting you at the airport and hell get you to Lake Baikal.
Toni, confused by all this, held up her own papers. I have an itinerary.
I know, darlin, Rory said while at the same time removing the paper from her hand and putting it back into her bag. Itll help you once youget there, but I want to make sure yall get there safe and then stay safe once you arrive. Vic will make sure of that.
Whos Vic?
Dee recommended him awhile back. He helps our company when we need contacts in Eastern European countries.
He was born and raised in Chicago, but his area of expertise is Eastern Europe, Ricky explained.
You look worried, Toni told Rory. I feel like I should be freaking out. Should I be freaking out? she asked Ricky.
No. Everythings going to be fine. This is just a precaution.
How come Cella Malone didnt have to take these kinds of precautions?
You said it yourself, darlin. Shes a Siberian tiger and a Malone. No ones messin with her.
But its probably best shes not going, Rory admitted. Her reputation aint much better than Novikovs with the Russian teams, and she probably would have asked Dee-Ann to go with her . . .
The brothers stared at each other, then started laughing.
Lord, Ricky finally said, that would have been very bad.
What does that mean?
Its just better that you are going, Rory insisted. Now, you have your passport, right?
As much as my family travels? My mothers agent actually has a schedule when we all have to get our passports renewed.
Excellent. Rory waved off his brother. I know youve got what you need. Ive already touched base with Llewellyn and hes arranged with that company yall are flying with. Madra Air?
Yeah.
He says just bring your nine, but nothing else.
Toni sat up straight. Youre bringing a gun on a plane?
Dont worry about that.
Id rather not end up on Madras Do Not Fly List if you dont mind.
Dont worry about that. He looked at his brother again. So Dee-Ann has already contacted Vic for us. And hes still in Russia?
For now, yeah, hes been helping with tracking Whitlan.
Wait, Toni cut in. Who the hells Whitlan?
Vic will get you whatever you need once you get to Russia, Rory went on, ignoring her.
Better be more than a nine, Toni muttered, and she realized that both brothers were staring at her. These are bears and Siberian tigers. A nine isnt going to do anything but irritate them.
How do you know that? Rory asked.
And protection was something the Reeds did not take lightly.
Thats why working for Llewellyn Security was such a great job for Ricky. Not only did it allow him to protect the New York Smiths, a job hed been born into, but also protect others for money, a job that helped him have a very healthy retirement fund as well as go on little excursions like this one.
Of course, it didnt hurt that he was getting to go with sexy little Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Nope. That didnt hurt at all.
Speaking of protection . . . Ricky studied the unopened box of condoms in his medicine cabinet. After a moment, he shrugged and grabbed one box . . . then the second. Couldnt hurt, he murmured after tossing the boxes into his duffel bag.
Ricky lifted his head, sniffed the air. Rory.
By the time he made it back into the small living room, his brother was walking through the door. His expression told Ricky he was not happy.
Youre going to Siberia?
No. Were going to Russia. Probably some place close to Moscow. Right, Toni?
She reached into her backpack and pulled out the itinerary shed been given by Cella Malone.
Were going to Lake Baikal. Wait. She blinked, lowered the paper. That is Siberia.
Rickys eyes crossed. Good Lord.
Were going into Siberia? Ricky demanded.
Thats probably where the team is from. Most of the Russian teams likely train there off season. It made sense. She doubted any nosey full-humans were going to bother the shifter-only teams while they were training for games in Siberia. And Lake Baikal had freshwater seals, which the polars probably loved.
She looked at the wolf and immediately felt bad for him. He hadnt signed on for this. Moscow, or a place close to Moscow, was one thing, but asking him to travel to Siberia was definitely asking too much of the man.
Look, Ricky, you dont have to
Ive already contacted Vic, Rickys brother said, and walked around the couch Toni was sitting on and laid a case he had on the coffee table. He opened the case. Hell be meeting you at the airport and hell get you to Lake Baikal.
Toni, confused by all this, held up her own papers. I have an itinerary.
I know, darlin, Rory said while at the same time removing the paper from her hand and putting it back into her bag. Itll help you once youget there, but I want to make sure yall get there safe and then stay safe once you arrive. Vic will make sure of that.
Whos Vic?
Dee recommended him awhile back. He helps our company when we need contacts in Eastern European countries.
He was born and raised in Chicago, but his area of expertise is Eastern Europe, Ricky explained.
You look worried, Toni told Rory. I feel like I should be freaking out. Should I be freaking out? she asked Ricky.
No. Everythings going to be fine. This is just a precaution.
How come Cella Malone didnt have to take these kinds of precautions?
You said it yourself, darlin. Shes a Siberian tiger and a Malone. No ones messin with her.
But its probably best shes not going, Rory admitted. Her reputation aint much better than Novikovs with the Russian teams, and she probably would have asked Dee-Ann to go with her . . .
The brothers stared at each other, then started laughing.
Lord, Ricky finally said, that would have been very bad.
What does that mean?
Its just better that you are going, Rory insisted. Now, you have your passport, right?
As much as my family travels? My mothers agent actually has a schedule when we all have to get our passports renewed.
Excellent. Rory waved off his brother. I know youve got what you need. Ive already touched base with Llewellyn and hes arranged with that company yall are flying with. Madra Air?
Yeah.
He says just bring your nine, but nothing else.
Toni sat up straight. Youre bringing a gun on a plane?
Dont worry about that.
Id rather not end up on Madras Do Not Fly List if you dont mind.
Dont worry about that. He looked at his brother again. So Dee-Ann has already contacted Vic for us. And hes still in Russia?
For now, yeah, hes been helping with tracking Whitlan.
Wait, Toni cut in. Who the hells Whitlan?
Vic will get you whatever you need once you get to Russia, Rory went on, ignoring her.
Better be more than a nine, Toni muttered, and she realized that both brothers were staring at her. These are bears and Siberian tigers. A nine isnt going to do anything but irritate them.
How do you know that? Rory asked.
