“You not only want me to tuck tail and run from our territory, but you want me to stay hidden in the house like some little bitch?” Coop gnashed his teeth together in anger.
“Your first and only priority is making sure Olin is safe,” Talyn said. “Look at it as a study of the McBride coalition with perks.”
“Perks?”
Talyn gave him a knowing look. “From my understanding, you and Olin have things you need to work out. Take this time to woo him and show him who Cooper Dalton really is.”
Coop ran his hand over the lower half of his jaw as Talyn walked into the house. It rankled his ego to have to hide. That wasn’t who he was. He didn’t like taking trouble to Mya’s either. That didn’t set right with him.
Coop was in a clusterfucked mess and wasn’t sure how to get out of it. But he wasn’t going to sit on his ass while at Olin’s. Coop was going to get to the bottom of things.
* * * *
Talyn hated pulling rank on Coop. He thought of the guy as more than an Enforcer and underling at the mill. They were good friends, but sometimes the guy needed a nudge in the right direction. Talyn didn’t know the full story, but putting those two together couldn’t hurt.
He passed through the living room and glanced at the repaired window. It had taken longer than he’d first expected, but it looked great. He ascended the steps and leaned against the doorframe of the bedroom across from his and Gabriel’s.
The nursery was coming along beautifully, although Talyn had refused to let Gabriel paint. He didn’t want his bonded mate inhaling the fumes.
Dane and Olin were in there, rolling the brushes along the wall.
“I still say I could have painted,” Gabriel said as he walked up behind Talyn.
Talyn pulled Gabriel into his arms and ran his hand over the man’s extended belly. “I’m not taking any chances with you or my cub.”
“Are you gonna feed us for doing all this work?” Olin asked as he eyed them.
Talyn grunted. “You just started.”
“I skipped breakfast and lunch,” Olin said. “I’m starving.”
“I’ll grab some sandwiches,” Gabriel said. “I’m a bit hungry as well.”
“You just ate a half-hour ago,” Talyn reminded Gabriel, although he knew he was wasting his breath. His bonded mate ate like three quarterbacks and still managed to stay skinny.
“Dane, why don’t you go help Gabriel?” Talyn asked.
The little redhead smiled and set his roller aside. “Sure, no problem.”
Talyn knew there wouldn’t be.
When the two left, Olin gazed speculatively at Talyn. “Okay, so you got me alone. What do you want?”
“Clever man, aren’t you?” Talyn asked.
They hadn’t gotten along when they’d first met, and things were still wobbly between them. Talyn tried only because Olin was Gabriel’s cousin.
“I’ve been known to tie my own shoes,” Olin replied. “Now tell me why you sent those two away.”
“Love your grade-school wit,” Talyn said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m always five seconds away from kicking you out. You’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass since we’ve met.”
Olin fluttered his eyelashes at Talyn. “You’re kinda completing me right now. Stop flirting and get to the point.” He turned and began to roll the roller over the wall.
“Fine,” Talyn said. He needed to say what he had to say and walk away before he lost his patience. “Coop and Karidon are coming to stay with you until this contract mess is squared away.”
Olin’s brush stilled on the wall before he slowly turned his head. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me, brat. But I want you to keep Coop out of trouble. I know him, he’s going to go looking for the one who put a contract out on him and Karidon.”
The roller fell to the plastic below Olin’s feet as confusion clouded his face. “Wait, what contract? Who wants Coop and Karidon killed?”
“That’s what I’m working on, but until then, every yokel is gunning for them, and your aunt agreed to stash them at your place. Got a problem with that?”
Olin blinked a few times, and Talyn scented fear on the air. It was obvious that Olin hadn’t known about the contracts. He was glad Olin was taking him seriously. The last thing Talyn wanted was for anything to happen to his two longtime friends or even Olin’s bratty ass.
“No.” Olin shook his head, his voice level. “No problem. When do you want us to leave?”
“I’ll send Zach to retrieve your car as soon as Karidon gives me the keys. Since you’ve been spotted with Coop, it’s probably best you lay low as well.” Talyn pushed from the doorframe. “As soon as Coop and Karidon get some things together, you’ll be leaving with them. A few of my Enforcers will escort Coop and Karidon to their homes to pack.”