My Shifter Boss

Chapter 11

“Nathan and Matt will lead, going in from the roof with four other weres. The other four will provide lookout and guard over Nathan and Matt as they make their way to Marissa. With the information Bobby has given us, we have an exact location and time where Marissa will be.” Maryann studied the council members around her, avoiding looking at her daughter, who she knew was not happy about the plan.

Nathan took up the explanation, pointing at the blueprints Bobby had smuggled to him at their meeting earlier in the day. “We’ll enter here, which Bobby will have unlocked for us. The stairwell leads directly to the level Marissa has allocated for her sleeping quarters. The only person allowed in there is Bobby, and then only when she’s there.”

“Bobby will be waiting for us in the apartment. He’s arranged for he and Marissa to finalize the plans for the attack,” Matt continued. “Which, by the way, is supposed to take place on Monday, we learned.”

“Monday. That’s soon,” Maryann mused. “If you fail to take Marissa tonight, she’s sure to move the attack up.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Lucy could contain herself no longer. Although she and Nathan had already discussed this, she wasn’t happy about it. “Can someone please explain to me why Nathan and Matt are going down alone? Doesn’t that seem unnecessarily dangerous?”

Maryann eyed her daughter. “Nathan and Matt have both been trained for this kind of mission.”

Matt commented, “And we’ve both been on missions like this before.”

Nathan walked over and took her hand. “I know you don’t like this, but it has to be this way.”

Lucy threw her hands up. “This is insane. She’s insane! And how do you know Bobby isn’t full of sh*t, isn’t setting you up?”

One of the council members agreed. “I agree with Lucy. How do you know Bobby, who I watched kill another were in cold blood when they helped Marissa escape, isn’t trying to get you there for hostages? Nathan, not to inflate your ego, but you’d be worth a lot to get back, and Marissa knows that.”

Nathan shook his head. “She’d kill me. She hates my guts.”

“Oh well, that makes me feel better,” Lucy huffed.

Maryann interrupted the argument. “The decision has already been voted on and decided. Nathan and Matt will complete this mission.”

Lucy glared at her mother but remained silent. Matt asked, “When do we leave?”

Nathan, who had one arm around Lucy, replied, “Eight o’clock.”

*****

Lucy huffed back to her office, refusing to speak until she got there. When the door had closed behind Nathan, she turned and pointed a hand at him.

“This is absurd!”

“Lucy, we’ve discussed this. I told you I was going,” Nathan placated, gently taking the finger she pointed at him in his hand.

She jerked her hand away. “Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, dammit!” Her anger deflated quickly, and although she wanted to cry, she didn’t. “I don’t want you to go.”

He took her in his arms and said, “I know. But I promise I’ll be more careful than I’ve ever been. I have you to come home to.”

She pulled back. “You do, Nathan. I’ve only known you a short time, but my life won’t be complete without you in it. If something were to happen to you . . .” She left her sentence unfinished because she couldn’t say the words out loud. She shook her head and blinked rapidly. She would not let the tears fall. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.” He kissed her deeply, holding her close and running his hands down her back. “I found out that now that your mom is the official Head, she can marry us. So, if you’re willing, I’d like to marry you this afternoon.”

Lucy stared up at him. “Are you serious?”

Nathan’s smile faltered a little. “I am, but if you’d rather wait and have a wedding, I’m fine with that too.” Tears fell now, silently. “Lucy, baby, please don’t cry. Or please tell me those are tears of yes.”

“Yes. Let’s do it. We can Skype Dad in to watch. I’ll call Kayla and get her over here,” Lucy gushed. “Mom won’t mind the interruption for happy business. Let’s do it!”

Nathan wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet. “Damn, woman, I love everything about you!”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Let me go, you silly man. I’ve got to call Kayla and get her here. You go tell Mom.”

“Yes, dear,” Nathan said with a grin. “Not even married yet and I’m already saying yes dear.”

“Get!” She shooed him out of her office and picked up the phone to call Kayla, who said she’d be there in thirty minutes. Lucy sat down after hanging up the phone. She looked up at the ceiling and said to herself, “I’m getting married in an hour.” Astonishment and happiness battled in her heart as her mother rushed in.

“Lucy! I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to perform the ceremony,” Maryann gushed. “But get up! We have to get to the store to buy you a dress.”

“Mom, we don’t have time to find a wedding dress. This is happening within the hour so Nathan can prepare for the mission.”

Maryann waved her hand at her daughter impatiently. “Not a wedding dress, but something better than the business suit you’re wearing. I told Nathan he had to go upstairs and put on a suit. So let’s go!”

Lucy rose to her feet slowly, and although she appeared exasperated by her mother’s insistence, she was excited that her mother wanted her in a proper dress, even if it wasn’t a wedding dress.

“Do you think Dad will get mad?” Lucy asked as they rushed to the elevators.

“I don’t think so. We’ll call him on the way.”

“We can Skype him in,” Lucy reminded her mom.

“Of course! That way he’ll see it,” Maryann exclaimed as they stepped off the elevator and hurried to Nathan’s car. “Come on. We only have thirty minutes. You have to get back so we can do your hair and makeup.”

“Oh, Mom, we don’t have to do all of that,” Lucy replied, a big smile on her face.

Maryann stopped and said, “We damn sure do. This is the only time you’ll get married. Now hurry up!”