Counting Stars

Chapter 4

His gaze was drawn to the flicker of lights in his rear view mirror, his eyes darting to the reflection before a small sigh escaped him as he pulled over, wrists resting on top of the steering wheel patiently. As he heard a voice over the speakers of the car behind him, he quietly got out of his own, hands raised and backing towards them as instructed. Huffing out a breath as he was pushed against the back of his car, he allowed his wrists to be cuffed while he casually queried over his shoulder. "What have I done officers?"

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Brian was still tempted for a smoke as he headed out of the compound, his irritation barely kept in check as he heard Tanner call out after him. "Bilkins may be in charge of this whole operation, but he has no right telling me to join their pack. Does he even know about pack bonds?" Turning back to Tanner, Brian rubbed his jaw as he focused on calming himself down, eyes looking over the grey walls of the compound before he finally looked to Tanner as the male replied.

"Remember, he isn't a shifter. He doesn't realise what is required to join a pack nor what he is asking of you. Just keep doing what you're doing and find out who's behind the hijackings and I'll make sure he sees the gravity of what he's asking, okay?" He held Brian's gaze for a couple of minutes until the blonde finally nodded his acknowledgement before turning to leave, Tanner watching him go. "Be careful Brian."

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Dom glanced up from the list so far for the next order as he heard the rumble of a tow truck reversing up beside the garage. Surveying the wrecked car it was carrying, he raised a brow as Brian stepped into view. "What is this?"

"Your car." The male gestured to the car with a smile, Dom staying quiet as he studied the offering once again, slightly confused. What was he on about?

Chuckling, he soon shook his head before waving at the car in dismissal. "My car? I said you owe me a ten second car, not some scrap heap that probably couldn't even start." Hearing Letty and Jesse tease the blonde as well, he tilted his head before pausing as Brian insisted they open the hood, eventually nodding to Jesse to go ahead. Moving to stand beside Brian to watch, he listened as Jesse examined and explained the engine and parts, a small smile as he glanced over to Brian his only acknowledgement before stepping aside to let Jesse lead the blonde into the side room to the computer, eyes flicking over the engine with a low whistle. "Not bad at all."

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It amazed Brian how focused Jesse was and how much he knew as he showed Brian the idea of using the parts from the damaged car to build the car he owed Dom, reconstructing it like a Supra. How he isn't in university astounded him until his ADD was mentioned. An unfortunate outcome for someone young and so talented. They had looked over the plan in more detail and discussed ideas between each other before they took a break, Brian leaning over his shoulder to take a last, closer look at the blueprint Jesse had before pausing at the faint scent of heat pheromones. Jesse was an omega as well, and soon approaching his heat. Crap.

The blonde was due for his own soon and he would have preferred to not come across any risks or chances of his being set off early and blowing his cover. He hadn't told the others when approached for the task since he had hoped he'd have enough time to get enough information by now and a name to who was behind the hijackings by now, any lead that would help finish the case before his heat hit. Hopefully he could still find the person behind it before then.

He was soon drawn from his thoughts after Dom, having appeared in the doorway, cleared his throat when the blonde seemed to not notice his presence before gesturing over his shoulder. "Come on Brian, let's get the rest of the stuff needed to start this off."