Free Deceived by Kate Serine Page A

vanished. She was completely naked now except for her red pumps and a paisley scarf around her neck—which he’d be sure to make use of in ways she’d probably never imagined—her golden hair falling around her shoulders. “Why, Ms. Holt, I think I have underestimated just how useful you are going to be. . . .”
    * * *
    Jacob Stone was a fucking weasel. Will never had liked the guy, hadn’t trusted his too-charming smile, his easy manners and perfect answers to any question. But the guy had gotten a shitty deal from the Alliance. If any other brother had made the same mistakes that Stone had, he would’ve been sanctioned, maybe stripped of any rank or at least bumped down. But Will knew when his grandfather had handed down the verdict on Stone’s hearing that he’d been acting on an old vendetta against Stone’s grandfather, Angus Stone. So much for not getting personal.
    But Will hadn’t been in a position to argue. Not back then. But if any of his men were to go up against the Grand Council now, he sure as hell wouldn’t let them go down in flames like his father had done to Stone. He would defend his men, no matter the risk.
    He just had to assume that his father had had reasons for burning Stone that went beyond the family rivalry. He had to believe that his father had been a good man, an excellent commander, who’d kept his oath to put the Alliance before all else. And that his grandfather had made the right call.
    That was certainly easier than admitting that his family was comprised of power-tripping assholes just like the Stone family had been. Regardless, he was working damned hard to distance himself from that perception since taking command. Maybe Jacob was as well. So far, he’d proven to be an adept politician under Hal Blake’s tutelage, and his meteoric rise to the spotlight had as much to do with his own talents as Hal’s influence. Hell, maybe he should give the guy a chance to prove himself. Wasn’t that what Will was asking from his fellow Templars?
    Will rolled his head, trying to work out the tension in his neck, but it didn’t do a damned bit of good. With a resigned sigh, he turned his attention back to his laptop screen, checking the most recent updates about the movement of the assets. He shook his head at the estimated time for completing relocation. It overshot his promise to his grandfather by at least two days, maybe more. “Too long.”
    â€œI get that all the time.”
    Will’s gaze snapped up to see the wide grin of his tech specialist, Elliot “Finn” Finnegan. Normally, he appreciated Finnegan’s levity and unwavering optimism. Those personality traits were certainly in short supply in the Alliance. But today he couldn’t even bring himself to crack a smile in response.
    â€œWhat do you have, Finn?”
    â€œPut together the tech for Luke,” Finn told him. “Should be enough to get them by until we can bring them in. I can be on the plane as soon as you say the word. But I’m hosed when it comes to picking out ladies’ things. . . . Gonna have to hit up Maddie Blake to figure out what to get her sister and nephew, if that’s cool with you.”
    Will gave him a terse nod. “I’m expecting Luke to give me a call soon to let me know the rendezvous point. Might not be able to give you much notice, so be ready.”
    â€œCopy that.” Finn jerked his head toward the screen on Will’s wall. “Just sent you the latest assessment.”
    Will tapped a sequence of keys on his laptop, and several documents popped open on the wall display. “What am I looking at?”
    â€œA whole lotta fucked up,” Finn said.
    He gave him a sardonic look. “Not what I was hoping to hear, Finn.”
    Finn nodded. “Ah, sorry, brah . It’s sunshine, rainbows, and pretty pink ponies.”
    At this, Will actually chuckled. “That’s more