Free Winston (BBW Bear Shifter Wedding Romance) (Grizzly Groomsmen Book 3) by Becca Fanning Page A

After losing the U4 deal with Lytos, Mason tried to employ them to run a more dangerous quadrant. They refused and ended up cutting ties with the company. I’m not sure how they’re currently employed.”

    “What if we can get them to say they smuggled the U4 into quadrants that ban us? Would they back off if we came at them from two fronts?” Annie asked.

    “ Rabblerouser ’s based out of Saltos,” Hyde said. “Or they were. I worked with them for a few months. It’s two days from here, easy.”

    Delphine shook her head. “They’ll just deny the claims and keep coming after us.”

    “They won’t be able to,” Zosha said. “Sylas will back it up, and people listen when he talks. And Da—and my friend will help us.”

    Delphine had a pretty good idea who Zosha’s friend was. She very carefully avoided thinking about it.

    “Saltos, you said. We’ll plot a course now,” the captain said, rising to his feet. “Zosha, talk to your friend. I’m going to call Sylas. Rick, you and Annie are in the cockpit. Everyone else, do whatever makes you feel useful.”

    The group split apart, everyone going to their designated place. Only Delphine and Custer remained still. She looked around, dazed, and realized that these people really thought this would work.

    “Do you remember what you said to me the first time we met?” Custer asked quietly. “You were drugged to the gills and also tied to a chair, so I won’t hold it against you if you don’t.”

    “I suppose you mean the rant about you not doing anything, followed by you doing something?”

    “That’s the one. Just remember, I excel at changing destinies. I’ll get you through this,” he said, finally looking at her. She could have drowned in the look in his eyes.  

    “As long as I don’t have to change my name,” she said in an attempt to force the conversation back onto more comfortable ground. “Tell me, were you a Civil War enthusiast or were you just a fan of Strathmore?”

    Custer groaned, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Neither, I promise. It was a very, very old song my mom used to sing to me as a kid. I don’t know why, it was incredibly depressing. It’s about a man who doesn’t want to die. After she died, I was tired of being Anthony and it was the first name I could think of when I was getting fake papers. I didn’t even know who he was until people started making jokes.”  

    Delphine laughed softly. “So, what now?”

    “Now,” Custer said, pushing back from the table, “we go back to my room and you get some serious rest. You both need and deserve it. Also, we get the collar off.”

    Delphine’s hand flew to her neck in surprise. She’d forgotten about it. Custer lead her out of the kitchen and to the hallway containing the rooms, punching in the code for his and walking inside.

    The inside was a standard bedroom for smaller ships. There was clothing and the like pushed into piles on the floor. It was an almost controlled mess, which Delphine supposed was a pretty good metaphor for Custer himself.

    “Come here,” Custer told her, pulling a small device out of his pocket. Delphine obeyed and Custer leaned forward and cupped her neck with his free hand. Her heart stuttered as he leaned in, his warmth seeping into her. There was a click and the collar dropped away. Custer kicked and it skidded under his bed.

    “Better?” he asked, not leaning away or removing his hand.

    “Much,” she said more quietly than she meant to.

    The seconds ticked past as they stood there, staring into each other’s eyes. The only point of contact was his hand on her neck, but it felt…intimate. Delphine was so tempted to just lean forward and press their lips together. It would be so easy. It was also, she knew, a tremendously bad idea. After a moment of perfect stillness, Custer pulled back.

    “Alright, so, do you need something to sleep in?” he asked, walking to his desk and shoving few papers aside.

    “No,