Mine for Eternity [Council Enforcers] (Siren Publishing Classic)

need to in order to keep the press thinking that. Falsify reports, plant evidence. I don’t care what you have to do, just do it.” Mitch looked over at his friends who each nodded, letting him know they already knew what he was thinking and they were on the same page. “This stays between you and me, Detective. No one is to know about this, not even the council. A few enforcers and I are heading your way as soon as this call is over, but I need you to maintain control of the situation until we get there. Can you do that?”
    Detective Reynolds swallowed loudly before answering. “This goes deeper than just rogues if you are asking me to keep this from the council, doesn’t it?”
    “Yes.” There was no need for Mitch to say more than that.
    After hanging up with the detective, Mitch hung his head and rubbed the back of his neck. All he wanted to do was drag his mate upstairs and not come down for a couple days. Instead, he was about to leave her the day after their mating.
    “Ben,” he called without turning around.
    “Don’t worry, man. I won’t let them out of my sight.” His best friend already knew what he was asking. “Go handle things in Chicago. Your mate and cub will be safe with me until you return.”
    “Tessa.” Mitch finally turned to find her staring at him with tears in her eyes. “Come on, baby, I need to talk to you.”
    He waited until Ben lifted Nico out of her lap then grabbed her hand and led her to his office. Once inside, he sat in his chair and pulled her into his lap. He didn’t say anything for a while, just breathed in her scent, letting it soothe him and his lion, who hadn’t stopped growling since the phone rang. I want to find these rogues and kill them for forcing me away from my mate. Mitch agreed. The sooner they figured out what was going on, the faster they could get back.
    “I know you have to leave.” Tessa sighed. “Everything in me is screaming for me to beg you not to go, but all I can think about is that poor family and those babies. That could have easily been me and Nico. Just promise me that you will take care of yourself and return home.”
    Mitch kissed her then. “I’ll be back as soon as possible. Ben will be here, and he won’t let anything happen to you. There is no one else I would rather have protecting you other than me.”
    “Don’t worry about us, Mitch. We will be here when you get back. Just hurry.”
    That was a command he was willing to follow. Mitch pulled Tessa into a hug before releasing her and standing. Once he sat her on her feet, he went about his office gathering what he needed. He pushed a button under his desk that revealed a secret closet when his bookshelf slid over. Grabbing a duffel bag, he quickly loaded it with whatever weapons he may need and then pushed the button again, closing the closet.
    “Just in case, the button is underneath the right-hand corner of my desk. All you have to do is slide your finger back until you feel it and push. Ben knows about it, but in case you get separated, now you know, too.”
    Tessa’s face was pale, but she nodded and followed him out of the office. His little mate was stronger than he ever imagined. By the time they made it to the front door, Ryan and Ken were already there with their bags over their shoulders. Ben was there holding Nico.
    Mitch lifted the boy into his arms and hugged him. “You be good for your momma and Uncle Ben while I’m gone, and when I get back I will let the kitty out so you can play with him.” Nico agreed, and Mitch handed him over to Tessa. He quickly kissed his mate, not lingering so that he wouldn’t give in to the urge to throw her over his shoulder and carry her to bed, and headed out the door, ignoring the clawing in his gut telling him to not leave his family.
     
    * * * *
     
    Tessa held back tears as she watched Mitch walk out the door. She was trying to be strong for him, but with each step he took away from her, it felt like her heart was tearing in two. Not all of it was coming from her. Mitch hadn’t explained it to her, but she had a feeling part of what she was feeling was coming from him. She was feeling his emotions as well as her own.
    “Come on, honey. He will be back as soon as he can.” Ben led her and Nico into the living room. “Did Mitch explain to you what his job was?”
    “Yes, he told me he was an enforcer and what that meant.”
    “Then you know how dangerous what he does is.”
    Tessa had no clue what Ben was