Read Deception (Dark Alpha #3) for Free Online

didn’t trust herself to say Jak’s name… and besides, that would only be suspicious. She held her breath, clenching her hands in her lap, hoping Mace would be willing to at least try.
    He let out a long sigh but pulled into the Red Square parking garage rather than circling back toward the freeway. Once they were parked, he dug out his cell phone again and dialed.
    “Yeah, it’s me,” he said into the phone. “Look, I’m at UDub, but I have a meeting. Do you have someone you can send to watch Arianna?” There was a pause. “Do you think I haven’t thought of that already? Beck’s tied up, and Alric’s off on a site visit. Do you have someone or not?” Another pause, then his voice dipped into sarcasm. “Fuck. That’s just perfect.” He sighed. “No, I’ll take him. But if he fucks up, I’m taking it out of his hide. Personally.” Another pause. “Right. We’re there now.” Then he hung up.
    Arianna’s chest hurt from holding her breath so long. She tried to let it out calmly and without drawing attention to herself.
    “Apparently, Gage and his idiot beta are on campus on some kind of site visit. He’s sending Jak over. I’ll drop you off at class, and he’ll bring you home.”
    Arianna’s heart spasmed, and she could hardly believe she had heard him correctly. “Jak?” Her voice was whispery, and her eyes had gone wide.
    Mace snorted. “I know, right? I’d be better off leaving you with Alric, for Christ’s sake.” He turned to her, and his face softened a little at her expression. “Look, I’m sure the bounty hunters are long gone. Jak’s an asshole, but even he can handle this.” Mace held open his jacket and showed her a gun he had holstered under his arm—one he’d apparently been carrying all week without her knowledge. Her heart raced at the sight of it, retroactively ramping up her fear for when Jak had snuck into her classroom. And the fact that they were about to go see him again.
    “With this,” Mace said, “even an idiot like Jak can keep you safe, all right?”
    She nodded rapidly and with what she hoped was enthusiasm. As they climbed out of the car, her fears and tremors settled a little. She was going to see Jak. Although, once Mace saw her and Jak together in the same room, she was afraid their sins would be written clear as day on their faces. How could Mace miss it? Her heart lurched again.
    Due to Mace’s speeding, they were actually early for class. By the time they crossed the plaza and entered Kane Hall, there were only a few students trickling into the classroom. Mace lingered, keeping them out in the hallway, apparently waiting for Jak to show up.
    When he appeared around the corner, Arianna did everything in her power to keep her eyes down and her face frozen. She was afraid to even look at him: she was just sure she would give them both away. But she couldn’t help peeking up as Jak’s hard-soled shoes rapped against the tiled floors.
    He hurriedly stalked up to them, his face furious. “I have better things to do than take care of your business, Mace,” Jak said, his voice low but harsh.
    “Apparently not.” Mace’s smile was gloating. “But I’ll tell you what, beta —you screw this up, and Gage won’t be able to keep me from tearing you into pieces.”
    They were attracting some notice from the other students in the hall. Arianna was convinced she would have a heart attack at any moment.
    Mace lowered his voice, his smile vanishing. “All you have to do is get her back in one piece.” He clapped a hand on Jak’s shoulder and dragged him closer. He lifted the gun from his hidden holster and jabbed it into Jak’s side, just under his coat jacket.
    Jak’s face went hard.
    Arianna couldn’t breathe.
    “You fuck this up,” Mace said in a menacing whisper, “and I’ll be using this on you.” Then he turned the gun sideways and pressed it into Jak’s chest.
    His face inscrutable, Jak took the gun and quickly shoved it into the back of