Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Leo
Leo woke slowly. His entire body ached, and he was groggy from the effects of the drugs. His mouth was dry and his eyes were gritty.
He tried to reach up to rub his eyes and something jerked at his wrists. He pried one eye open and looked down. He was chained down to the floor.
He turned his head and took in his surroundings. The room was small, and smelled of cleaning products and mildew. There was an old bucking leaning in one corner and several empty shelves overhead. He must be in an old cleaning supply closet.
Huh. The Rogues couldn’t even be bothered to put him in a real cell. Maybe they didn’t have one. As far as he knew, the Rogues didn’t take prisoners.
He felt so special.
Leo tugged at each of his limbs, testing the strength of the chains. They were strong and well anchored. He wouldn’t be getting free with pure brute force.
It was a pity he didn’t have the fascination for human magicians that Ethan did. His friend could wiggle his way out of cuffs like a fish slipped through water. Leo had always clapped for his friend’s tricks, but had preferred his mystery novels to learning how to pull a coin from behind another wolf’s ear.
Well, if he got out of this he’d convince Ethan to teach him. His friend would gloat, but it might just be worth it. He’d have him teach Tessa, too.
Those plans wouldn’t get him out of his current situation. He couldn’t use force. He didn’t know how to slip the cuffs. So, he would have to talk his way out.
That would be easier if there were anyone around to talk to. Ethan waited a few minutes. He was an accomplished hunter. he knew how to be patient.
But there was no sign that he was being monitored. There was no camera visible, no sign of a microphone. The door was solid, and firmly closed. So it wasn’t likely that anyone knew he was even awake.
Leo took a deep breath, and bellowed.
“Hey!” he shouted. “Hey, let me out of here!”
He shouted until his throat was too dry and strained to make any sounds. Then he settled for rattling the chains holding him down.
He wasn’t sure how long he waited. It couldn’t be too long. At most he waited a few hours before the door creaked open.
“Hello, husband,” Eva said. She sounded smug.
Leo turned his head to look at her. “We’re divorced,” he reminded her.
“And don’t you regret that now?” Eva taunted.
“Not a bit,” Leo said.
“Well, you will,” Eva promised. “Rory wants to talk to you.”
“Rory?” Leo pretended ignorance.
He knew Rory was the new Rogue King, but he hoped Eva mighth let something useful slip.
“You’ll see soon enough. I have the key to those chains. You can come with me, calmly, or you can cause trouble and Rory will have you dragged through the halls on a leash like a mutt.” Eva grinned. “I’m hoping you cause trouble.”
Since Leo actually wanted a conversation with this Rory person, and he wanted to annoy Eva, he decided to cooperate.
“I’ll come quietly,” he promised.
Eva unchained him and stood back while he climbed to his feet. Leo made sure ot move slowly and stiffly. He wanted them to think he was still weak from their drugs.
He followed Eva out of the closet into a large, wide open room. Leo looked around. The Rogue’s base had once been some kind of factory.
Leo frowned. Wolves didn’t have factories; that was a human thing. There were a few abandoned factories in the border territories. He must be in one of those. He had been taken farther from home than he thought.
There were Rogues everywhere Leo looked. They sat on a catwalk overhead with their legs dangling over the edge. Some lounged around a collection of old sofas and tables in the far corner of the main room.
Eva led him through the room and into what looked like a smaller building inside the factory. Leo assumed it was the offices. There was a small hallway with several branching doors. Eva led him through the first door into a small room, which contained a desk, two chairs, and a single occupant.
Leo studied the successor to the Rogue King. Rory was unassuming in every way. He had mouse brown hair, light tan skin, and dull greenish brown eyes. He wore a worn flannel shirt and blue jeans. He smelled faintly of smoke and concrete dust. He could have been any wolf from any pack.
“So,” Rory said, hitching his hip up on the desk and crossing his arms. “You're the bastard who murdered my father.”
Leo blinked. “Well. That's certainly a unique greeting,” he said. “Most people call me Leo.”
“You aren't going to defend yourself?” Rory asked.
Leo shook his head. “Nah. You've already made up your mind. What could I possibly say to change it?”
“Sorry would be a good start,” Eva said.
Leo looked down at her. “Oh. You're still here. Why?”
Eva sneered. Rory narrowed his eyes, and shrugged.
“Get out of here,” he ordered her. “I can handle this guy.”
“He's tricky,” Eva warned.
“You're one to talk,” Leo muttered.
“Just go. Look in on the baby or something,” Rory ordered.
Eva huffed and muttered, but she left. Leo wondered what it was about Rory that inspired her to be obedient. Maybe it was just that she had nowhere left to go.
“So, just to make sure we're both on the same page,” Leo said, “you're talking about the last King of the Rogues, right?”
“You've killed so many people you can't be sure?” Rory asked.
“It was a long war,” Leo said.
“I guess it was. And yes, my father was the last King,” Rory said.
“All right.” Leo said. “I will say that I am sorry for your loss. If my sympathy means anything, you have it.”
“But you're not sorry you killed him,” Rory stated.
“No,” Leo said. “I gave him every chance to surrender. But he refused.”
“Typical holier than thou alpha,” Rory muttered.
“So why am I here?” Leo asked. “Are you going to kill me, to avenge your father? Or do you want an honest challenge?”
“You'd like that, wouldn't you? A chance to prove you're better than me?” Rory snorted, “No, I'm not going to kill you. And I'm not going to fight you like an idiot.”
“Then what?”
“I'm going to put you on trial,” Rory said. “You're going to answer for your crimes, Alpha Leo.”
“A trial?” Leo repeated, confused.
“Yes. And my star witness just arrived. Would you like to see her?”
“Who?” Leo asked. He couldn't mean Eva. She hadn't just arrived, she'd been there a while.
“Tessa, sweetheart, come on in,” Rory called outside.
Leo turned, heart in his throat to see Tessa standing in the doorway. She had Sable in her arms, tucked close to her chest. The baby fussed, and Tessa soothed her gently.
“You kidnapped her, too?” Leo asked, growling deep in his throat.
Tessa stepped back, as though she was afraid of him. But she couldn't be. Could she?
“Stop that,” Rory scolded him. “I won't have you intimidating my witness. She came here of her own free will. Didn't you, sweetheart?”
Tessa nodded. “I did,” she whispered.
“Why?” Leo asked, heart breaking.
“Because Rory promised to listen,” Tessa said. “Unlike you.”