by Bella Jacobs
I drag a clawed hand through my hair. “Don’t bother. I have someone connected and discreet. I’ll get her on the case. Though it might be a few days before she can deliver.”
And I won’t be able to use those charms for Willow. But thanks to her emerging pack gift, I don’t really have to.
She’s not a threat to our pack, at least not as a spy or assassin.
Dad’s brows lift, but he nods. “Good. Don’t get caught. We can’t afford to have you killed or imprisoned by fairies.”
“Obviously, Dad.” I reach over, unlocking the door. “You should get back to bed. You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” he says. “Back at you. But there’s one more thing you should think about before we talk again tomorrow, son.”
“And what’s that?” I ask, already dreading another mind-bending game of “figure out how seriously to take this conspiracy theory.” I might be forced to take it seriously. Mumbo jumbo or not, if enough people believe it, that alone could put my pack in danger.
And Willow…
What to do with her?
Does she know anything about this? My gut says she doesn’t, but I mean to put it to the test. Tonight. There’s too much at stake to rely on gut feelings.
“Your brother’s pack gift,” Dad says, bringing me back into the room.
The spike of pain in my chest twists again.
Fuck.
The thought hadn’t even entered my mind, but…
I can’t believe—don’t want to believe—Bane would send someone to die so he could steal shit that basically belongs to him anyway. But my big brother does have a very unique gift, one that was hard for him to control when he was a kid more interested in making mischief than keeping his pack safe.
Bane can set things on fire with his mind, and he doesn’t even have to be in the same space to do it. He could have torched that kid from twenty blocks away, maybe farther if his gift has grown in power with age.
“He wouldn’t,” I say, but I can hear the doubt in my voice. “That kid couldn’t have been more than sixteen.”
My father sighs and I swear I can see the weight of all this settle around his frail shoulders, weighing him down even further. “I’ve learned never to underestimate what people will do for power, son. And neither should you.”
Before I can respond, a roar loud enough to wake the dead shakes the walls.
They literally shake, making the framed pictures rattle.
A second later, I’m out the door, running for the cells.
Chapter 19
Willow
They say timing is everything.
And whoever “they” are, they’re probably right.
If I’d shown up at the North Star enforcer office at any other moment than right when the tiger shifter woke up in one of the holding cells in back, roaring and bending bars with his bare hands and throwing the entire place into chaos, maybe things wouldn’t have played out the way they did.
Maybe I would have been stopped at the door and escorted back to my room before I could get a look inside.
Maybe someone would have been manning the desk with all the security monitors behind it and shut them down when they saw me coming.
Or maybe I would have locked eyes with Maxim across the room and walked right past the screens without seeing the woman frozen on the monitor at the upper left corner, too mesmerized by his sex god magnetism.
But none of those things happen.
Instead, I peek through the door just as everyone is rushing to the back to contain the prisoner. A man shouts, “The fucker’s trying to rip the place apart, we need all hands,” and the last man in the entryway vanishes.
I step inside unobserved, with Diana not far behind me.
I walk right by the front desk, around the partition separating the small lobby from a bullpen full of desks, and past the station with the security cameras.
My eye is drawn immediately to the woman on the screen.
It’s…my sister.
She’s older and thicker—muscled and physically powerful in a way she wasn’t before—but it’s Kelley. I would know her anywhere.
My sister is alive.
And she was here. Right in this building.
She might even be here now.
Leaning over the desk, I bring my face closer to the screen.
“What are you doing?” Diana tugs sharply at my shirt. “Get down. We should go. Maxim is really going to freak if he realizes we’re here while all this shit is going down.”
“Just a second,” I whisper, my heart pounding as I read the time signature at the bottom of the image.
Two hours ago.
Two, which means…
Kelley was here during the explosion.
But…why? Was she trying to get me out? Did she send the tiger? Did she sense that I was in danger or something? And where is she now? Do they have her back there in one of those cells? Is she still wandering around the building? Are enforcers scouring the floors for her as I stand here staring at her frozen image?
Questions rush up so fast it feels like I’m drowning in them, but as they sweep over, I latch onto one and can’t let it go.
Could Kelley have had something to do with the explosion?
The sister I knew was wild and loud, but unfailingly kind. She was one of the cool kids, but not the ones who made fun of nerds like me. Kelley punched up and only at people who deserved it—people like the Darius clan and the thugs who do their dirty work.
She exercised her quick wit on those guys so often, in fact, she nearly gave our mother a heart condition.
Mom was positive that, sooner or later, Kelley’s smart mouth was going to get her in serious trouble with Victor. But Kelley always managed to push just far enough without stepping over the line.
But maybe she’s changed in the past eight years.
I don’t want to imagine that she would ever put innocent people at risk, but it’s just too much of a coincidence to be explained away.
At least not with any explanation I can think of.
I mean, what are the chances that someone else just happened to set off a bomb in the theater right when Kelley was roaming around…
“Diana, where is this?” I point to the screen. “What floor? Do you know?”
She leans over the desk next to me. “Um…I don’t know. It doesn’t look familiar. Which means it’s probably somewhere above fifty, on the off-limits floors.”
I cut a glance her way. “Off-limits why?”
“Expensive, important stuff stored up there. Secrets and treasure and shit,” she says, dividing her attention between the chaos at the rear of the office and my face, clearly past ready to bolt. “And maybe a spa for Alphas with lots of golden bathtubs and possible golden showers if you’re into that sort of thing, but Maxim won’t tell me if that’s just a rumor or not.” She grabs my hand, squeezing hard as her eyes go wide. “Now can we go? Please?”
I nod. “Yeah.” We slide off the desk and start back toward the small lobby. I glance over my shoulder, making sure no one’s spotted us as I whisper, “Can you get me up there? Fiftieth floor?”
“No, you psycho,” Diana hisses as we pass the still empty front desk and push out through the frosted glass doors into the wide, white-tiled hallway outside. “I mean, yes, I could, because I excel at breaking and entering. But no, I won’t. Because we would get caught and in insane amounts of trouble. Seriously. Like, we might end up in a jail cell by Scary Mister Tiger.”
“That was my sister on the monitor,” I say. “Kelley. I haven’t seen her in eight years. I thought she was dead.”
Diana’s eyes bulge. “Shit. And she’s here? Now?”
“Two hours ago. So, she might still be up there. And she might know where your oldest brother is. They were a couple. Did you know about that?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard stuff, but… Wow.” Her lips pucker as she blows out a long breath. “This is wild, Willow. We have to go to my dad. He needs to kno
w this.”
“I’m sure he already knows. The security camera operator had that feed frozen for a reason. They’re probably looking for her now.”
“Another reason not to go up there,” Diana says. “If an enforcement team is already on the hunt, we could end up getting shot by accident.”
My heart punches my ribs. “Do you think they’ll shoot her? Without even knowing why she was here or if she’s guilty of anything?”
Pity flickers in her gaze as she says, “She was here during the explosion, poking around on a forbidden floor. Whatever she was doing, it wasn’t good, Willow.”
“We don’t know that for sure. The Kelley I knew was a good person, Diana. I can’t imagine why she would willingly be a part of an attack that hurt innocent people.”
My thoughts race some more, insisting that perhaps Kelley knows something I don’t, something about this pack that proves Maxim and everyone at the top are as corrupt and awful as Victor and Pax and most of the other pack leaders in the Parallel.
But even as I try that theory on for size, I don’t buy it.
Maxim is many things, not all of them good, but he’s devoted to his people, and they know it. I saw that earlier today, in the atrium. Those people weren’t stressed, bullied, or traumatized wolves. They were happy, healthy, prospering.
But maybe Kelley doesn’t know that.
“Maybe someone’s using her,” I say as Diana and I stop in front of a bank of elevators, and she presses the up button. “Maybe they lied to her about what’s going on here and manipulated her into being a part of it. Maybe she’s just…confused.”
“Like, she’s been brainwashed or something?” Diana asks. “Like a cult?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
Diana chews her lip for a beat. “I had a friend who joined a cult. Like, by accident. She didn’t even realize it was a cult until we staged an intervention to get her out. She just thought she’d joined a really immersive self-help community. But communities don’t force you to turn over your paycheck to be cashed at their ‘bank’ and take twenty percent off the top. Or tell you who you can date or what you can talk about with your family or make you walk home barefoot in the snow when you mistakenly wear real leather shoes to a meeting instead of fake ones.”
I nod. “Right. Maybe it was something like that.” But savvier, I add silently, because no way would Kelley be drawn in by just any old cult.
It would have to be something really convincing and sophisticated.
And smart.
But there are organizations out there like that. Some of the Doomsday cults are really charismatic and successful with young shifters. Especially ones who’ve recently escaped from The Parallel and are looking for a reason to believe the world is about to change and all the violence and degradation they’ve suffered in their lives will soon be a thing of the past.
The elevator doors open and Diana steps inside, motioning me in behind her. “Okay. But we should still go find my dad. He’s more likely to have mercy on her, and us, than Maxim.”
I step in, only to be jerked back out again by an iron hand around my elbow.
I don’t even have to turn my head to know who’s captured me.
Maxim’s wood smoke and angry Alpha smell is swirling through my head and Diana’s eyes are the size of saucers.
“We can explain,” she squeaks.
“To your rooms. Now,” Maxim growls. “And stay there. If I find out you’ve been out without permission, you’ll regret it. Profoundly.”
“Please, Maxim,” Diana says as the doors begin to close, “Willow hasn’t done anything wrong, she just—”
The doors seal shut, cutting off the end of her sentence, but I can fill in the blanks.
I’m just confused.
And worried for my sister.
And scared.
Scared of Maxim and of the feeling deep in my gut that my prophetic vision from earlier was wrong. Because as I lift my chin and meet his dark, furious gaze, it sure doesn’t look like we’re on the way to becoming lovers.
Or friends.
Or anything but bitter, lifelong enemies.
Chapter 20
Maxim
We all have lines we won’t cross.
No matter what.
Because crossing them would change us in ways we’re not sure we could live with.
Before tonight, I would have said this was one of mine.
I’ll put a willing woman on her knees and fuck her mouth hard and deep or interrogate a suspect locked in one of my mirrored rooms without a flicker of conscience. But I’ve never used the sexual energy between a woman and myself as a threat. I’ve never let sex and violence mingle so freely as they’re doing right now.
I should be ashamed of myself.
But as I put Willow on her knees in my study with her hands tied behind her back and stalk slowly back and forth in front of the fire, watching her begin to sweat, I’m not ashamed.
I’m aroused. Hard.
My dick is straining the fly of my suit pants, desperate to fuck her pretty mouth into a confession, something Willow would surely notice if it were brighter in the room.
Just another reason to keep the lights low, let the fire be the only thing lighting the darkness.
And it’s easier to excuse my behavior in the dark.
This ugliness rising inside of me likes the shadows.
That should also worry me, I suppose.
I should excuse myself, call Hermione to come fetch Willow and lock her in a cell for the night, and start this interrogation over again in the morning.
In the light of day, with a cold metal table separating us and cameras on the wall recording the interview for posterity.
And for safety. Hers and mine.
This good little wolf makes me want to do bad, bad things.
But then, I don’t know that she’s good, do I?
And that’s part of our problem.
“Tell me what you know about Kelley,” I demand again. “Where has she been? Why was she here?”
“I’ve already told you,” she whispers. “I don’t know. I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
“Yes, you can,” I counter. “Your pack gift will take care of that for you. Just start talking about your sister. Imagine what she might have been up to. Hypothesize. Your eyes will separate the truth from fiction.”
“My pack gift can’t know things I don’t.”
“Of course, it can.” I smile my most condescending smile, relishing the way it clearly infuriates her. “You know nothing about what you can or can’t do. You’re in over your head, little wolf. Best do as you’re told.”
“Or what?”
“Or you’re out,” I say. “Out on the street. Alone. A sitting duck for Pax and whoever else you’ve wronged.”
“I haven’t—”
“Time to make your choice,” I cut in
“Not much of a choice,” she says. “Is it?”
“There’s always a choice,” I whisper. “Do as you’re told, and I’ll show mercy.”
She holds my gaze, heat in hers that isn’t all anger. Or even mostly anger. Clearly, she feels it, too, the sexual charge whenever we’re alone together. It’s so thick now I can taste it on my tongue—honeyed and sticky sweet.
I let my gaze slide lower, watching her nipples tighten beneath the silk of her shirt. I imagine ripping the fabric from her skin with my teeth so I can lick and suck and bite her nipples. So, I can make her wetter, hotter, so needy she won’t be able to put me off.
She’ll part her legs and beg me to fuck her, to show her what it’s like to be with a man who knows that the best way to dominate his mate, to show her who she belongs to, is with pleasure. Not pain.
Before I can recover from thinking that word—mate—or what it might mean in conjunction with this complicated as hell woman, she whispers, “I don’t want your mercy,” and my temper flares again.
“You might want to rethink that, little w
olf,” I warn. “Without my mercy, your life could get very dark, very quickly.”
“You don’t scare me,” she whispers.
The fucking glow in her eyes proving that she’s telling the truth makes both the rage—and hunger—building inside of me flare hotter.
I want to kiss her and lock her away in solitary confinement.
To fuck her and to show her how quickly I can make her life a living hell if she continues to defy me.
Instead, I reach out and whisper, “Oh, but I should.” I capture her beautiful, delicate face in one big hand. “I really should. And I’m going to show you why. Tonight.”
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About the Author
Bella Jacobs loves pulse-pounding action, fantasy, and supernaturally high stakes, mixed with swoon-worthy romance and unforgettable heroes. She's been a full time writer for over a decade and is deeply grateful for the chance to play pretend for a living.
She writes as Bella for her trips to the dark side and can't wait to take you on her next adventure.
Visit her at www.bellajacobsbooks.com
Also by Bella Jacobs
Wolves of New York Series
Wolf King
Wolf Pawn
Wolf Queen
Wolf Mate
The Dark Moon Shifter Series
Unleashed
Untamed
Unbroken
Supernatural in Seattle Series
Fangs for Sharing
