by Sharon Kay
Enza blinked. Should she shake his hand? What was proper etiquette for meeting a wolf? “Hi. It’s my first time here.”
Rhys growled.
Miguel shook his head. “Relax, demon. Not interested in your girl. Never was a fan of Deserati tails, anyway.”
Um, okay. She pressed closer to Rhys. He and Brenin acted as casual as ever, but this guy seemed like he held some kind of important wolf rank.
“Name’s Rhys, and this is Enza. That’s Brenin,” Rhys said.
“And he already knows me.” Kat grinned.
“What brings you here? I know you’re not the social type, unless it’s the solstice,” Miguel said.
“We’re looking for some individuals,” Rhys said. His tone was all business and Miguel slid him an assessing stare. “Two Deserati males.”
Miguel rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Got anything more specific?” Sarcasm filtered through his voice.
“No names. Both have dark hair, both big.”
“Lightning ability?” Miguel asked.
“Probably not. We were caught in the storm today and didn’t see them use it.”
“It was daytime. They may have been keeping it on the down low. What else?”
“We don’t have much else,” Rhys said.
“There are a lot of Deserati in the city now. You could be talking about any two out of hundreds.” Miguel frowned. “Gotta give me more than that.”
“They were willing to risk a daytime pursuit in a crowded neighborhood,” Brenin said. His fingers played in Kat’s long dark hair.
“Where?”
“Lincoln Park. Clark Street, broad fucking daylight,” Rhys said.
“Why?” Miguel leveled calculating eyes on Rhys. “What did you do to incite a pursuit?”
“Why do you think we did anything?” Rhys shot back.
“Because I know there’s more you’re not telling me.” Miguel leaned back and set his hands on his thighs. “Maybe I should leave you alone to play until your memory improves.”
Seconds ticked by. The music pounded and cat calls echoed from the dance area, but Enza didn’t dare look away from the table. Another rumble from Rhys, which vibrated in her chest. “They took an interest in Enza.”
Miguel eyed Enza, then Rhys. “Two of you against the two of them—should be a pretty even match.”
Enza swallowed against the tension. She guessed Rhys didn’t want to reveal her secret. But even she had to admit, the facts they had were pitifully lacking. Finding the courage to speak to the powerful wolf, she said. “I wasn’t interested. That was made clear, and they still gave chase.”
“Assholes,” Kat muttered.
“I’m sorry, corazon.” Miguel leveled dark eyes on Enza. “But we have wayward Deserati demons, as you know. Most are good, but some...” He shrugged. “Eh, the dark power can be too tempting. Money too. And I am afraid I cannot help you, not without more information.”
“Wait.” Kat leaned forward, putting space between her and Brenin for the first time. “Didn’t we have two Deserati males in here, now and then, throughout the spring? And they always kept to themselves. I mean, they never came in with others, ever.”
“Still vague, Kat,” Miguel muttered.
“Yeah, but come on. We get a lot of chatty creatures here, especially when they start drinking and getting distracted by the nymphs.”
“Did you talk to them?” Brenin asked.
“No. Not me.” Kat glanced at him, excitement creeping into her voice. “But my friend Angela.” She turned to Miguel. “You know her, right? Long blond hair, big boobs, chats with everyone.”
Miguel chuckled. “Yeah, I know Angela.” The name rolled off his tongue like Ahn-hel-ah, spoken with the hint of memory and Enza would guess, fondness.
“Okay. So, she’s part of the pack and she’s here a lot, like me,” Kat said. “And a few weeks ago, she got really drunk with two Deserati males. They were drunk too, and she said one of them was totally gone. Totally wasted.”
“Did they talk?” Rhys asked.
“No, better. They took her home.” Kat laid her palms down on the table as excitement tinged her voice. “She said the two dudes had a huge fight. One said they never bring girls to their place, blah, blah, blah. And the other was like, it’s just one time, who cares.”
“So we may have an address.” Brenin sifted his fingers through Kat’s tresses.
“If she can remember. Like I said, she was wasted too.” Kat dug in her purse for her phone. “Let me call her—”
“Hold on, Kat.” Miguel laid a big hand on her forearm. “Information comes at a price.”
Kat froze. “You’re right.” She sat back in her chair. “I just want us women to be able to help each other out.” She winked at Enza.
“Gotta talk to the boss first.” Miguel pushed up and stomped toward the back, to the same arched door where the kissing couple had disappeared.
“Thank you,” Enza said to Kat.
“Nothing to thank me for yet.” Kat sighed. “We trade in information, and we can’t give it freely. We’re kind of like the undercover ears and eyes, just logging it all in. You never know when something will be needed by someone.”
Enza wondered what would happen if Kat just decided to call her friend, or spill something in private. Who would know? Maybe it would get back to their leader. Some things had a way of never staying secret. She made a mental note to ask Rhys later.
“Heads up, look who’s here.” Brenin glanced over Kat’s shoulder.
A male stalked toward them, danger and authority radiating from him like a cloud. Rhys shifted her so he could stand up, but still held her close. Brenin stood as well. A frisson of unease tensed her stomach. Enza remembered the rule about no fighting, but they both looked ready to throw down if needed.
Jet black, slightly shaggy hair brushed high cheekbones as the new figure approached. He had to be as tall as Rhys and Brenin, and as big. He wore a black T-shirt that displayed biceps as big as Enza’s leg. The crowd parted as he moved, Miguel behind him. All eyes tracked him with awe and respect.
He stopped in front of Rhys. “Welcome to Morso. I’m Zach.”
CHAPTER 21
ENZA PRESSED CLOSE TO RHYS as the tension in Morso notched higher. The brawny alpha wolf before them looked like he could tear apart anyone who looked at him the wrong way. But Rhys and Brenin didn’t move, keeping their focus on Zach.
“Name’s Rhys. This is Enza.”
“I’m Brenin.” Introductions were offered as casually as if meeting over a friendly card game.
Zach’s unusual green-gold eyes landed on Enza, knowing. “And you’re the reason these Watchers are here.”
It wasn’t a question. Chills slid down her arms at the sheer power and dominance rolling off him. Enza gulped and nodded.
“Hi, Kat.” Zach pulled the female wolf in for a hug and kiss on the cheek.
Kat retuned the kiss and embrace with a smile. “Hi.”
Brenin didn’t even blink at the sight of the woman he had been making out with suddenly kissing another guy. Did he not care, or was it a standard wolfy greeting between pack members? Another thing to ask Rhys later.
“Sit.” Zach took the chair Miguel had vacated, while the beta wolf stood nearby like a guard.
The rest of them sat, Enza once again on Rhys’s lap.
Zach studied each one of them and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Miguel told me the basics, what you told him, which was jack shit.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Rhys said.
“Two Deserati pursued you in the middle of the afternoon.” Zach spoke with the calm authority of a man who was rarely questioned. “Because of this female.” His eyes went to Enza and she blinked under his intense gaze. He wasn’t sarcastic or accusing, just summing things up in a way that made her squirm.
“That’s right. We need to find them,” Rhys said.
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Zach said evenly. “There’s a
missing piece to this puzzle and I want it.”
“Some things are need-to-know,” Rhys shot back.
Miguel glared and his eyes glittered with a weird flickering light.
“That’s right. Maybe you don’t need to know anything more about these guys until you see them again. Then you can find out for yourself.”
The thought of rerunning into—or from—them again made Enza nervous. A tiny shiver crawled along her arms and, though she did her best to suppress it, the resulting goosebumps betrayed her.
She had a feeling the pack alpha missed no details, and she was right.
Zach zeroed in on Enza. “We had a storm today. I can guess why they’re interested in you, and why they risked a chase.”
Oh no. Did she still have that energy that Lisetta had mentioned? Crap. She froze as panic swirled through her.
“I trust you to keep your guesses to yourself,” Rhys growled.
“If there are rogue Deserati in the city, we need to eliminate them,” Brenin said.
“You don’t need me for that,” Zach said. “Nope. There’s a personal reason going on here. Even you, Kat. You want to help.”
“I do. Those guys sound like assholes. Why not?” Kat’s tone was level, but deferential.
Zach’s perception unnerved Enza. She did her best to relax into Rhys’s hold, but the tension hanging over the table was suffocating.
“I’ve seen them here,” Zach said.
Rhys and Brenin leaned in.
“Don’t know their names, but Kat’s right. They’re a pair, a unit. Whatever they do, they do it together and with no one else. Honestly, I’d like some details on them too.”
“So we’re a go?”
Zach turned and nodded to Miguel, who pulled out his phone and showed the screen to Rhys. “Wire transfer the amount to that account. I’m reducing my rate because I’d like to know too.”
The way the phone was tilted, Enza couldn’t see the screen, but Rhys nodded and dug out his own cell to complete the transaction.
“Thank you,” Zach murmured, and turned to Kat. “Call Angela.”
“On it.” Kat’s fingers flew over the touch screen.
Enza could only stare. Was this how things got handled in the supernatural world? It all seemed so fast and civilized. She wasn’t sure what she expected. Then again, if fighting and magic weren’t allowed in Morso, maybe this was protocol?
While Kat talked to Angela, Zach ran a hand through his hair. “Have you seen those two before today?”
“Once, on a patrol a few nights ago,” Rhys said.
“What?” Enza couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“Didn’t have time, bella. I’m sorry. The first time we saw them, I didn’t think I’d see them again, and especially not in an antagonistic way.” He patted her hip. “At the time, there was no reason to suspect them. I was on patrol with Jude, they were out just like us. They saw us, scanned us. They were with two nymphs and went into a club on the South Side.”
“They’re looking for something. Or someone,” Zach said. “But they’re very good at keeping their secrets.”
“Do they come in here a lot?” Brenin asked.
“Not often. But we’ve seen them occasionally over the last few months. So they’ve been here in the area a while, and still haven’t found what they’re looking for. Or haven’t completed an assignment of some sorts.”
“Hey.” Kat held her phone away from her mouth. “Angela has more to say. Can I put her on speaker?”
“In my office.” Zach stood and rotated in one smooth move. “Keep her on the line.” He turned and walked to the dark arched doorway.
Everyone else followed, as if there were no other option. Enza supposed all the wolves would follow his orders. She held Rhys’s hand as they walked past curious nymphs—this time, most of their attention was focused on Zach. Wary males watched them, eyeing Rhys and Brenin with suspicion.
Zach led them down a brick corridor, past several closed doors. A giggle filtered through one. And back here, the scent of sex hung potent in the air.
The alpha unlocked the last door and pushed into a big room decorated in blacks and grays. Two L-shaped leather sectionals sat in front of a large screen TV. A giant heavily carved wooden desk occupied one part of the room, with an oversized computer monitor and papers piled in stacks. They looked haphazard at first glance, but Enza noted a pattern to the way they were arranged. Like he could probably pull out any given item in five seconds flat.
Zach walked to the sectionals and pointed at the black wooden coffee table in between. “Speaker, please.”
Kat murmured something to Angela and set the phone on the middle of the coffee table. “You’re on speaker and we’re in Zach’s office.”
“Hi, everyone,” came a cheerful female voice.
“Hi, Angela.” Zach sat down and the group followed suit. The couches were so buttery soft, the leather didn’t even squeak and creak. “I’ve got two Watchers here from the Chicago group, Rhys and Brenin. And a Deserati named Enza. And Kat and Miguel.”
“Wow, big group,” Angela said. “Um, so you need to know about those two Deserati males?”
“Yes. Address, names, anything you can tell us. You can speak freely,” Zach said.
“Okay, so, we were hanging out at the club. We all had a lot to drink. Like, a lot. And we were just talking. They were watching everyone who came in, but that’s not unusual. I mean, everyone checks everyone else out here, you know?” She paused. “Yeah, so the only thing that I thought was strange at that point was when they asked if I could do any magic.”
“You?” Kat giggled, then slapped a hand over her mouth and looked at Zach. “Sorry.”
He shrugged.
“I know, right?” Angela said. “As if wolves could do magic. I didn’t give it much thought until now. I thought they were just trying to be funny or something. Maybe it was the Grey Goose talking. I don’t know.”
“I don’t like them asking my pack questions like that.” Zach’s eyes flared gold.
“I’m sorry, Zach, I should have reported it—I just thought they were being idiots.” Angela’s voice came through, quieter.
“It’s all right. Go on,” Zach said.
“One was named Soren, and one was…gosh, I think it was Anthony. I was hanging more with Soren, and somehow we decided to go back to their place. Then Anthony got really mad and said no, and started arguing with Soren, saying they agreed they don’t bring anyone to their place, or whatever. And I don’t know if Soren was too drunk to care, or if he doesn’t respect Anthony, or what, but he just ignored him and we got in a cab and went. They live in Austin.”
Enza raised a brow at the mention of one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods. It was also pretty far from the downtown area.
“Do you remember where?” Zach asked.
“Yeah, at Central and Lake. I’d be able to pinpoint it if I saw it.”
“Thanks, Angela.” Zach rubbed the back of his neck. “Did anything else seem off about those two?”
“Other than them acting like an old married couple, and asking me about the magic, no,” she replied. “But I did snoop while Soren went into the bathroom at one point.”
Kat’s eyes went wide. “You snooped?”
“Yeah. Well, maybe it was a sixth sense telling me someone would need this info later on, I don’t know,” Angela said. “But Soren has an Illinois driver’s license and the last name is listed as Adamson. That stuck with me because I thought it was weird that his first name sounds like a last name, and his last name has a first name in it.”
“I can run traces on that,” Rhys said.
“And we can visit Austin tonight,” Brenin said.
“Anything else, Angela?” Zach asked.
“No, that’s it. I’ll let you know ASAP if anything else comes back to me.”
“All right, thank you.” Zach nodded to Kat, who picked up her phone and switched
it off speaker. With a quick promise to call her later, she ended the conversation.
“Thank you,” Rhys said, and Brenin nodded.
“I don’t like these guys.” Zach stood and paced around to his desk. “Something’s up. Will you let me know what you find? We can work out a reciprocal arrangement of exchanging intel on this matter And let me know if you need help tracking. I hear your number one hunter is back in the other realm.”
Number one hunter? Enza looked at Rhys, who shook his head with a grin.
“Yeah, you do have a lot of information, I gotta hand it to you and your network. Mathias is in Torth at the moment.” Rhys stood and pulled Enza up with him. “We’ll let you know if we need an assist.”
Brenin unfolded his long legs and stood. “Thank you all. This is a great start.”
“Welcome. Good luck.” The alpha sat down and leaned back in his chair. “Miguel will walk you out.”
The beta led them back into the main room. “You can stay or go, up to you. Nice to meet you.” With a nod, he walked away toward a group of males who snarled and postured like they were about to get into a fight.
“Looks like we’re making a trip to Austin,” Rhys muttered.
“Need another set of eyes and ears?” Kat asked, trailing a hand down Brenin’s arm.
“Not this time,” the blond Lash answered. He pushed a section of her hair back, off her shoulder. “Can I call you later?”
She nodded and pulled out her phone.
Enza turned to Rhys. “We’re going to Austin now? What time is it? It’s so dangerous there.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to waste even a few hours if we can get a lead on these assholes,” Rhys rubbed his hand down her back. “Though I don’t want you anywhere near them, or that god-forsaken neighborhood.”
“She can stay here with me,” Kat said. “Angela is coming over soon. We can hang out. I’ll make sure no guys bother her. She still smells like you, anyway.” She pinned a knowing look on Rhys.
“I don’t want you here without me.” Rhys’s tone brokered no argument.
