Kenny (Shifter Football League Book 2)

by Becca Fanning

  “At least Remy did that much right. Give me the address, then.”

  Jules shook his head stubbornly. “I can’t. But I will call Remy for you. Where are you staying?”

  “The Omni Riverfront.”

  Jules knew it. It was a fancy place, one he’d probably never stay in—not unless he was on a business trip and Tandell Corporations was footing the bill. “I’ll call you later when I’ve spoken with Remy.”

  “Of course. Thank you for inviting me in. Jules, I really want things to work out between us.”

  “Sure.”

  “I’ll see you again tomorrow. Goodnight, son.”

  Jules sat at the table for a long time after his father left. His thoughts were in a turmoil. All his childhood all he’d ever wanted was a normal life, with a mom and a dad and food that didn’t come from a food bank and clothes that no one else had worn before. Normal had gone out the window when he’d started shifting, but he’d held out hope that his father would start acting like a real father. He had acted like a real father, for a little while, right near the end.

  Then the fight had happened. Remy’s parents had retired to a clan in Florida, and Remy had been chosen as the new clan leader. Gabriele had been the other nominee. He didn’t take losing well and had taken a transfer with work. It hurt Jules that his father would rather never see him again than have to face Remy at every full moon.

  He had locked all the disappointment and self-doubt away after that. He’d focused on school, on getting a job, on proving to himself that he was worth something. And he’d made it too. He had a home, food, clothes, a job, a car, the perfect girl. He didn’t need his father’s approval to validate any of that. So why were all these old feelings still there? Why does it matter if he likes the apartment?

  When he picked up his phone, it was Kaylee’s number and not Remy’s that he dialed. Kaylee picked up right away. “Are you all right?” she said.

  “Fine. I’m fine.”

  “What does he want?”

  “He has news for the clan, from his clan leader. And apparently, he’s here to make peace with me.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I have to call Remy. I have to set up a clan meeting for tomorrow. After that we’ll see.”

  “So, no rain check tomorrow night?”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. What about the night after? You can pick me up after work. And give me a lift to work in the morning.”

  His breath caught a little in his throat as desire wrapped a fist around his chest and squeezed. “Okay. It’s a deal.”

  “Goodnight, Jules,” she said in a singsong voice. She’d caught the change in his, obviously.

  “Goodnight, Kaylee,” he growled back. He could hear her laugh as she hung up, a crystal ringing sound that eased the tension of his father’s visit.

  He called Remy next.

  “Jules, is everything all right?”

  “I don’t need the safe house,” Jules said. It was truth, the only way he could answer that question that was both truthful and reassuring.

  “Ah. So, what is the problem then?”

  “My father was waiting at my apartment today. He asked me to arrange his official greetings for tomorrow. He says he has news of The Human Order from his clan.”

  “His clan chief could have emailed me. We have a communication network in place.”

  “He said he came as a messenger so he could see me again. Because he saw me on the news.”

  “I see. All right. Philippe might be working, but I can get the rest of the clan together. What time?”

  “He told me to call him when you set the time.”

  “Fine. Nine. Did you give him the address?”

  “No. He’ll meet me here.”

  “Good. Jules, thank you for calling me.”

  “It doesn’t look all that different from the last place,” Gabriele said as they pulled up in front of the warehouse the next night. There were four cars already parked there.

  “What should it look like?” Jules said. “It’s an old warehouse.”

  “And it’s pretty close to the old place.”

  “This is a warehouse district. They’re waiting for us.”

  When they got to the door Jules reached for the key pad, but the door opened before he could start tapping his code. Philippe stood in the opening. He was in his work clothes, black pants, belted, a black dress shirt with the top button undone. He’d had the shirt tailor made to accentuate his build. He made an imposing bouncer.

  He nodded, unsmiling, to Jules before turning his attention to Gabriele. “The New Orleans Clan welcomes you. Enter, guest, and share in our sanctuary.”

  “A little formal for an old clan member, no?” Gabriele said.

  Jules jumped a little. Until he heard his father’s voice in his ear he hadn’t realized how close Gabriele was standing.

  Philippe just held the door open and waited.

  They went in together. The warehouse was cleaner than usual, the barrels neatly stacked instead of pushed in a corner. There was a table set up instead of the usual ring of chairs. Remy sat at the head with Brock at his right hand. Jane sat next to Brock. There were two empty chairs on the other side of the table, Philippe and Jules’ spots. They were all wearing office clothes or church clothes. Jules was glad he hadn’t changed into something casual after work.

  When everyone was seated, Gabriele said, “Thank you for welcoming me into your territory, Remy. I was sorry to hear of your clan’s difficulties this past year.”

  “Given the circumstances of your move, I am curious why you are here,” Remy said.

  “I am here with news of The Human Order,” Gabriele said.

  “Your clan chief has a computer—and my email address.”

  “Yes, he does. However, cyber security is part of the issue I’ve come to speak on, so when I requested permission to visit my son, he asked that I deliver this message while I am here.”

  Remy nodded. “How long are you petitioning to remain in my territory?”

  “I would like the chance to spend some time with my son.”

  Remy turned to Jules. “Are you agreeable to this?”

  Jules nodded.

  “Then we extend our welcome to you for the duration of your visit. Jules, you will bring your father here on the full moon. The hospitality of our sanctuary will be open to you for your change.”

  “You are a gracious host,” Gabriele said with a slight bow. “May I have a seat?”

  Remy nodded.

  “The wolves are taking the brunt of the spotlight pointed at us all by The Human Order. There are more wolf packs in North America than bear clans and more wolves in each pack. The fact that humans have long been interested in werewolf myth while we are a relatively newer phenomenon has helped us. However, The Human Order is attempting a new tactic. We believe that in addition to attempting to sway public opinion against us, they are attempting a cyberattack. Multiple attacks. They are attempting to hack the pack and clan servers, when they find them. They appear to be after the identities of the werebears and werewolves. They mean to bring us all out.”

  Silence descended. Finally, Remy said, “This is a good reason to avoid email, though a phone call would have sufficed. Still, I thank you for the warning. Already nearly half our clan is out to the public, and already the Human Order has their identities. The only thing stopping them from taking that information public is the knowledge that it will incriminate them in the terrorist attack last year and will result in their immediate arrest.”

  “Not a viable threat to keep you all safe,” Gabriele said.

  “So far it is working. Do you have any further news?”

  “Only that my clan chief extends any help you may need in this matter.”

  “I will contact him should I need to. Thank you. I don’t think I need to remind you that your behavior in our city is a direct reflection on our clan?”

  “No, and you don’t need to threaten me w
ith the consequences either.”

  “Then this meeting is adjourned.”

  Jules and Gabriele stood first and made their way to the door. They were almost there when Jules heard Jane say, “Why did we all need to be here for this? What a waste of time.”

  He cringed. If he could hear it his father could too.

  “Traditions have not been updated to take technology into account, I’m afraid,” Remy said. “And while we may be willing to bypass some traditions within our own clan, we must adhere to them when dealing with other clans.”

  Jules hurried his father out.

  “Do they often question him like that?” Gabriele said.

  Jules shrugged. “I don’t know how it is in other clans,” he said. “And I don’t know how it was before Remy took over, not really. But Remy encourages us to speak up.”

  “I see. Very interesting. Do you have plans this evening? You should come back to the hotel with me and have a drink.”

  “Sure. But I already have plans for tomorrow night.”

  “Yes, Kaylee, I remember. Don’t worry. I will keep myself busy and stay out of trouble. I would love to see where you work.”

  “Looks just like any other office building,” Jules said. “Tell me about Wyoming.”

  They talked in the car and at the hotel bar late into the night, and by the end Jules was starting to feel relaxed. This is what it’s like to have a father, a real father, one that’s interested in you and wants to spend time with you. Maybe he really has changed. Maybe this can really work.

  The ring of his cellphone woke him before his alarm Monday. Groggy, Jules rolled over, reaching for the little square of light that was the cellphone screen. His first thought was Kaylee, that she was in trouble, but she murmured in her sleep and rolled over against him. He grabbed the phone, fumbled, and finally answered.

  “Jules, sorry to wake you.”

  “Remy?”

  “We’ve found the blackmailer. Police are en route now. Can you come down to the police station this morning? You can have the time off work.”

  “Uh, sure. I have something to do on my way there. I can be there at eight.”

  “I’ll tell the detective to expect you. When you’re done, come to the coffee shop by the office and we’ll talk this over. Okay?”

  “Sure, okay.” He hung up.

  “Whoisit?” Kaylee mumbled.

  Jules bent over and kissed Kaylee’s forehead. “Shh. We’ll talk later.”

  She sighed and drifted back to sleep.

  Later, when they were up and having coffee, Kaylee said, “Did I dream it or did the phone ring this morning.”

  “Not a dream,” Jules said. “It was Remy.”

  “Did the baby come early?”

  “No.”

  “Emergency?”

  “Not really.”

  “Jules?”

  “Don’t worry, okay? They caught the blackmailer. I have to go in to the police station.”

  “And he had to call you before the alarm why?”

  “So I wouldn’t see it on the news in the morning? Because he thought I was alone and would get up that early to go to the police station? I don’t know.”

  “He doesn’t know I’ve been staying over?”

  “He’s not my parent or my life coach or my therapist or …”

  “Okay,” she said, laughing. “I get it. Not his business. You want me to grab a bus to work?”

  “No. I’ll drive you.”

  “You’re spoiling me.”

  “I like driving you to work, okay?” He leaned across the table and kissed her.

  “Okay. Are you still seeing your dad tonight?”

  He nodded as he sipped his coffee.

  “Well, that’ll give me a chance to do my laundry and call a few friends. Maybe I’ll go catch a chick flick with Alice.”

  “You could come with us.”

  “I really do need to do laundry. Don’t worry about me.”

  “I’m not worried about you.”

  Kaylee studied him for a moment. He was staring at the cup that he was holding in both large hands. “Is everything going all right with your dad?”

  “Yeah. Of course it is. I guess I’m still nervous that this is too good to be true.”

  “Hey, it’s totally up to you. You know that, right? If you think it’s time for him to go home, tell him that.”

  “I don’t want to do that. He came out here for me. The least I can do is give him the chance.”

  “Okay. I’m just a phone call away if you need me.”

  He dropped her off at the print shop and then made his way through the city to the police station. The officer took him in right away and the detective waved him over.

  “Julius Beauregard. I’ve been expecting you. Have a seat.”

  “I’m not sure what you need from me.”

  The detective slid a photo across the table. It was a woman, probably in her thirties, with narrow eyes and thin lips. Her hair was a dull blonde. “Do you recognize her?”

  Jules shook his head and slid the picture back. “No, sorry. Should I?”

  “This is Anne-Marie Thatcher. We traced the emails back to her, and she confessed in interrogation.”

  “This is the blackmailer?”

  The detective nodded.

  “I was expecting … someone else.”

  “So were we, to be honest. There is nothing in her work record or private life to suggest she’s ever done this or anything else illegal before. She has no ties to The Human Order. In fact, she broke down sobbing after she confessed.”

  “What’s going to happen to her?”

  “The DA will probably accept a plea bargain. She pleads guilty, she gets the lightest possible sentence, we avoid the expense and publicity or a public trial. She’ll lose her job for sure and will always have a criminal record, but the DA will likely recommend a work placement program so she can find a job.”

  “Seems like a lot of effort.”

  “She doesn’t have ties to The Human Order now, but she’s a prime target for recruiting. We’re just trying to make sure she doesn’t get disgruntled enough to join a terrorist organization.” He slid a folder across the desk. “This is everything your boss gave us concerning the case. I need you to read through all of it to make sure it is complete and, to the best of your knowledge, unaltered. Sign the page at the end if it looks good. If you notice any changes or omissions, you are legally required to inform us before you sign and provide us with unedited copies. Understand?”

  Jules nodded and opened the folder. When he got to the last page, which was all the legal nonsense he had to sign, he said, “Well, the emails look different, but that happens when you print. The content is all the same. I don’t think he even edited her spelling.” He grabbed a pen from the cup and signed the paper. “Anything else?”