by Lisa Kessler
“That’s fair.” He went back to his desk. “I already called Ryker and Serenity to come in and cover for you, so you might as well enjoy the time off.” He tipped his head toward the door. “You deserve some fun.”
Fun? Now that I knew my few friends were actually werewolves and someone was hunting them, fun didn’t seem to be on my agenda. I needed to track down my uncle and see if I could find out anything about this Transparency Collective Asher mentioned. But if it made him feel better to imagine I was out shopping with girlfriends or whatever people considered fun, that was fine with me.
I put my chair back behind my desk and grabbed my bag. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.” He looked up from his computer screen. “Be careful.”
I chuckled, seeing he understood exactly what I was up to. “I will.”
CHAPTER 7
Gage
I pulled up to the jobsite, eager for some hard labor—anything to release the frustration building inside me. All those months of searching for my mate, and not only had she been right in front of me all along but I’d blown her trust by lying to her and probably offended her by asking her to watch my boys so I could date other women.
It wasn’t like I was sleeping around. I hadn’t had sex since I had been with Samantha when we were locked in the storage facility. At first, I was too busy with the babies and I had pack issues to worry about. Then I had toddlers to chase. I didn’t have the time or energy to add a relationship into the mix. But seeing the other members of my pack finding their one true mates and raising their kids with partners made me eager to give that same family to Hawk and Henry.
I would date a woman once, maybe twice—just until we finally touched skin to skin, usually during a hug good night, occasionally a peck on the cheek. But it was always the same. My wolf remained dormant and silent.
Becca had no way of knowing any of that. She probably thought I’d slept my way through Sedona. I wasn’t sure how to navigate any of this. I wanted the chance to fall in love with her and for her to love me back. And every second it seemed to get more complicated.
Clenching my jaw, I got out of my truck and reached into the back for my tool belt.
Dex came out of the house and headed for me. He clasped my forearm in the traditional pack greeting. “Hey, man. ’Bout time you got here.” When he met my eyes, he sobered. “Everything okay?”
“No.” I shook my head, releasing him. “But I’m eager for the work.”
“Good.” Dex looked over his shoulder toward the house. He and his twin brother, Deacon, owned Stewart Brothers Construction. Most people couldn’t tell them apart. They were both about my height with dark-brown hair and light-blue eyes. They kept their hair short, too, but I’d noticed early on that Dex had one eye that was a little darker and sort of teal. That was the only thing that distinguished him from his brother.
Dex nudged my shoulder. “Hope you brought your kneepads. There are plenty of tiles to lay in the living room, and the geometric pattern the designer sold the homeowner on is kicking our asses. If Deacon has to pull up another tile, he’s going to lose his shit.”
“I have them.” I hooked my tool belt around my waist and then slid my hand under the driver’s seat, feeling around for my kneepads. They were on top of my Glock.
The moment my fingers brushed the cold steel, a ripple of worry washed through me. I’d told Becca about werewolves and the defense contractors looking to make super soldiers using shifter DNA, but I wasn’t sure she fully understood how dangerous our world was. And I couldn’t help worrying that I’d put a target on her back by telling her.
I buckled the pads in place when voice from my past said, “Woods?”
I straightened and spun around to find General Miller Sloan casting a big shadow across the driveway. My ex-commander was standing right in front of me. I scanned for his car, but other than my truck, and Dex and Deacon’s truck, there weren’t any other vehicles in sight.
“General Sloan.” I fought to keep from saluting. “What are you doing here, sir?”
He might’ve retired from the military, but his posture was still ramrod straight, his chin elevated, and chest out. His silver eyes flicked to the house and back to me. “I just met your Alpha. He told me I might find you here.”
“You were looking for me?” I wiped sweat from my forehead.
“Yes.” His gaze settled on me. “The Air Force accepted my retirement from military service, but the mission is far from over. Now I have more time to hunt down the bastards who are hell-bent on declassifying the research on werewolf shifters—and silence them.”
I frowned. “The Transparency Collective?”
He nodded. “There’s always someone who has seen something they shouldn’t have, but this new group has been more organized and are well financed. They’ve got the ears of important people in Washington.” He crossed his arms. “I need someone in this pack who understands the sacrifices it will take to discover our enemies and neutralize them.”
Fuck. I recognized the command buried in his civilian words. Flashes of marching through the desert, painting my face, and lying on my belly firing shots at enemy targets filled my head. Images I’d tried to forget. Acid bubbled in my gut.
“I’ve got kids now.” I shook my head, breaking eye contact. “I’ve been away from the Air Force for years now.”
General Sloan cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to his face. “Your kids are why we’re fighting this battle. If these infiltrators expose us, your boys will never have a life outside a government facility. And that’s if they’re not killed first.”
Adrenaline shot through my veins, making my fingers twitch at my sides. “Cut to the chase. What do you need from me?”
“I’ve been tracking some leads, one of which led me to the Arizona Supreme Court.”
I kept my expression neutral, focusing on keeping my pulse even and steady, but the struggle was futile.
General Sloan’s brow shot up. “Do you know something about the judge?”
I shook my head. “Not really.”
He crossed his arms. “Well, there could be a connection. The head of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senator Hanson, had a fundraising event a few years ago. That was the first time someone approached him with the idea of forcing my retirement.” General Sloan paused. “How much do you know about the Nero Organization?”
“Enough,” I answered. “I helped destroy them.”
“Good.” He nodded with a satisfied smirk. “Well, at that time, the founder, Antonio Severino, discovered the man trying to push me out was a computer software mogul named Burt Jones. Antonio ordered his elimination, but his death didn’t end the threat. It only magnified it.”
“What does any of that have to do with the Arizona Supreme Court?”
He pursed his lips, obviously not pleased with my interruption. But until I understood what his connection was to the judge, who was most likely the same man my mate called her uncle, I wasn’t going to be much help.
“Burt Jones has a brother on the Arizona Supreme Court, Justice Mitch Jones.” General Sloan studied me, but I kept my expression guarded. A muscle in his cheek flinched, the only sign of his annoyance. “He was a big donor to Brad Newport’s campaign.”
“Newport wanted to expose military spending.” I stared him down in a way I never would have dared as a soldier. “That doesn’t make him part of the Transparency Collective.”
“True.” He nodded, studying me. “But the text messages I intercepted from him about your boys to Deidra Harlow from Evolution Defense were a red flag.”
“What?” I growled. “You knew my boys were in this and you didn’t lead with that?”
He shrugged, dropping his hands to his sides. “I was hoping you’d answer the call of duty without any coercion being necessary, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the existence of shifters hidden.” His gaze locked on mine. “Harlow wanted assurances that her
lab would be protected by the courts. She was also looking for someone in the judicial branch to help her tie up the ex-Nero jaguar shifters she was hiring if they crossed her.”
“She’s dead,” I replied. “And we haven’t had any more trouble with her juiced-up humans from the Timberwolves, either.”
A black sedan with tinted windows rolled up to the curb. General Sloan glanced over his shoulder at it, then back to me. “I don’t have time to play games with you, son. When Nero fell, four emperors rose from the ashes with their sights set on proving to the world that shifters are real. Two of those emperors are now dead, which makes the two remaining even more dangerous. I need a lieutenant at my side to bring them down before we find video footage of men shifting into wolves on every screen around the world.”
“You think this judge is one of the emperors of the collective?”
“The order to kill his brother was given by Antonio Severino, and his son Sebastian Severino carried out it out personally. That gives this judge motive. Plus, he had contact with Deidra Harlow from Evolution Defense. She kidnapped your little boy, right? It stands to reason this judge probably knows your boys are wolves.” He turned, walking to the car. When he reached the handle of the back door he, looked back. “I left my card with your Alpha. Call me.”
I took out my phone. Once the car drove away, I pressed Becca’s number and waited. She’d asked for time, but sadly, it wasn’t on our side.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey, Gage.”
“Hi, Becca. This is going to sound strange, but what’s your uncle’s name?” I held my breath. It had to be a different guy.
“Mitch Jones. Why?”
Fuck. I ran a hand down my face. “Do you have any other uncles?”
“I did.” She paused. “My uncle Burt. He died in a car accident three years ago. Why?”
Shit. Sloan was telling the truth. And my mate, who already didn’t trust me, was braided right into the threat to my sons.
I either had to trust her completely or shut her out.
I watched the empty street. “I really need to see you.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Everything.” I ground my teeth. “Can I meet you for lunch?”
“I thought you were working.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see it. “I am.”
“I could bring lunch,” she offered. “Asher gave me the day off.”
“Works for me.” I gave her the address, and she said she’d be there at noon.
I stuffed my phone in my pocket, grabbed my bottle of water from the truck, and headed for the house, eager for some hard labor and something I could fucking control.
The rest of the world seemed anything but.
CHAPTER 8
Becca
I didn’t know what Gage liked so I grabbed a bucket of fried chicken with biscuits and fries and hoped for the best. I put the address in my phone, and the Google Maps lady started spouting off directions while I sang along to John Legend on the radio.
It wasn’t until I zipped through a yellow light that I noticed the black car following me. It flew through the intersection after me but didn’t pass by. When I turned off the main drag onto the winding road leading to the custom homes, the car followed.
If my day hadn’t started with talks of werewolves and people that wanted to expose their existence to the rest of the world, I probably wouldn’t have been so jittery. Why would anyone follow me anyway? It made no sense.
Except, someone had shot at me last night so maybe being tailed wasn’t too far out. I wished my dad were here. He knew how to lose a tail. Sadly, I was on my own and instead of having training for car chases, I was a semiprofessional rock climber and hiker. If I were trying to lose someone out in the sticks on foot, I wouldn’t be sweating it; however, high-speed chases weren’t really in my wheelhouse, not to mention my little Subaru didn’t have much get up and go.
Shit.
I kept half an eye on the rearview mirror as I followed the directions through the fancy residences along the foothills of Sedona. They were still on my tail. At the next stop sign, I pressed Gage’s number and hit speakerphone.
“Becca?” he answered.
“Hey. If someone is following me, should I try to lose them before I bring lunch or just lead them straight to you?”
He cursed under his breath. “How far away are you?”
I glanced at the map on the screen. “Google says I’ll be there in five minutes, but I could circle for a while. Maybe they’ll lose interest.”
“No. Get here as soon as you can. We’ll be ready for them.” He paused and added, “Drive carefully. Don’t let them push you to do anything dangerous. You’re safe as long as you’re moving.”
“Okay. Be there in a sec.” I ended the call.
My hands were slick on the steering wheel now. When I turned the final corner, Gage’s truck was parked in a long, circular driveway. I blew out a sigh of relief and pulled in behind him, watching the car in my rearview mirror slide by.
Gage came out to my car, while Dex and Deacon jogged toward the street, one on each side of the circular driveway. I’d met them a couple times when they came by the office to talk to Asher. They were identical twins and unless someone called them by name, I couldn’t tell them apart. I got out of the car, and Gage reached inside to grab the food before hustling me into the large desert mansion they were renovating.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Where are they going?”
“To find out who was tailing you.” he replied, closing the door behind us. He set the food on the kitchen counter and gave me the once-over. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “A little freaked out, but to be fair, it was my first time being stalked so I think I’m entitled.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re amazing.” He went the window and looked out onto the front yard. He frowned, narrowing his eyes. “What the hell?” He turned and moved quickly to the door. “Stay here.”
I raised a brow. “What’s going on?”
“We laid down nails and screws just past the driveway to stop them.” He looked over at me. “But this wasn’t who I expected to catch in our trap.”
He closed the door, and I went to the window. A tall silver-haired guy walked toward the house, flanked by Dex and his twin brother, Deacon. Gage met them halfway. Judging by his body language, he wasn’t happy to see the older guy.
The older guy poked his index finger into Gage’s chest. Gage knocked it away and pointed toward the street. I wished I could hear what they were saying. I glanced at the front door. Maybe I could peek out without anyone realizing it. Worth a shot.
I went to the door and cracked it open. I couldn’t make out everything they said, but a few words were clear.
“She’s the enemy,” the older man said.
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Gage replied, his hand balling into fists.
“Don’t I?” The older guy shoved an envelope into Gage’s hand. “Look that over.” He turned to leave, and all I caught was, “You owe me two new tires, Woods!”
Gage shook his head and came back to the house with the envelope in hand. I closed the door and rushed back into the kitchen as if I’d been sneaking in after curfew.
He walked to the kitchen counter and set the envelope down. “General Miller Sloan was following you.”
“A general?” I shook my head. “Why?”
“I have some guesses.” He opened the envelope, skimming the contents before tossing the photos and documents on the counter. “Fuck.”
I went to his side, fishing through the photos and papers. There were pictures of my uncle in his judicial robes, a photo of me with Asher, and one of me with Hawk and Henry.
Goose bumps rose on my arms. “They’ve been spying on me?”
Gage nodded, all his attention on the documents. “Looks that way.” He waited for me to make eye contact. “General Sloan used
to be my commanding officer in the Air Force. He’s been trying to shut down the Transparency Collective for longer than we’ve known it even existed.” He pulled out a dossier on my uncle and pushed it in front of me. “They’ve been watching you because you’re related to him.” He met my eyes. “And General Sloan’s not going to stop just because I asked him to.”
I scanned the write-up on my uncle Mitch, shaking my head. “My uncle thinks a shifter killed his brother?”
“I know the jaguar shifter who did it.” Gage’s eyes were cold and distant, his chin raised, shoulders squared and ready for battle. This was the soldier that I’d never met before, the man who had seen death in all its brutal horror.
“I don’t understand. His brakes went out. Are you saying someone cut the lines?”
He nodded slowly. “That’s exactly what happened.”
I covered my forehead with my hand, hoping the throbbing wouldn’t turn into a full-blown headache. “My uncle Burt hadn’t had a family of his own so I’d inherited some of his estate in a trust fund. Is that why they’re after me?”
Gage shook his head. “I think Sloan was watching you to see if you’re spying for the judge. It appears your distant family has been mixed up in the Transparency Collective since the beginning.”
I studied his profile. This was why he needed to see me right away. Was he going to trust me or cut me out of his life? It would probably be safer if I left while I still could, but…what if I could make my uncle see reason? If I could convince him the Sedona Pack wasn’t a threat, maybe all this could blow over.
Except my uncle Burt was dead. I couldn’t bring him back. Mitch had lost his brother, and he would want justice. I looked at Gage again. “If my uncle Burt’s car accident was really a hit, then why? He was a CEO of a software development company.”
“It wasn’t about his company. He was part of the Transparency Collective. His brother-in-law got him involved.” Gage glanced my way. “Do you know Piper Holland?”
