by Lisa Kessler
Alexandra didn’t know about werewolves, and she’d never outright asked about me living with Bo and Blake, but she probably assumed I was a willing participant. I shrugged and walked back over to the bar. “I don’t really give a crap.”
“Good.” Alexandra grinned, nodding her head slowly. “You deserve to be treated better.”
Since she’d started working at the Wolf Pack Bar, I’d been roughed up a few times. I didn’t try to cover up the bruises much. What was the point? It wouldn’t have changed anything.
I pulled out the bowls and started adding the pretzels and mixed nuts. “Luke’s a good guy.”
The door opened, and Isabelle stepped inside. My pulse raced. I hustled around the bar and hugged her. Tight.
She returned the embrace, her voice soft on my ear. “We need to talk alone.”
I glanced at Alexandra. “I’ve got to get something out of the van for my sister. I’ll be right back.”
“No problem.”
Isabelle followed me out the back. Once we were on the other side of the van, I grabbed her hand. “Where have you been? Did Caldwell hurt you?”
“I’m fine. He needs me, for now.” She put her hand in her pocket. “He found out I have my private investigator’s license and has me digging into some records.”
“Records? For what?”
“Birth records.” She glanced around. “It’s got something to do with Luke’s Pack, with the Alpha’s wife.”
I frowned. “What the hell would her birth records have to do with anything?”
“My thoughts exactly. That’s why I want you to text Luke and ask about her.”
Luke. I needed to tell my sister. She was the only person in this Pack I could trust. I rubbed my hands on my pants. “Luke’s my mate.”
Her brow shot up. “Your what?”
“My mate. Not like Caldwell assigns. This is…” I shook my head. “I don’t really get it, either, but when my hand touched his, skin to skin, my wolf howled inside my head. I can’t really explain it. The world went out of focus and then came back to me again. There’s a connection. Mates are real.”
Isabelle frowned. “Does Caldwell know? He’ll be pissed.”
“He wasn’t happy.” I didn’t tell her about Luke’s beating. I couldn’t bring myself to talk about it. Not yet. “But I think he’d going to accept Luke into our Pack.”
“Whoa.” She crossed her arms. “Why would Luke want any part of this clusterfuck?”
I chuckled. My sister had a mouth that could make a sailor blush. For the past five years, she’d worked as a private eye and a bounty hunter for extra money. She could talk shit with the best of them.
My smile faded as I pulled in a deep breath, checking for the scents of any of the others. I met her eyes and whispered, “He’s going to kill Caldwell.”
Isabelle blinked, then shook her head slowly. “Good luck with that. Caldwell is always backed up by Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Those obedient assholes aren’t going to let Luke walk up and murder their Alpha.”
“He won’t have to get close. Luke’s a sniper. He just needs to know Caldwell’s schedule and find a good angle.”
She ran her tongue along her teeth, lost in thought for a second. “It could work, but he’ll only get one chance. If he misses, Caldwell will kill him or he’ll have Nero finish it for him. Either way, Luke dies.”
Her words sliced through me, my heart palpitating.
“I can hear your pulse racing from here.” Her head tilted slightly. “You’re serious about this guy.”
Was I? No question my wolf was, but where did I stand? “I’ve never met anyone like him.”
She took my hand. “Raven, promise me you’ll be careful. If this blows up in his face, you’ll be next on Caldwell’s kill list.”
The thought of my own death didn’t terrify me like the thought of Luke dying.
“I’ll be careful.”
She squeezed my hand. “One more thing. Just because Dad left, and Bo was a mistake, not all men are assholes.”
I laughed shaking my head. “I would’ve called bullshit on that…until Luke.”
Her lips curved into a barely there smile, our disappointments lingering in the shadows of her eyes. “Tell him I said to be good to my baby sister.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m far from a baby.”
She draped her arm over my shoulder. “You are to me.” She froze.
I caught it, too.
Blake was coming toward the van.
Isabelle whispered, “Ask Luke about Lana’s father for me. I’ll call you later.”
She walked away, head held high as she rounded the van. I hustled after her.
Blake glared at us. “Isabelle, what are you doing here?” He rolled his shoulders back, like the sight of his broad chest would scare us.
Isabelle breezed right past him. “Working on a project for Caldwell.”
He crossed his arms. “What project?”
“If he wanted you to know about it, you wouldn’t have to ask me.” Isabelle disappeared inside the back door of the bar.
I hustled to follow, but Blake caught my wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To do my damned job.” I looked down at his hand and back up to his face. “You have no right to touch me.” He dropped my wrist, recoiling like I disgusted him. Good. I pushed by, adding, “You never did.”
…
Luke came in the door just before seven o’clock. His eyes met mine, and his smile warmed me all over. He pulled out a stool. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
His bruised eyes already looked less swollen than they had when he left. “How are you feeling?”
“All right.” He rested an arm on the bar. “Asher brought Cole by the ranch.” He lifted the side of his shirt just enough for me to see the white medical tape. “He checked me out and taped up my ribs.”
“Good.” I owed Asher one. “Your eyes look better, too.”
“I’m a fast healer.” We all were, but with a few humans in the bar, he kept it vague. “Any sign of Vance yet?”
I shook my head. “No. Blake was here earlier, but he’s been gone for a couple hours.” A guy at the other end of the bar held up his credit card. “Be right back.”
“Ready to cash out?” I ran his card and returned it. “Thanks for coming in.”
“Catch you later, Raven.” He stuffed the card in his wallet.
I hurried back toward Luke. “Sorry about that.”
“You’re the reason these people come back.” His lips curved in a warm smile.
“Nah.” I waved off the compliment. “I don’t water down their drinks like the tourist spots, that’s all.”
“My parents have a restaurant back home. Regular customers come back for the company, not the menu.”
“Well, thanks.” I swallowed, trying to imagine what his parents were like. A real family. I sighed. Another path I had no interest in wandering down right now. “Isabelle came by.”
He leaned a little closer. “Is she all right?”
I nodded and lowered my voice. “Caldwell has her digging into birth records for your Alpha’s wife.”
“Lana?” Confusion lined his brow. “Why would he care… Oh, shit.” Luke paled and pulled his arm off the bar. He gazed at the floor for a second before he lifted his gaze. “I bet Caldwell wants to know why Sebastian is protecting her.”
“Maybe?” I hadn’t put that together, but it was plausible.
Luke rubbed his forehead. “Or he needs some leverage with Severino.”
“Leverage?”
He nodded. “We’ll have to talk later.”
“Later? Why?” I looked up just as the door started to open.
Luke didn’t even move. “Because Vance is here.”
Chapter Twelve
Luke
Jaguar shifters had a distinct scent, slick, like well-worn leather, and Vance had the added touch of aftershave. It probably wasn’t an accident. Nothing fucked up a wolf’s heightened
sense of smell more than man-made perfumes. With enough of it, we were blinded to scents that could save our lives.
Vance stopped next to me. “Luke, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Grab a stool.”
He scanned the room and sat. “The Alpha and his goons aren’t here?”
“Not yet.” I glanced over at him, keeping my voice down. “This morning you sounded like Damian was your guy, but up at Tahoe before you shifted, I heard another story.”
“How so?” He turned to Raven. “Can I have a beer?”
She nodded and gestured to the taps. “What’s your poison?”
“Heineken, please.”
Her eyes met mine before she smiled. “Popular lately.”
While she got the beer, I turned to Vance. “I recognized your voice. You complained that Damian was erratic and putting you all at risk.”
His well-practiced, easy smile faded as Raven set a beer in front of each of us.
I looked up at her. “You’re going to spoil me.”
She grinned, and I had to force myself to stop staring at her. I needed to focus on Vance. Turning his way, I lifted my mug. “Care to tell me why you’re in Sedona fighting to avenge the asshole when you knew he was coming unglued?”
I took a drink and waited.
Vance rubbed his chin and glanced my way. “Why didn’t you out me? Probably would’ve solidified your place here in this Pack.” He lowered his voice. “But earning a place here isn’t really your goal, either, is it?”
I raised a brow. “Touché.”
“You’re not going to give me your Alpha’s address, are you?”
I shrugged. “If I do, I’ll also be warning him to shoot your ass on sight.”
He took a swig of his beer, swallowed, and met my eyes. “I can’t tell you what you want to know.”
“Then we’re even.” My gaze followed Raven down the bar.
Vance nudged me, and I winced. He frowned. “You’re injured.”
I ground my teeth. “I’m also armed, so touch me again and I’ll end you.”
He put his hands up. “I wasn’t attacking you.”
“Good.” I tore my attention from my mate and back to the task at hand. “Tell me this. If you’re not here to avenge Damian, why help this Pack at all?”
“Not helping…observing.”
“Is that what you were doing at Damian’s place in Tahoe?”
“My turn.” He set his mug on the bar. “Did your Alpha send you here?”
“Not exactly.” I glanced at Raven.
Vance leaned forward. “She’s your mate.”
I nodded, turning his way again. “Yeah.”
“She belongs to the Alpha’s guard dogs.”
“She’s no one’s property,” I growled. “Not anymore.”
He raised a brow, his lips curving slightly. “Interesting.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do they send all of you jaguars through some elitist asshole training course or something?”
He laughed, surprising me. I’d never met a jaguar shifter from Nero who wasn’t attempting to kill me or someone I cared about, and I sure as shit had never heard one laugh.
“Sorry, man.” Vance shook his head. “I wasn’t judging you, just putting this together in my head. You must’ve gotten into it with the guard dogs while protecting your mate, and now you’re trying to get closer to the Alpha. I’m guessing it’s not to give him a hug.”
I chuffed with a shake of my head. “Definitely not.”
Vance shifted on the stool. “I won’t get in your way, but you need to stay out of mine in return.”
“I don’t even know what your endgame is. How would I know if I was in your way?”
He leaned in closer. “Severino doesn’t know I’m here right now, and I need to keep it that way.”
I frowned as he got up and left a couple of bills on the bar.
He clasped my shoulder. “Good to meet you, Luke. I’m going to Reno to scout and report back. See you in a few days.”
I grabbed his wrist. “You’re working for Sebastian.”
He didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to. If Severino didn’t know he was here, Sebastian was the only other option. I kept my attention on him until the door closed.
Raven wandered back over. “Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure, but it’s not shittier, so that’s something.”
She laughed. “Still an optimist.”
God, I loved the sound of her laughter.
I finished my beer and met her eyes. “There are lots of players in the mix here.”
Her eyes went to the door and back to me. “Which side is Vance on?”
“Hard to say, but not Caldwell’s, and that’s all that matters to me right now.” I took her hand, lowering my voice. “Asher is with us.”
“You told him?” She frowned. “That was a big risk.”
“Not really.” I shook my head. “He brought the Pack medic over because it’s eating at him that he let those assholes beat on someone who wasn’t fighting back. After a few questions, I laid my cards on the table.”
“What now?”
I rocked one shoulder back, trying not to groan. “I need to heal up, and once I have a handle on Caldwell’s schedule every day, then I’ll take my shot.”
“What about Asher?”
My gaze locked on hers. “If I miss, he’ll get your ass out of Dodge.”
“You said you don’t miss.” She tightened her grip on the rag.
“I don’t.” I finished my beer. “But I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”
Her eyes glinted, narrowing. “Was I going to have any say in this plan?”
She was pissed? I blinked. “You knew the plan.”
“Not the part about having me abandon you to face Caldwell alone.”
I reached for her hand, but she jerked it out of reach.
“This mate thing…” She searched for words. “It goes both ways. I can’t function when someone mentions you getting hurt. There’s no way in hell I could walk away…” Her voice wobbled. “I’m not like that. I’ll never abandon people I care about when they need me.”
She pivoted on her heel and disappeared into the back storeroom. I dropped my head, staring at my empty mug. What the hell just happened? I got up to go after her when the door opened. The scent hit me before I turned around.
Caldwell.
He came toward me, Bo and Blake close behind. Did they go with him to take a piss, too? Finding a time when he’d be alone was going to be harder than I realized.
“Luke.” He scanned the bar. “Vance was here.” He took another breath. “But he’s gone now. Did you two talk already?”
I nodded and gestured to his empty mug. “Yeah, you just missed him.”
He fished his cell from his pocket and hit a button. “It’s Caldwell. Did you get the addresses?”
Cell phones might as well be conference calls with werewolves in the room. We couldn’t not hear both sides of the conversation. I held my breath, ready to grab my gun from the small of my back if Vance mentioned my plans.
“Yeah, Luke told me all I need to know. I’m on my way to Reno now.”
“Good.” Caldwell smiled. “Remember, the Alpha is mine. I want to look into Malcolm’s eldest son’s eyes and watch the life drain out of them.”
I ground my teeth to keep from reacting.
“This isn’t a kill mission. I know how to scout an area,” Vance answered. “No one will know I’m here.” He paused. “Thank Luke for the intel. It should save me time.”
I relaxed. Through Caldwell, we both verified the other hadn’t exposed us. We weren’t allies, but not being enemies was close enough for me.
Raven came out to the bar, wiping it down with angry strokes. Bo and Blake stayed back.
So they weren’t complete idiots.
Caldwell put his phone away and leaned on the bar next to me. “Tell me something, Reynolds. Have you met Sebastian Severino?�
�
Raven’s gaze locked on mine. Isabelle. Caldwell had her searching for Lana’s father. He was fishing.
“A couple of times. He’s not a friend.”
“Sebastian doesn’t have friends.” Caldwell chuckled, then slowly sobered, his eyes pinning me on my stool. “He seems to have an interest in your Alpha’s wife.”
“Lana is beautiful.” It was all I could come up with. I wasn’t sure where Caldwell was leading me, but until I knew, I was treading lightly.
He swiped his hand through the air. “Sebastian’s a cold-blooded bastard. He’s not looking for love.”
I shrugged. “Sorry. I’m not sure why he’d be interested. She’s a writer.”
He shook his head. “He doesn’t want her to write his biography, either.” He tapped his finger on the bar. “No, it’s got to be something Sebastian’s father wants. Sebastian is loyal. He wouldn’t work something behind Antonio’s back.”
Vance popped into my head. I did my best to bury it. Caldwell couldn’t read minds, but my heart rate could give off a clue I was hiding something.
He glanced at Raven. “Your sister is checking into Lana Sloan’s background for me.”
“Isabelle’s the best.” Raven wiped at a nonexistent spot on the bar. “If there’s a connection, she’ll find it.”
“But will she find it soon enough?” Caldwell’s attention settled on me again. “There’s nothing else about her that might make her valuable to Severino?”
I shrugged, scrambling for some crumb I could throw out without endangering Lana. “She’s a jaguar shifter. Maybe Sebastian is the one who bit her?”
He mulled it over, and I held my breath. Lana was born a jaguar shifter, the only female we’d ever met that carried the shifter gene without being bitten. And she’d passed it on to her daughter. We’d also discovered recently that Antonio Severino was her biological father.
There were plenty of reasons the head of Nero would want her.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out that if Caldwell discovered any of those facts, he’d abduct Lana. She’d be all the leverage he’d need to get whatever he wanted out of Antonio Severino.
Caldwell started nodding slowly as he straightened. “You could be onto something, Reynolds.” He clapped my shoulder. “I’m glad I didn’t let them kill you.”
