Lycan Moon: An Urban Fairy Tale (Lycan Evolution Book 1)

by Rick Gualtieri

  She wasn’t sure exactly when her shift in thinking had occurred but suspected it had built up slowly – learning that Dean had saved her father’s life, his compassion for his friend, his guilt over his family, his determination to find a cure. Little by little, he’d made her a believer.

  Ro retreated to the guestroom she’d called home during her stay at the mansion. She threw her clothes and personal items haphazardly into her duffel bag. A part of her didn’t want to leave, but she pushed that out of her mind. This was the way things had to be. It’s not like she could hide out here with Dean forever, tinkering around until he found a cure. She needed to go back to her job, her friends, her life ... as it was. Besides, she’d done her part. Dean had his blood samples and her father was better. There was no need for her to stick around anymore.

  She stepped out of her bedroom just as Coop emerged from the other room, pushing her father in a wheelchair. “Got everything?”

  “Yup. Even if I don’t, you know where I live,” she said, though the joke fell flat. They both knew that further contact would be unwise.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Dean met the trio at the top of the stairs so he could help Coop carry the old man down. Ro flashed him an unreadable look before returning to her room to double check she hadn’t left anything behind.

  “How are you doing?” Coop whispered as they carried John down the stairs.

  “Fine,” Dean replied brusquely.

  “Let me guess. Not one for long goodbyes.”

  “No goodbyes yet, period. I’m coming with you guys.”

  They reached the bottom and set the wheelchair down on the floor. Coop looked back up as if to check that Ro hadn’t emerged yet. “Are you sure you want to come with us? If he wakes up...”

  “Then I’ll knock him out again,” he replied, his jaw set. “This isn’t up for discussion. I need a ride into the city anyway to meet up with Strike. We’ll save gas this way.”

  “Are you sure that’s the reason you’re tagging along?”

  “What other reason would I have?”

  “You know, I might not be a werewolf, but I can smell your crap a mile away.” When Dean didn’t reply, Coop said with a sigh, “Okay, fine, but we need to get moving. The tranqs aren’t gonna keep this tiger down forever.”

  23

  “What are you going to tell him when he wakes up?” Coop asked once they got Ro’s father settled into his bed.

  “Oh, I figured I’d give him his gun, your address, and see what happens.”

  “You’ll forgive me for not finding that hilarious.”

  She stood and stretched. “Sorry. Gallows humor.”

  “Seems to be a lot of that going on.”

  Ro was inwardly relieved when Coop had insisted on dropping Dean off first. Kane had been at her apartment once and, though she knew the chances of him returning were slim, she didn’t want to risk finding him there again with Dean around.

  Coop had pulled to the curb a few blocks away from the Masons’ brownstone and allowed the engine to idle while Dean climbed out. He’d maintained a stony silence the entire drive into the city. There were times when he seemed to be on the verge of saying something, but then he’d just huff and look out the window.

  Dean had hesitated as he exited the car, his eyes lingering on Ro a moment, his expression hooded. Again, she wondered if he would say something, but he didn’t, instead turning away before closing the door and walking off.

  Even though she’d barely uttered an acknowledgement herself when he’d gotten out of the car, she still felt affronted by his silence. After all they’d been through the past week or so, she would have thought she at least merited a goodbye. But he hadn’t said anything – just left without a second glance.

  She told herself she didn’t care, that she had more important things to worry about than some spoiled rich boy with an attitude.

  Traffic going downtown was light given that it was before rush hour, a fact which Ro thought fortuitous since the sedative her dad had been given wouldn’t last forever. When they were within a few blocks of the apartment, she called the police station where the desk sergeant informed her that Detective McGregor was in. She hung up while the call transferred, but even with the reassurance that Kane was safely at work, she still insisted Coop drive a few times around the block to make sure the apartment wasn’t being watched.

  “Ro?” Coop asked, pulling her out of her thoughts. “I should probably get going before someone complains about me parking in front of a hydrant.”

  She double-checked that her father was resting comfortably, then walked him downstairs.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  John waited until he heard the click of the door, then sat up. He was groggy and far from feeling his finest, but he was in command of his own faculties well enough to do what needed to be done.

  Bunch of fools. As if he hadn’t been at this game long enough to know when to play dead, and to do it well enough for nobody to suspect otherwise. The asshole had caught him by surprise with that needle when he’d been arguing with Rowan. Fool girl. He had no idea what had gotten into her head, but he’d set her straight.

  There was no telling how long they’d been driving when he’d awakened, but he had to assume it hadn’t been long. The fact that the rest of the ride had seemed to take forever confirmed this.

  He had to take one hell of a mean piss, but that would have to wait until he could jot down the details of their journey back to the city. Best to do it now before the crispness of the memory faded. It would be some time before he was well enough to hunt again but, once he was, he wanted to be certain he could make his way back there again.

  There was payback to be had and John Sinclair was not a man who let such things go easily.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Coop asked one last time. “Your old man’s a handful.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Ro replied. “He’ll get over me getting help from a ‘filthy wolf,’ then it’ll be business as usual.”

  They looked at each other awkwardly, then Ro gave into the urge to give him a brief hug. “You take care of yourself. Don’t let Dean give you too much shit.”

  “Eh, it’s no fun when he’s agreeable,” he said with a grin. His expression sobered considerably before he added, “Seriously, be careful. It sounds like your cop friend is one to watch out for.”

  “Says the guy who broke into my apartment and took all my stuff.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I know. Don’t worry. Paranoia is pretty much a way of life for me. And please take your own advice.”

  “Always.” Coop turned toward his car, but paused to face her again. “Hey! Don’t mind how Dean was acting earlier. He can be a douchebag when he’s upset.”

  “Why would he be upset?” she asked neutrally.

  “Because I think he actually sort of liked you.” He continued to his car without stopping again.

  Ro climbed the stairs back to her apartment. She checked on her dad again, but he was still out. Unsure of what else to do, she started to unpack.

  Although she’d told Coop that life would go on as before, she wasn’t sure exactly what that would entail. She hated to admit that the past week had opened her eyes to the possibility of a world without werewolves, one in which they might not be the enemy.

  And then there was the matter of her father. She’d known him to have blinders on when it came to life as a hunter. After all, she’d heard an earful and then some when she’d told him her intentions of going to nursing school.

  “What, is being a hunter not good enough for you?” he’d argued, despite her protests that the skills she’d acquire would erase the need to go to the hospital for stitches and the like, situations that always led to uncomfortable questions from those treating them.

  When he still hadn’t bought her argument, she’d played her ace. “One of us has to make a living and the
Guild isn’t exactly paying the rent.” That comment had caused him to stop speaking to her for two long days until he finally relented.

  This fight was no different. He was stubborn and tough as nails, but he wasn’t unbeatable.

  The buzzing of her cell phone pulled her from her thoughts. She picked it up and, unsurprisingly, found a message from Kane. We need to talk. Text me ASAP when you’re available to meet in person.

  Ro tried not to feel too anxious about the message. After all, she’d killed two wolves in Central Park – Kane had to know those should be attributed to her. Then again, there was the fact he’d been sniffing around her apartment. She wondered if she should confront him about it or figure out his angle first.

  I can meet you in an hour at the usual place. Before he could reply with something stupidly sexist, she added, See you at the coffee shop.

  Though she wasn’t looking forward to seeing him in the least, it was best to get it out of the way sooner rather than letting it fester.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  When Rowan went to check on her father before leaving to meet Kane, she found him wide awake and sitting up in bed.

  “We got some talking to do,” he said bluntly.

  She had a sinking feeling she knew what he wanted to talk about, but it would have to wait.

  “I know, and we will talk. First, I need to meet with Kane and fill him in on what happened. We’ll chat when I get back.”

  It was a lie wrapped in the truth, one which she hoped her father wouldn’t be able to detect. She had no intention of telling Kane about Dean and his whereabouts, or how she got word on the wolves’ operation around Central Park. She still had to figure out how to keep her dad quiet about them getting help from a werewolf, but hopefully his dislike of the other hunter would render that a moot point.

  One problem at a time, she told herself. Deal with Kane now, figure out the rest later.

  “Stay in bed and try to get some sleep,” she told him. “Nurse’s orders.”

  Ro stepped outside and dug her hands in her pockets in an attempt to ward off the sudden chill in the air, wishing she’d thought to wear her wool cap.

  By the time she reached the coffee shop, Kane was already waiting at a corner booth near the back. She slid in, avoided his gaze, and ordered a triple espresso. When her eyes finally met his, she found a sardonic expression sitting on his face.

  “Welcome back,” he stated, his dark eyes boring into hers as if he could discern all her secrets by staring her down.

  “Thanks.” She forced herself to stare back. To look away would reveal weakness. She reminded herself that all she had was speculation as to what he did and didn’t know. Chances were he was just trying to browbeat her back into his bed. Being paranoid about it was not going to help her.

  “You gonna tell me why you’ve been avoiding me?”

  “Other than the obvious?”

  “And that would be what?”

  “Us. Or the lack thereof. That night was a mistake. I told you at least a dozen times. One of us here can’t take a hint, and it isn’t me.”

  “You can’t deny we were good together. Don’t try lying about it, either. A man can tell.”

  She wanted nothing more than to knock his arrogant teeth out. “Look, I didn’t come down here to rehash old arguments. Do you have anything to discuss that doesn’t involve a lame attempt to get me back to your apartment? Because if not, I’m kind of busy.”

  His eyes darkened and she could see him trying to hold back his temper. If she provoked him much more, he’d probably snap. She was almost curious to see what that would mean, especially since they were in a public place.

  After a beat passed, he sipped the coffee in front of him, set down the mug, then smiled with what seemed like genuine amusement on his face. “You know what I like about you? You’re unlike other women. No fuss, no games, not even trying to get dinner and a movie out of the deal.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “My point is I doubt there are many guys out there who appreciate the type of girl you are, who understand you like I do.”

  “What makes you think you understand anything about me? I mean, so far you’ve done a shitty job of understanding that I don’t want to start anything between us that doesn’t have to do with the Guild.”

  “Oh, I understand far more than you know.”

  Ro sighed, expecting him to start in on a play by play of their night together. “Such as?”

  “Such as, I understand that you’ve been out of the city following a lead on your dad. I know you told your boss that he’s been sick and you’ve been taking care of him. I also know that no one has seen or heard from him in two months.”

  She took a sip of her coffee and regarded him coolly. “That last one isn’t anything you didn’t already know. As for the rest, so you’ve gone from detective to stalker? Not really a checkmark in your favor for your line of work, especially since breaking into someone’s apartment is ever so slightly illegal.”

  His eyes flashed with surprise.

  “Seriously? You didn’t think I would notice? Do you think I’m a fucking rookie?” When he didn’t answer right away, she had to bite down the temptation to throw her coffee into his face. “What were you hoping to find?”

  “Answers.”

  “To what?”

  “Questions I had.”

  “Like what bra size I wear?”

  He smiled. “That and a few others.” Oh, she really wanted to deck him. He was like a mosquito she couldn’t swat away. “Where is your father, Ro?”

  “Home. We just got back. That’s why I answered your text so quickly.”

  His eyes opened wider. He definitely hadn’t been expecting that answer. “John is alive? Where? How?”

  Now it was her turn to pile on the bullshit and see if he bought it. “Long story short, he was hurt, got bit by a wolf he was hunting. He killed it but wandered off in a daze, half out of his mind with fever.”

  “He was gone for two months.”

  “Trust me, I noticed.”

  “A bite, huh? Somebody had to have been taking care of him. No way he could have lasted that long on his own.”

  Ro smiled grimly. “He got lucky. One of those weird survivalist types found him. Didn’t trust calling the cops or taking him to a hospital, but he did what he could to treat him. Dad must’ve said something to him about me because the guy reached out, told me what happened, and brought me to his place.” She hoped if she kept close enough to the truth, but in a vague sort of way, it would prevent her from getting tripped up in her lies.

  “And you knew how to treat him?”

  “Dad told me,” she lied. “Good thing, too, because he nearly died. His heart stopped, but we were able to get him back.”

  “Did this guy suspect how he got the bite?”

  “Doubt it. He thought it was from a big dog. I didn’t argue the point.”

  Kane didn’t say anything, just studied her over the rim of his coffee mug. She allowed herself a small smile. “I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to be back in the city. That place he was keeping Dad in was a dump.”

  “Oh yeah? Where was that?”

  “Somewhere in the middle of West Bumblefuck. Off the grid, but I could probably find it again if I needed to.” She sipped her espresso and could almost picture the caffeine rushing through her veins. Heaven. “All right, this has been fun, but unless you’ve got something else for me, I really should get back. Dad’s resting now but I don’t want to leave him alone too long.”

  “Is that where you were last night? Watching over him?”

  She heard the tone in his voice, knew he was trying to bait her. “And miss a hunt? Sick as he was, Dad would kick my ass if he thought I pussied out on a full moon. He was stable and, well, we have a job to do, or were you too busy rooting through my underwear drawer to remember?” She drained the rest of her espresso and began to stand, hoping
he’d get the hint and let things lie.

  He grabbed her arm before she could walk off. It was a move that both surprised her and caused her to feel a tingle of something she hadn’t felt with a human in a long time: fear. He stared into her eyes for a long second, but when he finally spoke, his voice was cool as a cucumber. “The whelps in the park. I assume those were yours.”

  “Who else?”

  “And you just left your Dad alone?”

  “That guy, Coop, had taken care of him for almost two months on his own. He didn’t seem to mind doing it for one more night.”

  “So his name’s Coop?” There was a malicious undertone to the statement, one which caused a chill down Ro’s spine.

  “Yeah. No idea if it was his real name or not. I didn’t pry.” She hated telling Kane any bit of the truth but knew that if she played it too dumb, he’d catch on. She just had to hope that she’d fed him enough misinformation to keep him off balance. She had little doubt Kane would have already run any prints he’d found at her place, so dropping Coop’s name wasn’t much of a risk. It was the rest she was worried about.

  “And you trusted this guy?”

  “He saved my father’s life, took care of him. That’s all I needed to know. He didn’t try anything, if that’s what you’re worried about and, even if he did, I can take care of myself.” She snatched her arm away. “Now, if you’re done giving me the third degree, Detective, I’m going home.”

  “Maybe I’ll stop by in a couple days when John’s feeling a little better.”

  “Go ahead. I’m sure he’d love to see you, ask if you’ve bagged any whelps lately,” she answered frostily, laying the dig in. “But this time make it a point to knock first.” She reached into her wallet, dropped a ten dollar bill on the table, and left before he could say anything further.

  24

  “Sit down before I have my boys smear your ass across 6th Avenue.”

  “Nice to see you too, Strike,” Dean said, two goons flanking him as if he was somehow a threat to anyone in this place.