Bear Claw

by Crissy Smith

  “I’m glad you trusted him.”

  “He’s pretty scary but once we were alone he said if I didn’t want to be there he could help. At first, I thought it was a trap. I mean, he’s all gung-ho and into that stuff. But he said no one should be forced.”

  So Zak’s cover was still in good shape. That was a relief. “Did you tell anyone?”

  “No way, they would have killed me.”

  “Right. Okay, we’ll be at the office soon. We’re going to need your help to stop them. It’s not going to be fun. I won’t lie to you.”

  “This isn’t what I signed up for. I thought it was a group of shifters to support one another. It wasn’t until I left college that I found out what they were really about. Boy, am I stupid or what?”

  “Nah, it could have happened to anyone. How long did they try to get you in prior to you going with them?”

  “Three months. I went to like six meetings and it seemed so cool.”

  “Why did you have to leave school?”

  “They said it wasn’t safe. That the humans were going to round up all the shifters and put them in camps. I was scared.”

  Jamie could imagine how the young man had been truly afraid. Whoever was in charge knew what they were doing, using scare tactics on the young and impressionable.

  Pulling into the parking garage of the Coalition, Jamie knew he would need additional assistance. He had one of the smallest teams at only four members, and with his people taking shifts watching for Victor, Ray and Christy were out. That left him only one member available.

  After he’d parked, he pulled out his phone and texted Cody. Hopefully he and his men were back and would be able to lend a hand.

  “Come on. Let’s get you a cold drink.”

  “That’d be good. Thanks.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Jamie jumped out of his truck and waited for Victor. He wasn’t worried about the kid now that he had him away from the industrial district but it paid to be vigilant.

  At the front entrance, Jamie saw the young man’s eyes widen. Since he’d had the same reaction the first time he’d seen the impressive structure, he chuckled, slapping Victor on the back. “Let’s go.”

  They took the elevator to the conference floor where Jamie suspected Victor would be more comfortable. Once the doors opened, he found Cody and Ryder Evans waiting for them.

  “Cody. Ryder.” Jamie shook their hands. “This is Victor Douglas.”

  “How you doing, man?” Ryder stepped up to Victor and clamped his hand on his shoulder. Ryder’s easy way with victims and witnesses was one of his best attributes.

  “I’m okay, I think, I mean…”

  “Hey, it’s okay. Let’s go take a seat and let you catch your breath. You want a Coke or something.”

  “Water—if you have a cold water that’d be great.”

  “Coming right up.”

  Jamie let Ryder take Victor inside the small room. He hung back with Cody.

  “How’d you get him?” Cody asked.

  “Zak.”

  They both chuckled. It was really all that needed to be said. Zak was magic. He could slide in and out of places and make things happen like no one else could.

  “He sent the kid to get him cigarettes, telling him I was close by. I followed him to the store and got my chance. He was desperate to come with me. Said they were going to send him on a mission tonight.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I was hoping you guys could help.”

  “Sure,” Cody easily agreed. “We got your back.”

  “Thanks, man.” Jamie slapped Cody’s shoulder and strode into the comfortable space they used for visitors.

  Victor sat in one of the large chairs. He had a bottle of water cradled between his hands while he looked down at his lap. Jamie’s heart went out to him. So young to have made such a mistake when all he’d really wanted was acceptance.

  “How’re you holding up?” Jamie crouched in front of him.

  “Okay, I can’t believe I’m finally out, you know. I keep waiting for one of them to walk up behind me, laughing.”

  “You’re safe here. We’re not going to let anyone get to you.”

  Victor snorted. “I know that in my head. It’s the rest of me that hasn’t gotten the message. I can’t stop shaking.”

  “You’ll calm down. Give it time.”

  “Did I thank you for saving me?”

  “You did and you’re welcome.”

  The small amount of normal conversation had Victor relaxing whether he realized it or not. His hands had stopped trembling and the color had returned to his face.

  “You said that they wanted you to perform a mission tonight. Do you know what it was?”

  “Yeah, yeah. They wanted me to break into someone’s house.”

  “Do you know the address?”

  “No.”

  Damn, that would have been helpful. Jamie glanced over his shoulder as he sensed someone coming up behind him.

  Ryder approached holding two coffee mugs. Jamie stood and accepted one of the cups. Moving to sit beside Victor in one of the other chairs, he blew on the liquid.

  “I know his name, though.”

  “What?”

  “The guy’s place that I was supposed to break into. I know his name. Drew Bridges. He’s one of the organizers of the opposition to the shifter registration. He has a list that they want.”

  “He was the speaker at the meeting the other night,” Cody reminded him.

  “We need to get to him without anyone realizing it,” Jamie said.

  “I’m on it.”

  Cody and Ryder left the room quickly.

  Jamie grinned over at Victor. “You hungry?”

  * * * *

  Brandy hadn’t been surprised to hear her cell phone had started ringing during the protest. Instead of dealing with all the drama, she’d turned her phone off. She’d accepted a lunch invitation with Chris and Drew and had had a good time with them.

  She still hadn’t turned on her phone, so she had no warning when she pulled into her drive and two vehicles followed right behind, blocking her in.

  She could ram both the expensive cars. She giggled as that thought passed through her mind. In the end, though, she knew it wouldn’t be worth it.

  As she turned off the engine, someone yanked open her door. William leaned down, his face red with anger.

  “Hello, brother,” she said coolly.

  He tried pulling her out, but she was still buckled in.

  “Will! Will! Let me handle this.”

  Once the seatbelt had released, her brother stepped back. Colby immediately took his place.

  “I have to give you credit, Brandy. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  She shrugged.

  “Would you please get out of the car before your brother has a stroke or strangles you with your seatbelt?”

  “Well, since you asked so nicely.” She pushed him away. After grabbing her bag from the passenger floorboard, she exited the vehicle then closed the door lightly.

  “So what do I owe for this honor? I mean, to come all the way out here, uninvited to my house? It must be something special.”

  “I warned you,” William shouted.

  “Hey!” Colby grabbed her brother’s arm. “Let’s take this somewhere private. We don’t want her neighbors to call the cops.”

  “Fine.” William pushed away from Colby then stomped up the walkway.

  “Sure, come on in,” Brandy muttered.

  “You might as well let him yell at you and get it out of his system,” Colby told her.

  “Why aren’t you yelling?”

  Colby grinned. “I have to admit that you impressed me. I really thought you’d give in to your family. I respect that.”

  Surprised by Colby’s change of heart, she waved him forward.

  “That doesn’t mean I’ll stop trying to win you, though. But at least it will be because I’m actually intere
sted now.”

  Great, just what she needed. “Zero chance, Colby.”

  He followed as she dug her keys out of her bag.

  “I enjoy a challenge,” he added.

  William paced in front of her door. She shouldered him out of the way, wishing she could slam the door in both their faces. Instead, she slipped the key into its hole, unlocking and entering her home with them on her heels.

  Her brother was at her back as she dropped her bag and made her way to the kitchen. She went immediately to the coffee pot and started to fill the carafe with water.

  “Mom is pissed,” William told her.

  “She’ll get over it, and so will Dad—and you.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  She turned around, surprised that his voice had softened and it actually sounded like he wanted an answer.

  “I tried to tell you the other night. Are you ready to listen now?”

  As though he had grown suddenly tired, William sagged his shoulders and sat on one of the stools.

  “I’m not doing this to hurt you,” she answered. “I didn’t know you were involved until Mom told me. I believe the shifters deserve the same rights as everyone else. They didn’t have to come out at all. And this is how we treat them?”

  “Is this because of your boyfriend? Do you even know anything about him? I suppose you think because you’re interested in a guy that you can turn your back on your family?”

  Keeping a handle on her anger, she realized that William truly believed what he’d said.

  “I thought this way before I got involved with Jamie.”

  He didn’t look convinced.

  “You have to stop seeing shifters as non-human. Two years ago, you didn’t know the difference and now all of a sudden you do. I heard your firm fired all shifters that came out.”

  “Well…yes.”

  “Why? Did their work change?”

  “No, but that’s not the point.”

  “It really is, William.” Brandy glanced over at Colby, who leaned against the kitchen doorway. He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Okay, no help from him. “All of a sudden guys who have been your friends for years no longer are?”

  He looked down.

  “The shifters didn’t change. We did.”

  “That’s not what we were talking about.”

  “But it is. You want me to do the same thing your firm did. Cast out all the shifters and make them feel like they’re not as good as the rest of us?”

  “You’ve always been soft.” William stood.

  Brandy had really hoped that her brother was starting to come around. She’d felt like they were finally connecting.

  “I need you to think about what you’re doing. It’s not too late, William.”

  “Try to stay out of the headlines. There is already one crazy Brooks. We don’t need another one.”

  “Have you wondered why you and Chris never got along?” she asked him. He’d already decided that they were wrong so she was going to go all in the one time he was actually listening.

  “No,” he said flatly.

  “I always thought you were jealous of him.”

  “That’s stupid.”

  “Chris does whatever he wants. He doesn’t let what other people think about him decide how he should act. Instead of doing what is expected of him, he goes his own way.”

  “Chris needs to grow up and so do you,” William said as he spun on his heel.

  Colby waited until he was out of the kitchen before taking a step forward. “That was a nice speech. Total bullshit, but the part about Chris was a nice touch.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re not going to change people’s minds. They believe what they believe.”

  “Just get out,” she told him, exhausted with the entire conversation.

  “Sure, I’ll tell your mom maybe for brunch Sunday.”

  “I’m not going, with or without you,” she told him.

  “We’ll see.”

  She waited to move from her spot until she heard the front door close and they were gone. Sitting in the place where William had been, she grimaced, her heart aching for the relationship she would never have with her brother. She didn’t understand why everything had to be so difficult and strained between them. And she had no clue how to fix the mess her life always seemed to be with her entire family. Maybe she needed a vacation, a few days away from everything to reboot her mind and calm her nerves. Maybe she could talk Jamie into going with her.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Spending the day before and all morning noting the details of information Victor gave them kept Jamie, Cody and Ryder busy. Since he didn’t have anywhere to stash Victor, he’d taken him back to his apartment, so Jamie hadn’t even been able to see Brandy the previous night.

  It wasn’t unusual for him to work weekends. He’d hoped to stop by the library to see the kids’ reading circle Brandy was sponsoring. One glance at his watch told him that wasn’t going to happen.

  He would be seeing her later. Aubrey had texted the details of Cody’s birthday party and he had called Brandy. It was his job to get Cody to the venue but Brandy had promised to meet him there.

  Both excited and nervous, Jaime couldn’t wait to spend time with Brandy. The quick greeting at the library for the meeting hadn’t given Brandy much time to talk with his friends. Tonight would be different.

  His friends were the only family that he had. Cody and Zak, and now Aubrey, were the people he cared about the most. It was so important that Brandy got along with them.

  Since Zak wouldn’t be able to attend, he only had to worry about Cody and Aubrey. With the party for Cody, he would probably be distracted.

  So he felt good that Brandy would get a nice introduction to his friends and not be overwhelmed.

  “I think we have pretty much everything we’re going to get out of Victor,” he told Cody.

  Ryder had taken the kid out to lunch to let him get away for a few minutes. They were working in Jamie’s team’s room this afternoon.

  “I agree.”

  A loud knock sounded at the door.

  Commander Green opened the door and walked in, his presence urging both Jamie and Cody to rise from their seats. Their boss was a powerful shifter who oversaw all of the divisions. It wasn’t always easy for different species to follow one another—too many Alpha type personalities. But their commander was a good man and Jamie had never had an issue working for him.

  “Hey, boss,” Cody greeted.

  “Gentlemen, I received your updated reports. How much more do you have?”

  “I think we’re about done. I’ll have the final notes turned into today,” Jamie informed him.

  “So we’re done with Mr Douglas?”

  “He’s been very helpful,” Jamie said. He was worried about where Victor would go once they didn’t need him anymore.

  “I understand. It can’t be easy on him. The information he has provided will be very valuable and will help Zak greatly.”

  “About that,” Jamie said. “We can’t send Victor back to college and he doesn’t really have a place to go. Until Zak wraps up his case, Victor will still be in danger.”

  Commander Green smiled. “I know. I have no intention of kicking him out. What kind of organization would we be if we don’t help those who truly need us?”

  Relief flooded Jamie.

  “I actually have an idea about Victor. It would mean relocating for a little while but I’ve spoken to my counterpoint in Colorado and we think we have some work he can help with.”

  “That’s great,” Jamie exclaimed.

  “Send him up to my assistant when you’re done and we’ll get him all settled.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “You did good work getting him out. I hope we will be able to save more young men and women before they get in too deep,” Commander Green stated.

  “Me too.”

  “I know you want to stay
on this case but we don’t really have the grounds now that we have retrieved Victor.”

  “I understand.” He did understand, even if he didn’t like it.

  “But we still need to finish going through the rest of the dated missing person cases. Since you don’t have any active cases, make that a priority for your team. Let’s see if we can find more of these kids.”

  Jamie liked the sound of that. Since he’d left the Phoenix PD he hadn’t worked missing persons but he did enjoy reuniting people with their loved ones. He knew it was probably because he had always felt so alone. However, he tried not to think about it. He was good at his job, which was enough.

  After his boss had left, Jamie glanced at Cody. “Let’s finish this paperwork. I think we deserve to go out for a drink.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Jamie bent back over his laptop while Cody shuffled around the papers that they needed. Well, that had been easy.

  * * * *

  Brandy was more than a little nervous. After pulling up to the bar where Jamie’s best friend’s surprise birthday party was being held, she sat in her vehicle for a few minutes.

  When she’d spoken with Jamie earlier, he had been so sweet inviting her to meet him that there was no way she could have said no.

  Despite her uncertainties, she wanted to get to know the people closest to Jamie. Ever since he’d first starting coming to the library, he’d talked about Cody and Zak. And he’d spoken a lot about how Cody had gotten back together with his ex-girlfriend Aubrey. Brandy could tell by Jamie’s face and the tone of his voice that he had been happy for both his friends.

  She felt like she knew these people through Jamie’s stories, so it was a strange feeling to realize that she didn’t really know them yet.

  Here was her chance.

  Opening the car door, she grabbed her bag then headed for the bar’s front door. A dozen vehicles sat in the parking lot. Brandy wasn’t sure if their drivers were there for the party.

  As she entered the building, the smell of cigarette smoke and beer washed over her. Not entirely unpleasant, but she wondered how Jamie could stand it. Wasn’t one of the most well-known aspects of being a shifter their superior sense of smell? She would have to ask him about that.