Rick

by Dana Archer

“Perfect.” One hand on his thigh, Uri leans over the side of the drainage ditch. “We should look at suspects who own a truck first.”

  I laugh, despite having just been thrown from the bed of a truck by my partner. “Next game we play, I make the first move.”

  Uri snorts. “Fair enough.”

  I push to my feet and brush off the snow and dirt from my rear. “Now that you’ve had your fun, let’s split our efforts. I’ll head to the Jager alpha’s house to talk to Noah and Ethan. You follow up with the coroner. Then we’ll meet up at the Black Widow later to compare notes.”

  Hopefully, my waitress will be working. I never found out her name. I should know it before I ride her hard tonight.

  Four

  Mya

  With the girls safely in Sara’s care, I can focus on my problems. I need money. No way am I going to let Todd turn me into a prostitute. It’s bad enough I have to sleep with him.

  My conviction sounds solid in my head. In reality, I don’t know how I’m going to avoid becoming a whore. I live paycheck to paycheck. If Todd had given me some kind of warning, I could’ve begged for extra hours at work or cut back on groceries or putting gas in the van or something. Todd’s ultimatum took my options away.

  Well, maybe not all of them. I just hate the one I’m stuck with.

  I look out the windshield of my van at the Black Widow. Without any landscaping, the brand-new building has an unfinished feel to it. At least Josh, my boss and the owner of the bar, got the construction guys to install the new sign before we officially reopened after the fire this past summer. From what I heard, Josh took a big hit financially in order to get this place rebuilt so fast. Something about insurance and arson. I never asked. It’s none of my business.

  Maybe I should’ve. If I knew Josh had gotten things squared away with the insurance company, I wouldn’t feel so bad about hitting him up for an advance on my paycheck. ’Cause even if he didn’t, he’ll make sure I get the money I need. That’s what makes this worse. I know Josh won’t tell me no.

  I press a hand to my still-flat belly. Nausea is making it churn. I can’t tell whether the babies or the guilt over taking advantage of a friendship is making my gut twist up. I guess it doesn’t much matter. This is my life. I’ve got to deal with it.

  Blowing out a slow breath, I climb from the van. The cool, crisp morning breeze hits my face, tossing my hair around me. I tuck the strands behind my ears and make my way to the employee entrance and open the door.

  The low beat of rock music spills out, along with the familiar scents of bar food and alcohol. Smells like home. I hurry to the kitchen, then pop my head into his office. No Josh. He’s probably at the bar, checking to make sure everything’s perfect before the happy hour crowd shows up. Hopefully, he’s alone.

  With my purse stashed in my locker, I head into the bar. The sooner I get this over with, the better. Working on a Friday night is going to be tough enough with my belly rolling. I don’t need to stress over finding time to beg Josh for an advance without my coworkers overhearing my business.

  A quick scan of the main room doesn’t reveal the black-haired, blue-eyed human I consider the alpha of my substitute mismatched pack. Ilan, one of the bouncers and another wolf shifter, catches my gaze, however. He waves me over to where he’s standing behind the bar.

  Oh geez. I tense. Can he tell I’m stressed just by looking at me? Wouldn’t surprise me. He’s a Royal. His direct lineage to the goddesses gives him an advantage over regular shifters like me. And it’s not as if I can avoid him. That would be rude, especially with him acting as if he wants to talk to me. I’m not like that. He’d know for sure something was bothering me.

  Steeling my spine, I head toward the centuries-old shifter who could easily pass as a linebacker. Or a felon, maybe. Despite his model-worthy looks, Ilan carries a dangerous vibe that makes even the humans nervous. Just his presence is enough to keep the real troublemakers from setting foot in this bar. My wolf sees beyond Ilan’s deadly aura. Ilan’s trustworthy, at least to those he considers friends. Luckily, I’m one of them.

  “Hey.” I force a small grin. “Have you seen Josh?”

  “He’s at his old apartment out back. Someone’s coming over tonight, looking to rent it.” Ilan’s deep voice carries a permanent growl to it from spending too much time in his wolves’ forms.

  There’re no humans at the bar, but I glance over my shoulder to make sure nobody’s close enough to overhear me. The nearest people look engrossed in their own conversation. I drop my elbows to the bar and lean close to Ilan. Better safe than sorry.

  “One of us?” Ilan will know I mean shifters. Our kind is used to using vagueness when we talk to each other.

  “Don’t know. The way Josh made it sound, it’s temporary. Sort of an emergency situation. He’s helping out a friend.”

  My curiosity spikes. I want more information. It’s always best to know who’s around to judge me. “You’ll let me know the details, right?”

  The skin around Ilan’s plain brown eyes crinkle with his grin. He taps a single finger against my nose, making me smile. “Of course, little sister.”

  I’m not Ilan’s sister, but he looks out for me as if I was his. Since I don’t have a brother, or living parents for that matter, it’s nice to have him watch my back. Too bad he wasn’t around six years ago to save me from Todd. “I’ll head out there. I want to try to catch him before it gets too busy.”

  Ilan’s brows pull together. His mouth tightens. “Why? Something wrong?”

  “Nah.” Warmed by his concern, I squeeze Ilan’s hand. “Just have to ask him something.”

  “Okay. You let me know if you need anything.”

  “I will.” I step away from the bar.

  “Wait.”

  At Ilan’s barked command, I glance over my shoulder. Ilan pulls an envelope from under the bar. My name is scribbled on the front. He holds it out. “This was left for you last night.”

  “What is it?” If it’s some guy’s number, Ilan can throw it out. I don’t date. My life’s messed up enough as it is.

  “Feels like money.”

  “Oh.” It’s not unusual for me to get a few extra bucks here and there. I try to take the time to talk to those customers who look like they need someone. People remember kindness.

  I open the envelope and suck in a sharp breath. A few coins fall out of the envelope and roll across the floor. I don’t pick them up. I’m too shocked to move. Using my thumb, I fan the bills. “There’s over four hundred dollars in here!”

  Ilan chuckles. “Nice tip.”

  Fumbling with the cash, I lay the money on the bar and shake the open envelope, looking for the phone number with its indecent proposition on it. ’Cause there’s got to be one. People might remember kindness, but it’s not worth that much money. “There’s nothing here.”

  “You mean a note from who left it?”

  I jerk my gaze to Josh, who’s stepped next to Ilan on the other side of the bar. I didn’t hear him approach. He must be learning a thing or two about sneakiness from his soul-bonded feline shifter mate. “Yeah. Do you know who did?”

  Josh sets the coins I’d dropped on top of the bills. “Rick Lyall. He’s a new SA agent assigned to this area.”

  I know that acronym. SA stands for Shifter Affairs, or Specialized Affairs for the humans. I’ve met a few agents over the years. They seemed nice enough, but distant and sometimes a bit standoffish. Why would this one give me money? “Never heard of him.”

  “You served him last night,” Ilan offers.

  The blue-eyed drunk’s image—tattoos, scars, muscles, and all—flashes across my mind. He’s definitely built like an agent. He had a dangerous vibe that drew me too. But… My pulse quickens. I lick my suddenly dry lips. No, this SA agent can’t be him. My drunk didn’t look sane enough to be handling a gun. “Did he say why?”

  “He said it’s a thank-you for saving him.”

  My words to my tattooed drunk repeat in my
head. It is him. Great. The one time I decide to flirt with a customer and he goes and does this. Makes me wonder what kind of guy I might’ve ended up with if I’d gotten the chance to date after maturing. Didn’t happen. I decided to go for a walk with a stranger. Now, I’m nothing but a vessel for his babies.

  I shove the money back in the envelope. As much as I want to keep it, I can’t lead this agent on. There are plenty of real women out there he can give this money to. “I can’t accept this. Tell him—”

  Ilan presses a finger to my lips. “I saw how happy you were when you opened that envelope. You need that money, don’t you?”

  “I…uh…” Darn it. I don’t want to lie. “I could always use money. The girls are in a growth spurt.” Which is true. It’s not as if Todd buys them clothes either.

  Ilan hands the envelope back to me. “Then keep it. If Rick gives you a hard time, you let me know. I’ll make him regret it.”

  Of that I have no doubt. I smile. “Thanks, Ilan.”

  “Glad that’s settled.” Ilan reaches over the bar and hugs me. He rubs his cheek against mine, leaving his scent on me, a temporary claim that’ll wash off with my next shower. Probably to let Rick know I’m under Ilan’s protection. It’s not the first time Ilan has done that. Usually, though, it’s when he knows Todd is the one giving me a hard time.

  The moment Ilan leaves, I tuck my extravagant tip into my jeans pocket. I’m still not sure I feel right keeping Rick’s tip, but it is the answer to my problem. This time. Hopefully, Todd doesn’t make a habit of hitting me up for money. I can’t count on strangers who obviously have more money than they know what to do with to bail me out.

  “What did you want to talk about, Mya?”

  I flick my gaze to Josh. “Um…I didn’t say I wanted to talk.” At least to him. I won’t be bringing up the subject either, not with Rick’s tip in my pocket.

  “I heard you asking Ilan where I was at. You wanted to talk to me.”

  How did he overhear us? Josh wasn’t in the bar. I checked. Then again, he did sneak up on me before.

  “Mya?” Josh lowers his voice. “Would you rather talk in private?”

  I look around me. There’s still nobody near. I face Josh. “It’s not important. I’m good now.”

  “Because you have some extra cash you hadn’t expected to get.”

  Unsure where Josh is going with this, I take a step back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Josh stares at me as if he can read my thoughts. Which is impossible. Only soul-bonded mates can share thoughts. If Todd ever got it in his head to try to take a piece of my soul, tying our souls together for all time, I’d kill him. Or myself. I wouldn’t care which one of us dies as long as I stop him from soul-bonding to me. Talk about eternal damnation. Bad enough I’m stuck as his breeding partner in this lifetime. At least now I have hope that in another lifetime I won’t be so naïve and stupid to put myself in a predator’s hands.

  “Come on.” Josh tips his chin toward the kitchen. “Let’s head back to the office.”

  He walks away. I have no choice but to go with Josh. He’s my boss. I can’t ignore him. I follow him into his office. He shuts the door.

  “I saw your face when you opened that envelope too, Mya. You looked as if you’d found the answer to your problems.” There’s a demand in Josh’s eyes. He wants the truth. “What does Todd need money for?”

  I probably look like a deer in headlights. Or a teenager caught sneaking out. Still, I can’t wipe the shocked look off my face. “How do you know Todd asked me for money?”

  “I didn’t. I guessed. He was here the other night looking for you. Wanted to know why you weren’t working. Said you should be working seven days a week. Before I could tell him we’re only open for six, he stormed out. Since he’s never come here looking for you, it struck me as odd. Same as how you reacted today seeing Rick’s tip. I put two and two together.”

  “I don’t know why he needs money.” I take one of the seats in front of Josh’s desk. If I’m going to get grilled or lectured, I might as well sit. I’ll be on my feet all night. “When I asked, he ignored me. Said I just needed to get it to him or…” I shake my head. I can’t say more. As protective as Josh is, he’d likely confront Todd. That can’t happen. Josh is only human. Doesn’t matter if he’s mated to a shifter. He can still die.

  “Or what?”

  “Let it go. It’s between me and Todd.”

  “Did he hurt you?” Josh stares at me. The demand I answer truthfully is there in his eyes.

  I look away. The red mark on my neck might be gone, but I still remember Todd’s fingers around my throat. “Seriously. Let it go. Todd is my breeding partner. He has mating law on his side. Short of killing me, he can do anything he wants to me. End of story.”

  Josh’s heavy sigh makes me flinch. “Shifter Affairs can help you.”

  “No, they can’t. A breeding partner is still a mate in the eyes of the law, and mating law dictates how Todd can treat me and any offspring we have.”

  “Yes, Shifter Affairs can help you. Legally, Todd committed a crime by mating you the night before you matured. Shifter Affairs can use that to get you and the girls into protective custody.”

  Josh knows all the ugly details of how I became Todd’s incubator. Josh grilled me for them a couple of weeks ago. This information is new. When I’d spilled the truth, Josh hugged me. No words of comfort. No hope. Just the silent support of a friend.

  “Protective custody?” What exactly does that mean for shifters? Can I deny him when he comes sniffing around on the full moon?

  “It’s similar to what witnesses in high-profile crimes receive. You’re given new identities and enough money to buy a car, clothes, furniture. They’ll help you find a job and a place to live. That sort of thing. It’s really a new lease on life.”

  Excitement thrums through me. That’s what I’ve dreamed about for years: another chance. Without Todd. In my next breath, reality sets in. My shoulders droop. “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can. It’s not complicated. I know several agents who would be happy to help you through the process. They’d check on you to make sure you’re doing okay. Move you again if you’re not.”

  “I’m sure they would. It’s not that.” How do I explain this? “I can’t just pick up and leave. This is my home. I have one more semester in college. The girls just started preschool.” And I’m pregnant again. With twins.

  How am I supposed to give birth in a town where I don’t know anybody? Who would watch Peyton and Rey while I’m in labor? And who will help me? I know firsthand how hard taking care of newborn twins can be. It’ll be a hundred times harder with two busy kindergarteners underfoot.

  Most of all, who would save me from Todd?

  He’d call his uncle Wyatt, and they’d put a price tag on my head. Every bounty hunter and shifter in need of some quick cash would be looking for me. Todd might hate me, but I’m his only chance to rebuild his family’s name. Without the sons I might someday conceive, the Silverman name will die out. The drive among shifter males to carry on their name is incredibly strong.

  Todd would scour the world looking for me. Or maybe it’d be Wyatt who’d lead the search. Either way, they’d find me. And once they got their hands on me… Ugh, I don’t want to think about it.

  With my arms wrapped around my chest, I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed and more trapped than ever. “Besides, you’re paying for me to get my associate’s in business so I can take on more responsibilities here. If I leave, I’d have to pay you back.”

  “You don’t have to pay me back. As long as I know you’re happy and safe, that’s good enough for me.”

  I rub at my eyes. Dang it. Josh means well. He really does, but he doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a female in a male-dominated shifter world. To be told you’re worthless and know it’s the truth. “I—”

  “Think about it, okay? Just think about it.” Josh squeezes my upper arm in a
reassuring gesture. “And if you need help, you call me. Or Ilan. Or the generic Shifter Affairs number. Call somebody. You don’t have to deal with Todd alone.”

  “Yeah, okay. If I need help, I’ll call.” If it gets that bad, it’ll be the last call I make before I take my life. Someone will need to love my girls and the babies I’m carrying when I’m gone. Josh would do that for me. I know he would.

  Five

  Mya

  Once the happy hour crowd hit, the music got turned up and the bar started hopping. Friday is our second busiest night. People stop in after work to eat, drink, and unwind from their busy weeks. Usually, I don’t mind the demanding customers. Tonight, I’m having a hard time keeping everyone happy. The conversation I had with Josh is repeating in my head, distracting me from my job.

  Part of me wants to call Shifter Affairs. I know I can’t, but the what-ifs and the maybes of a new life are tempting. I can’t help wondering if the girls would love their new home. Or if I would meet the kind of friends I was lucky enough to find here at the Black Widow. Even though I’m grateful for this job, maybe I’d have better paying opportunities elsewhere. Maybe I’d even feel comfortable enough dating.

  Yearning settles over me. I’d love to go to the movies with a guy. Or sit and talk about everything and nothing. Maybe laugh and cuddle.

  Make wild passionate love.

  Biting my lip and hoping the naughty thought doesn’t show on my face, I snatch a tray and head to the rear section of the bar to clear off some tables. There are too many shifter customers here tonight. If one of them gets too close to me while my mind is drifting to sex, they’ll smell my arousal. I don’t want Todd finding out I was all hot and bothered. He’s convinced I’m cold and boring. For my own sanity, I want him to continue believing those things.

  But, if I didn’t have Todd in my life, I could explore my sexuality. Find out what I like in bed. I could be free to pleasure my lover, then fall asleep in his arms. Wake up to slow and gentle sex.