After an hour of making sure my untraceable bracelet was truly un-freaking-traceable, I manually typed in a number dug up from the deep underground. It would be the middle of the night in New City, but this couldn’t wait. I held my breath as I tapped Call.
A groggy, sleepy voice growled, “Who the fuck is this?”
My encryptions must be working so far.
I licked my dry lips, and responded with a question of my own, “Is this Wolfe Cooper?”
“It is. Now, answer my question.”
“I’m Noelle Harvey.”
The quietest of pauses. Except I could hear him rustling around on his bed. Probably grabbing a computer board to start hacking into my program. I’d definitely caught his attention. “Hello, Noelle. We’ve been looking for you today.”
“I imagine you have.” I chewed on my thumbnail and attempted to keep my voice even. “I have questions.”
Wolfe grunted. “I’m not answering.”
I needed to explain. “I already know about shifters and mates, and the rules for how each of you can die. I know you’re a wolf shifter. I have video proof of you shifting into your form. That’s not what I have questions about.” The tapping of keys flying over a computer board—nailed it—were all that I could hear, not even his breathing. “I have questions about Joshua Striker.”
The tapping came to an abrupt halt. “Did you say Joshua Striker?”
“Yes. I want to know what kind of man you think he is. What type of grudges he may have against your kind. What he’s capable of. What he likes to eat. I want to know it all. Every. Damn. Thing.”
The tapping started again, as fast as ever. He wasn’t holding back on his own attack. His voice was calm, though, as he asked, “I take it Joshua Striker is the individual who gave you your information?”
“Correct.”
“Do you have a way to contact him?”
“No. I had a bank account number, but I’ve already checked it. The number was a dead end.”
He stated evenly, “Give it to me anyway.”
“Look, I’m excellent at what I do. I said it’s a no-go. It’ll be a waste of your time.” I snorted in exasperation.
He repeated my words right back to me, except with a not so humble twist. “Look, I’m excellent at what I do. In fact, I am the best. Better than you. Better than any of your friends. Better than any future children yet to be born. If there is anything to find, I will find it.”
“While a man with a solid ego is attractive, I’m not buying your bullshit.”
My bracelet flashed at me.
I flipped my gaze down to it. And stared in shock.
A choke erupted from my throat.
He was through my first firewall already. That had taken me fifteen minutes to create while he’d taken it down in only two. I had two firewalls left. The man was unraveling all my encryptions like they were the delicate threads of a silk scarf.
“Believe me now?” he grumbled.
“Fine.” I rattled off the number to him. “Answer my questions now.”
“I’ll give you advice, instead. If Joshua Striker came to you, then he’s using you as a pawn. He only thinks about himself, and he plays deadly games with everyone he takes an interest in. He is like—”
“The devil?” I cut into his lecture. “I already know that. I need information. Why would he target your kind?”
Wolfe paused for a long moment, his fingers still tapping away on his computer board. His sigh was heavy over the speaker. “Noelle, I can’t answer your question. Not with what you do for a living and already targeting my friends.”
“Then you look like the guilty one.”
“I don’t really care what you think of me. But I do want you to stop for a second and really contemplate what posting any further articles about my friends might do to the people of the world. Would it cause another war to start—just when the planet and her people are finally getting back on their feet? How many lives would end for your quest? How—”
I cut him off again, muttering, “Um, stop. I’ve heard you, and I’ll think about what you said.” I nibbled on my thumbnail again. “But that part about lives ending? I have something I need to tell you, as your friends might currently need your help.”
The typing didn’t stop, but his tone hardened. The wolf shifter had a seriously sexy voice, even when he was getting riled up. “What are you talking about?”
“Theron, Poppy, and Cassander.” My bracelet alerted me again, another firewall down, only one more left before I was found. I spoke quickly…and tried not to cry, “They found me, and so did Joshua. There was a fight.”
The keystrokes stopped fast. “Keep going.”
I couldn’t help my small sniffle, the day just too damn much. “Theron accidentally shot Cassander.”
Heavy breathing. More like a hard pant.
I gentled my words. This man had clearly been great friends with the seer. “I’m sorry, but Cassander didn’t make it. He’s dead.” I gulped down a lungful of oxygen and unburdened my soul. “Joshua ran after that. He was pleased with the outcome—for some reason—and I have no idea where he’s at right now. I had to get out of there, too, so I shot Theron and Poppy while they were distracted by Cassander. They’re probably done regenerating by now, but they’ll be grieving. They were in Port on King Western Province the last I saw them.”
No response. No sound at all.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered again.
I tapped my bracelet, ending the call.
And any further work Wolfe could do to find me.
I wouldn’t die after all I had been through.
I was a survivor.
The call with Wolfe had confirmed my suspicions, though. I didn’t need to travel to King Eastern Province. I swung my legs over the bed and walked to the main panel. I typed in my new destination with no hesitation.
I was going back to New City.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The flickering lights of the dingy bar and grill—fringes of New City—didn’t bother my eyes, but they bothered the drunk couple across from me. They kept flinching with every other flick of the faulty lighting, my only distraction to my horrific circumstances. I drank a beer and watched them jerk in place, while I updated my firewalls. I added three more in the past two hours since arriving in New City, my train now in a storage facility here.
My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten in a while. I flagged the lone server down and ordered a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich on rye bread, large fries, and another beer. My fingers danced on the hologram on my watch while my meal was prepared, another firewall up. I would make it so impenetrable that it would take Wolfe Cooper a year to break through—damn intelligent man.
Finally, my food arrived. I used a cleanish napkin to soak up as much grease as I could from the fries since they were practically floating in it. A dab—a shit ton—of ketchup would help them out, but there was none on the table. I sighed away my disappointment and dug into my meal like a wild creature deprived of her last meal during hibernation. I’d probably regret eating this later. I’d worry about that then.
“Is this seat taken, Ms. Harvey?” Joshua asked softly, trapping my attention on his deceiving, soft brown eyes. “I’ve come to discuss my favor. I imagine you’d like to get it out of the way.”
My appetite was instantly gone.
The devil had arrived to claim his due.
I wiped my mouth with another slightly clean napkin and flicked my right hand at the empty seat across from me. “Go ahead.”
Joshua sat down with a grace inherent to his species, smooth and fluid, water flowing down a stream. “In two days’ time—absolutely no later, that is very important—you will contact Poppy Carvene. She will need to meet you at your burned apartment. Do not tell her the truth of why she needs to meet you there. Feel free to lie. I do need to speak with her.”
How utterly kind of him to give me permission.
My brown eyes narrowed
on his. “Are you planning to kill her?” I wouldn’t invite her if he were, even though I was a woman of my word. Killing her didn’t sit well on my soul, just as Cassander’s death hadn’t, either.
“Absolutely not. She’s the trigger. I won’t harm her.” His mouth turned down at the edges in a frown—all fake. “I don’t know why you would ask me that.”
“Like you didn’t just kill a man?” I snorted.
His lips trembled in disgusting humor. “Ms. Carvene is physically safe with me, I assure you. As for my deeds at Port, I couldn’t help myself. I knew they’d come after you, so I followed. I do so adore torturing the pompous king. But the puppet master didn’t agree to my joy, and now I am feeling the repercussions.” His sigh was heavy.
I eyed his body language another moment. There was a slight hunch to his shoulders, and his hands on the table were in fists, his knuckles white he was straining so hard. I lifted a black brow in his direction. Curious, I queried, “Who’s the puppet master? Is there another species out there? One more powerful than shifters?”
The devil rolled his eyes. “There is no species more powerful than a shifter. Especially, the Ancients. They are power all on their own, most days. They have lived long enough to have evolved.”
My blink was slow. “You told me the other day that Theron is an Ancient. You bested him, getting what you wanted.”
He pointed a quick finger at me, before swiftly clenching his fist again. Yeah, he was in pain and trying to hide it. He sounded too pleased when he said, “He didn’t want to harm anyone else in the room, including you. If he had unleashed his power in those tight quarters, only he would be left standing.”
“And you still went after him?” Crazy fucker.
He tapped his right temple. “I knew I’d win.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. Whereas Wolfe Cooper’s arrogance had been almost humble in an attractive way, Joshua Striker’s arrogance made me want to vomit right in his smug face.
I questioned, “Are we done here? I’d like to get back to my meal.”
Not really. This food wasn’t fit for street rats.
Joshua stood, rising to his full height. The faulty light behind his head cast his shadow in an eerie manner across the table between us—it truly did look like what I imagined the devil would look like creeping out of a shadowed alleyway.
He bowed with a flourish. “Do not forget. In two days. She won’t want to miss meeting with me.”
A shiver crawled up my spine as his footsteps retreated from the table. I let my forehead fall forward, my hands cupping my face as I tried to calm every ounce of terror racing through my veins. More than likely, he’d been able to scent my fear, but I would always put on a brave face in front of that man. Show an ounce of weakness, and he’d gobble me up…and then grin like he had after fooling Theron into killing his remaining son.
My silver bracelet vibrated on my wrist. I peeked at the readout, confusion swamping me since I didn’t know the username trying to contact me. I tapped on the message and stared at the readout.
Hello, Mrs. Noelle Harvey.
I hope you don’t mind me messaging you through your article account. I didn’t know how else to reach you. I am Mina Kramer’s mother. My daughter is in a relationship with Finn Baker. I think you and I would have a lot to talk about. Please message me back if you wish to speak together privately sometime.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Odette Kramer
I sat up straight in extreme interest. My luck was changing for the better. Finn Baker of Baker Corporation was a shifter, along with all his buddies. If anyone knew more dirty details about the other species, it would be the mother of a mate, a mother who had been seen in pictures scowling at Finn Baker.
I quickly replied to her message, hoping she would see it soon, having just messaged me herself. I wanted to get another article out tonight if I could, though it was getting late in the evening.
My heart skipped a beat as my silver bracelet buzzed once more. A grin grew on my face, the message very motivating. She would be out of town for two weeks starting tomorrow. Mrs. Kramer could only meet tonight—in a half hour.
I swiftly responded, agreeing to her terms.
The Kramer house. Lots of new details.
I paid my small bill and ran to the nearest public transport, carting my luggage behind me and bouncing on the balls of my feet. I knew there had to be something to perk me up after this damn day. I’d finally caught a break.
* * *
I knocked on the door of Mrs. Kramer’s house, an honest, happy smile on my face when she answered. I held out my right hand, hoping I appeared halfway presentable. “Hi, Mrs. Kramer! I’m Noelle Harvey. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Mrs. Kramer shook my hand gently. “It’s lovely to meet you, as well. Won’t you come in?”
I stepped inside her foyer and gently placed my luggage by her front door. “Is Mr. Kramer home too? Will he want to speak with me?”
“My husband is out on business right now. I’m more than capable of answering any questions you may have about shifters.” She stared down her nose at me, gauging the excited grin gripping my face that the term ‘shifters’ triggered. Mrs. Kramer nodded once in satisfaction. “Good, I see you know exactly what I’m speaking about. I was afraid I’d spend most of my time explaining their rules to you.”
“Oh no, I’ve been given the lecture.” I chuckled softly.
“Let’s go in the living room then. We’ll be much more comfortable there.” The prestigious woman swayed her hips as she walked, leading our way, a walk she had perfected over many years being in the upper echelon. She took a seat on the loveseat while I sat in the center of her couch. Mrs. Kramer touched the tips of her fingers to her mouth and gently shook her head, a humored laugh slipping past her lips, her gaze directly upon mine. “You know, I hadn’t thought it would be this simple finding you. You are quite notorious. I must say, Noelle, I’m rather disappointed. Your reputation does not precede you.”
My smile slid from my face and shattered on the floor, dread beginning to itch up my throat. “Excuse me?”
Her lips twitched, an attempt to contain her mirth. “Did you really think I would allow you to harm my daughter? Because that’s exactly what would happen if your articles continued in the vein they were headed.” Both of her eyebrows rose, a pointed look of a mother protecting her young. “No one will ever harm my child.”
I really shouldn’t have eaten that food.
It churned in my stomach in the most nauseating way.
Mrs. Kramer called, “Mr. Cooper! I’ve said my piece. You may come in now.” She sniffed and then turned her attention to the doorway of the living room. “And you were right. Sometimes simple cheese is the best way to catch a greedy rat.”
“Exactly,” a deep voice responded from the foyer.
Wolfe Cooper stalked into the living room, his head lowered and his golden eyes glinting out between his shoulder length gray hair that fell around his shoulders and over part of his forehead. A growl, entirely wolf, rumbled through the air, targeted straight at me. His black designer suit didn’t hide the muscles straining underneath the material, and his lips peeled back from his teeth in a menacing snarl. And all those magnificent features that graced his face were pulled tight in silent wrath.
This was the furthest he could have looked from the technology genius the pictures always showed. The man before me was ready to tear me apart, or maybe chew me apart. I don’t think he would mind either way he did it, just as long as he got to do it.
I might as well have been a frightened rabbit. My heart thumped against my ribs so furiously it physically hurt, and my eyes were so wide they started to water. I shoved up from the couch and lifted my hands in front of me, whispering in a shaky voice, “I didn’t kill your friend! I swear. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t Theron’s fault, either! It was Joshua Striker’s!”
His profoundly pissed off voice scratched across my sanity. “Cas
sander would still be alive if you hadn’t published that first article. You set his death into motion, all because you think you know better than all others. What is right, what is wrong. You thought you knew. You didn’t. And you still don’t since you showed up here.
“Shifters could have revealed themselves when the humans had all but killed themselves off. But we knew more warfare would surely end all of you.” Wolfe took two long strides toward me, closing the space slowly, a wolf hunting his prey, playing with his prey. “So we kept our mouths shut. Like you should have.”
I backed up until my ass hit the wall and kept my hands up in defense. Not that it would help. What I really needed was my gun, but that was back in my luggage by the front door.
I countered gently, “I’m terribly sorry for your loss. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
Wolfe snorted. “That, as you said, was one of my best friends dying. Two hundred years of standing by someone’s side. Emotions your young brain can’t even fathom. And you took away the future we could have had together.” He shook his head of gray hair, the wisps flying, with one catching on the top of his straight nose. Wolfe didn’t even notice. “If Cass were just my friend, Mrs. Kramer’s lovely carpet would be drowning in your blood by now. But Cass was loved by many, and, truly, his father should get to choose your ultimate fate.”
Mrs. Kramer cleared her throat. “Thank you so much, Mr. Cooper, for restraining yourself.” A pregnant pause. “My carpet thanks you, too.”
The older woman had a dry sense of humor.
One I didn’t think about laughing at right now.
My brown eyes zoned in on a pair of golden eyes. “What do you plan to do with me?”
“I’m taking you to Theron’s house.” Cruel lips curved up into an unpleasant smile. “The Ancient can get damn creative.”
I sucked in a sharp breath and shook my head frantically. “Please don’t do this. I beg of you…”
“Too late for mercy,” Wolfe hissed.
He pounced and jerked my body around. I clawed at his right arm as he wrapped it around my throat, effectively choking me the harder he squeezed on each side of my neck. I’d watched videos about this particular offensive attack, the man’s plan to make me pass out. The wolf inside him hadn’t stopped growling since he lunged.
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