“I don't know how much there is to tell.” Rachel pushed her empty plate away and took a sip from her coffee mug. “I've lived in Vegas for a really long time. I started out waiting tables here when the last leader was still in charge of the Fraction. I worked my way up from there. I came to know Teya when I was managing the restaurants, like Neo does now. Not one of the ones we have now, of course. It's all changed since then, but she had his job, and we got to know each other. When Teya's parents died, and she was elected to take her father’s position, she asked me to be her assistant. The title then was secretary, but even then, I was more than the average secretary. Over the years since, I've picked up more and more responsibility and autonomy.” She set her mug down. “Enough about me, tell me about you.”
Chris took a deep breath and wondered what he could tell her that wouldn't totally turn her off. He wanted to spend more time with her. He was afraid she would find out just how little the wolf shifters thought of the werewolves, and then she’d refuse to have anything to do with him.
“I don't know what to say,” he said after a moment. “I've been in Vegas all my life. My dad was the leader of our Fraction until he was killed in a challenge fight last year. We had a rough few months, part of why I lost track of Emily for a bit, and I took over the Fraction about two months ago. I've been trying to get things under control and back on track since. It's not been easy.”
“What do you mean under control and back on track?” She leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table as she watched him with interest.
“The werewolf who challenged and killed my father was not a good man and an even worse leader. I had no desire to be in charge, but someone had to step up and put an end to his tyranny.” Chris shrugged one shoulder. “I was one of only a few strong enough to win a challenge against him, so... I did it.”
“So, despite not wanting the job, you challenged him and took over leadership to help your people?” She sat up a little straighter and lifted her hand to catch someone's attention. “Here's Neo.” She spoke before he had a chance to answer.
“Hello,” a man, who looked to be maybe thirty, came up beside the table. “What can I do for you?”
“Pull up a seat and talk to us a minute.” Rachel smiled at the newcomer who pulled out a chair and sat down while Rachel made introductions.
“Nice to meet you.” Chris shook the other man's hand. “Thank you for coming. I was wondering if you've seen her.” Chris picked up the photo from the table and handed it to Neo. The other man studied it for several long seconds, a crease between his brows.
“I think I may have seen her before, but I'm not sure where and definitely not in the last few weeks.” Neo was still studying the picture.
“I think she's the girl Ricky has been seeing, but I only met her once and only in passing, so I'm not certain.” Rachel looked over the top of the photo as Neo held it. Neo glanced up at her then stared, un-seeing, in the distance for several long seconds.
“I think you may be right. He was in one of the restaurants, the cafe I think, with a girl who looked a lot like this.” Neo lowered his gaze to the photo-graph again. “That's all I know. I'm sorry.” Neo handed the photo back to Chris. “I wish I could be of more help.”
“When was it you saw them, roughly. Two, three weeks ago?” Chris hoped Neo had seen her some-time after the last time he had heard from Emily, and he glanced anxiously at Rachel before turning his attention back to Neo.
“No.” Neo shook his head then looked up, his eyes rolled up so that he was looking at the ceiling. He blinked a couple times. “At least a month ago. No, closer to two.” Neo glanced at Rachel then back to Chris. “It was just after New Year’s, I remember because I was giving directions for new decorations to be put up when Ricky came in. I take it she's missing too?”
“She is, and I'm not having a lot of luck finding her.”
“I don't know what more I can tell you but good luck.” Neo turned to Rachel. “Have you heard any-thing more about Ricky?”
“No, but now that I have someone else who believes Emily is the girl Ricky was dating, I'm hoping Chris and I can work together.” She glanced in Chris's direction. “Maybe it will be helpful for us both.”
“I hope you find them,” Neo glanced at Chris be-fore turning back to Rachel. “And I hope they are well. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, I just wanted to see if you recognized Emi-ly.” Rachel gave him a hug, then sat back down. “Thanks for coming to take look for me.”
“Not a problem. I was nearby anyway.” Neo stood, pushing his chair back where it belonged. “You two have a good day, or as good as it can be considering.” He nodded first at Rachel, then in Chris's direction before leaving. Chris watched as Neo disappeared into the kitchen, and then turned back to Rachel.
“Well, it looks like you were right, they were da-ting. Their disappearances are likely linked. Where do we go from here?”
Rachel took a deep breath and let it out in a rush. “I think the first thing we need to do is sit down and compare notes. I'll tell you what I've done and where I've looked, and you tell me the same. Make sense?”
“It does.” He let his gaze drop to the table as he considered what little he had to share. “When do we start?” he glanced at his watch. Seven twenty-five A.M.. The work day would start soon, and she would have to go. She had a job to get to, hell, he did too if he wanted to get technical about it.
“How about tonight? Say, six o'clock? I'll meet you at the front desk, and we can go over every-thing in my apartment.”
“I can just meet you there,” he offered, he didn't want to make her have to come get him.
“Sorry, my floor requires a special code for the elevator. Though, it's the same elevator we used for the party last night, so you could meet me there if you want.”
“That sounds good. I just don't want to inconvenience you too much.”
“Because searching for a missing brother isn't in-convenience enough, right?” Rachel gave a half-hearted laugh.
“Right. So I'll meet you at six. Should I bring something for dinner?”
“No need, I can call up and have something delivered whenever we get hungry. Bring whatever you've found, and I'll share what I've got.” She checked her watch. “I'm sorry, but it's time for me to head to work. I'll see you tonight?”
“No worries, go right ahead. And yes, I'll see you this evening.”
AFTER BREAKFAST, CHRIS went back to the Lunar Ob-session to deal with Fraction business. Unlike the dragon Fraction leader, he didn't handle the man-agement of the resort as well as the Fraction. In fact, he had several assistants, people in positions much like Rachel's, who each had their own set of responsibilities.
He'd tried to run it all when he'd first taken over but had quickly realized he needed help. So he'd carefully chosen people who were excelling at their managing positions and expanded their duties. They still reported to him, and he still had to sign off on the big decisions, but it was a ton of work and stress off his shoulders.
Back at his desk, he went through the half a doz-en complaints from members of the pack about dif-ferent supernormals that had been waiting for his attention. After reading each one, he rolled his eyes and set it aside. There was nothing that could be done for most of it, but it made them feel better to complain. He'd never understood that mind set, but he had seen it enough that he knew that was just how some people were wired. There was one, though, that warranted more attention. The com-plaint form didn't have many details however, it just said 'illicit meat.' Chris suspected it was about the underground trade in human or supernormal meat for those who wanted something more exotic than the beef, buffalo, and other game the Fraction made available to satisfy the meat craving all were-wolves had.
Consuming human meat had long since been banned in Vegas, though it went on elsewhere. Since Chris had taken control of the fraction, he'd learned his predecessor had let a black-market meat dealer operate here, with his
consent. Chris was working on putting an end to it. Sure, he could have just ordered his people to stop, which he had done, and then punished those who didn't follow his commands, but he was after something bigger and had held off on the punishment so far. He knew of three weres who were active in the underground market currently, but that would only be tempo-rary. Whoever was the leader of the operation, and Chris had already determined it wasn't someone in his pack, would just find new people to work for them and the trade of contraband meat would con-tinue in Las Vegas. Instead of bringing the full heat of his anger down on those in his pack who were still dealing in black market meats, he had a couple men he trusted investigating them.
Chris stared at the complaint in front of him for several long seconds, trying to decide whether he should hand the complaint over to his men or call the person who filed it himself. After a moment, he leaned over and hit the intercom button.
“Maggie? Can you come in here a moment?”
“Yes sir, I'll be right there,” her voice was a little tinny over the intercom, but he was getting used to it. The door to his office opened, and the short woman who had been his father's secretary for years entered. She wore the same style of skirt suit she'd worn for years. Once more, Chris was re-minded how glad he was that she had been there to help him learn his new job. “What can I do for you, sir?” She carried a notebook and pen in one hand in case she needed to take notes. Chris had tried to convince her to use a tablet or recorder, but she in-sisted the notepad was what worked best for her, so he let it be.
“First, what have I told you about calling me sir?” Chris lifted one brow as he watched her.
“It's not going to happen, sir.” Maggie shook her head. “It's not respectful, and I just can't call you by your given name.”
“You've been doing it for years though.”
“You weren't in charge then, you are now. There's a difference.” Maggie sat on the edge of one of the chairs that sat across from his desk. She rested the notebook on her lap and held the pen ready. “What did you need?”
Chris picked up the illicit meat complaint and held it out to her. “I need you to set up a meeting with him for me. Today, if possible.”
Maggie took the page and looked at the name. “I'll contact him right away. Is that all?”
“It is, but please keep the nature of the meeting to yourself. I don't want the wrong people to realize he's turning them in. He might be the next person to disappear.”
“Very well, sir.” She stood, taking the page with her as she went back to her desk.
Chris watched as she disappeared through the door then stood and turned to stare out the glass wall at the city below him as he wondered what he was going to have to do to put an end to the meat market for good.
5
Rachel spent the entire day pushing Chris from her mind. It seemed that no matter what she was trying to get done, he somehow kept creeping his way into her thoughts.
“What's on your mind?” Teya asked late that afternoon as they sat in her office sipping cold coffee drinks and discussing the party the night before.
“I'm not sure what you mean,” Rachel didn't want to admit she knew exactly what her friend was talking about. Her mind had drifted back to Chris again, instead of the scandalous mating of the vampire leader’s daughter to wolf shifter, which recently gone public.
Teya gave her a pointed look, which meant Rachel wasn't fooling her.
Rachel sighed. “I was asking people about Ricky last night, showing them his picture, you know?” She glanced at Teya, who nodded for her to continue. “Well, I saw this guy. I thought he was watching me, but I couldn't be sure so I ignored him and continued asking if people had seen Ricky.”
“And?” Teya prompted.
Rachel recounted for her friend what had happened the night before and when they'd met for breakfast that morning ending with, “I don't get it. I can't keep him out of my head. He's been popping into my thoughts all day long, and I can't stop it. No matter what I work on, he finds a way to creep into my mind again.” Rachel was getting frustrated, and she knew it showed.
“And you're going to be seeing him again?” Teya tilted her head to one side as she watched Rachel. Rachel dropped her head until she was staring at her lap and the notebook she was holding in case she needed to take notes.
“I am. I can't ignore that his help may be the key I need to find Ricky. Two people searching has to be better than one, especially if their disappearances are linked. He's coming to my place tonight so we can compare notes. I just can't let Ricky be gone. I have to find him.” Rachel was helpless to stop the tears that dripped silently down her face. Unable to stop herself, she bent forward and buried her face in her hands. Teya leaned forward and put her hand on Rachel's arm.
“I know dear. I know. I want you to find him.” Teya was quiet for a moment. “Why don't you take off early today? Go home, get yourself together, and get ready for this Chris.”
“I can't do that. You need me here.” Rachel hurried to wipe the tears from her face and pull herself together. She loved this job, and she wasn't going to jeopardize it, even if she was torn between the job and spending all her time focusing on the search for her brother.
“I will survive for the last hour of the day without you, trust me.” Teya took a deep breath. “Besides, you didn't hear the last two questions I asked, so you're not doing me any good.” Guilt washed over Rachel. She should have been paying closer attention and not letting herself get distracted.
“I'm sorry. What was it you asked?”
“It doesn't matter.” Teya shook her head. “It can wait. You go. Do what you need to do. I'll take care of what has to be done today and probably take off a little early too.” She gave Rachel a secretive smile. “I don't need any more excuse than that to go spend more time with Jericho.”
Rachel gave a small laugh. Teya had been so much happier since Jericho appeared in her life that Rachel had been more than a little jealous. She wanted someone who cared for her as much as Jericho loved Teya. It was both endearing and heart-breaking to watch them.
Teya had waited more than three thousand years to find someone who loved her that much, Rachel hoped she didn't have to wait that long. She was on-ly a little over a hundred now, and the idea of living alone for that long terrified her.
“All right. I'll go.” Rachel stood, clipped the pen to the edge of her notebook, and glanced around, making sure she wasn't leaving anything behind as she started back to her desk. Half way across the room, she stopped and turned back to Teya. “Oh, I was going to ask you. What do you know about werewolves?” Teya glanced up and frowned.
“Not a whole lot, why?”
“Because Chris, and Ricky's girlfriend Emily, are both werewolves, and I don't know much about them, only what he's told me.” Rachel shrugged. “That's okay. I'll ask him for more details tonight.”
“I'll check Dad's records and see what he had about them. They're basically wolf shifters, right?”
“That's what I thought, but he says they're differ-ent. I know they have separate Fractions, but I thought it was all about politics.” Rachel shook her head and straightened her shoulders. “I'll figure it out.”
THE ELEVATOR DOOR OPENED, revealing Chris stand-ing in front of the doors as if he knew it was going to open any second. Maybe he had. Either way, he looked better than she could have hoped. Not that she had any business thinking about how good he looked.
His jeans were snug and a dark enough blue that she could tell they were either new, or well cared for. His black t-shirt stretched tight across his chest and around his muscled arms, making Rachel's mouth water.
“Hey! Come on in, and we'll go down to my place.” Rachel smiled and pushed the thoughts of how yummy Chris looked out of her head. Where the hell had they come from anyway?
“I hope I'm not too early.” Chris stepped onto the elevator, and the doors slid closed with a quiet whisper. She keyed her code into the keypad above the buttons f
or the floor, then hit the button for the floor she shared with Teya and Neo. With a soft jerk, the elevator began to move.
“No, not at all.” Rachel faced him. “I actually got off early today so I have everything ready.” She ran her eyes down his delectable body, noting the folder he carried. Delectable, again, where the hell had that come from?
“I brought what I have,” he lifted the folder, “Un-fortunately, it's not much.”
“That's okay, we'll put it together and see what we can work out. It will be helpful to have another perspective, someone I can bounce ideas off, or who can tell me what I'm thinking is stupid and to knock it off.” Rachel gave him a wry smile.
“I'm sure it's not stupid. You're worried about him, that's understandable.” The elevator stopped moving, and the door slid open. Rachel stepped out with Chris right behind her. As the elevator closed, she turned toward her apartment.
“My place is right down here.” She led him past Neo's door to her own. There were a couple of empty apartments on this level, but they were re-served for visitors, people who Teya felt merited a more secure, or luxuriant, living space than the floors above them, which had the smaller apartments most of the clan used. Rachel only got this one because of her position. She didn't need this much room, but she wasn't going to complain about the nicer accommodations. Not that the other rooms weren't nice, but they weren't like the ones on the same floor as Teya and her family. Rachel pressed her hand against the panel next to the door, and when the lock clicked, she pushed the door open. “Come on in. Make yourself comfortable.” She kicked off her shoes next to the door and curled her toes into the carpet. “Can I get you something to drink? I've got milk, water, soda, and coffee, if you drink it this late.”
“Coffee is fine.” Chris followed her as she went in-to the small kitchen just off the living room.
The Dragon Chronicles_City of Sin Page 11