Looking her up and down, he grimaced. His flat eyes reminded her of some really ancient Vampires she’d met once. But this one was only human; she could smell the coppery scent of his blood and hear the steady thump of his heart.
As the silence stretched on, he continued to stare at her, no doubt trying to make her uncomfortable, but she refused to allow this. Instead, she stared right back and waited.
“Do you know what we’re developing here?” he asked.
This time she didn’t have to feign her interest. “Yes. A new virus. I admit, I find that fascinating. I’d love to be part of research like that.”
“It’s not research,” he corrected her. “We plan to use it if we have to. Unless we receive what we want from the US Government.”
Now they were on tricky ground. Rick hadn’t told her how much of this she was supposed to know. “What do you want?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
“War with West Latvia,” he immediately said. “I want that country’s trade wiped off the map.”
“But why?” And this truly was the part she didn’t understand. “What are your reasons?”
“Russia.” He spoke the name as if saying it should be enough. Still, she waited, not sure what he meant.
He sighed at her lack of reaction. “Russia trades heavily with them. It’s a way to buy myself power.”
“But why would you want power with Russia?”
This time, he laughed. “How about you just stick to biology? I don’t have time to explain the intricate nature of politics to you.”
His condescending tone had her clenching her teeth. But she kept her annoyance in check, aware the stakes were far too high for her to blow it on something so trivial.
“Money can buy power,” she finally said. “I’m guessing you’re aware of how much something like this would fetch on the international market?”
“We’re exploring all options.” He waved his hand in dismissal. “I can see how someone like you might be valuable to my organization. Your husband, though—I’m not sure I need him.”
Alarm prickled along her spine, though she took care to show no reaction. Straightening, she tilted her head and eyed him the way one would look at a particularly noxious rodent. “My husband and I are a team. You can’t have me without him.”
He laughed. “You’re not running things here, sweetheart.”
This human was damn lucky she’d had centuries to learn how to control her anger. Even so, she felt that familiar flash of rage and wanted to crush him. Which she easily could, right here and right now, without blinking an eye.
“Again, I’m not your sweetheart,” she drawled. “It’s me and Rick or neither of us. Now, do we have a deal or not?” Bracing herself for Gus’s reaction to her declaration, she knew she had to come up with a quick plan in case he decided to simply kill them. He had no idea he couldn’t—the only thing that would end Rick was a silver bullet or fire. As for her, a stake through the heart. Beyond that, they were invincible. They could be hurt, true. But Rick’s kind had supernaturally fast healing powers. She couldn’t bleed if she hadn’t been fed enough blood.
Instead of yet another staring contest, Gus laughed again. She detected a slight note of unease hidden in his pretend mirth. “You’re a tough one,” he said. “I will agree to take both of you—on one condition.”
She nodded.
“No drug use while you’re in my employ. Either of you. If I find out you indulged, I will kill you.”
Finally, something that actually made sense. “Agreed,” she replied. “As long as you leave my husband to me. I will need him at the lab, working as my assistant. He follows my orders really, really well. If he doesn’t...” She lifted one shoulder delicately, letting her meaning sink in. “There are consequences to pay.”
Chapter 5
Maddie stared up at the man, shocked at first. “How dare you,” she said, her expression turning icy. “Do you know who my brother is?”
“Lady, your brother could be the President of the United States for all I care,” he responded. “My job is to protect our Pack from discovery. You’ve been seen with that human who’s been snooping around here.”
Shaking off his hand, she spoke her brother’s name. “Colton Kinslow,” she said. “My brother is also a Pack Protector. Why don’t you ask him if his sister would ever endanger the Pack?”
He stared at her, his expression still hard. “I’ll call him and let him know what’s been going on. I expect he’ll be phoning you. Just be aware, we have our eyes on Jake Cassel. If we learn you have, in any way, enabled him to gain access to information that is off-limits to humans, you will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Having said that, he turned around and stomped off. Frowning, Maddie watched him go. What the heck had Jake done now? As far as she knew, he’d been caught lurking around Broken Chains and beat up for it. Was there more he hadn’t told her?
As if he knew she’d been thinking about him, her cell phone rang and the caller ID showed Jake’s number.
“Well, well, Jake Cassel,” she answered. “Were your ears ringing?”
“What? Never mind. Just call off your dog.”
Perplexed, she wondered if he’d taken too many painkillers or something. “I’m not sure I follow,” she replied. “Maybe you should just lie down and get some rest.”
Silence. For some reason, she could picture him dragging his hand through his hair. “Fair enough,” he finally said. “I’m guessing you have no idea what I’m talking about.”
“None whatsoever.” Taking a long sip of her beer, she rolled her shoulders and tried to relax.
“Someone’s parked outside my house, watching me. If I get in my car and drive anywhere, I know he’ll follow me.”
“Really? Have you tried it? How do you know for sure?”
Then she listened while he told her about calling the police and who the person claimed to be. When he got to the part about the stalker returning once the police had left, a shiver snaked up her spine. That and the fact that the Pack Protectors were actively interested in him meant there was more going on than she knew. Much more.
“I’m guessing you haven’t told me everything,” she said. While she couldn’t inform him about the confrontation with the Pack Protector, she knew there had to be more to this than a case of a persistent reporter continually coming down the dead-end alleyway and trying to get Broken Chains’ door to open. Other humans had tried in the past to no avail. No one paid them any mind, at least that she knew.
So what was so special about Jake Cassel? She got that he was a reporter, but he had no story. Even if he managed to make it inside Broken Chains—which he wouldn’t—all he’d see was a bar with a bunch of people drinking and dancing. Like a private club. A human couldn’t tell from looking at someone that they were a Shifter or a Vampire or a Merfolk. That was why all those different species were able to live side by side with humans, undetected.
And Broken Chains belonged to them, the nonhumans. It was their place, one of the few where they could go and relax and simply be themselves.
Sure, she found Jake Cassel attractive. It happened often. Shifters dated humans, Vampires dated Shifters, etc. Heck, her friend Shayla, who happened to be a Mermaid, had just married Zach, a Shifter. She was allowed to date Jake Cassel if she wanted. She wasn’t permitted to let him find out her true nature unless they were in a serious, committed relationship.
One thing Maddie Kinslow believed in was following the rules. Though other private investigators might bend them once or twice, her father had raised her differently. He’d proven she could be a great PI without breaking the law. Did the Pack Protectors truly think she’d break Pack law and betray her own kind?
The silence had stretched out for so long she thought he might have hung up. “Jake? Are you there?”
“I am,” he answered. “Just thinking. Where are you? Judging from the background noise, I’d guess a bar or
restaurant. Do you mind if I join you? I need to get out of the house.”
She nearly laughed out loud at the irony of that. “I’m sorry, but I already have plans. I’m meeting a friend. But even if I weren’t, I think you really should consider staying in tonight and getting some rest so you can heal. Oh, there she is. I can see her crossing the room right now, so I’d better go. We’ll talk later.”
Not sounding very happy about that, Jake agreed and hung up.
“Shayla!” Maddie pushed to her feet, grinning from ear to ear. Every single man in the place watched as her stunning Mermaid friend made her way toward their table. With her silky mane of long black hair and her heart-shaped face, Shayla Dover-Cantrell tended to draw masculine attention. Even the large wedding ring on her left hand did little to deter their pursuit. Their other friend, Carmen, had a similar effect on men.
Reaching Maddie, Shayla enveloped her in a hug. “I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it feels as if I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said, taking a seat.
“I know. How was the honeymoon?”
For the next several minutes, the two women caught up. Their waiter brought Shayla a glass of chardonnay, her usual beverage of choice, and a second beer for Maddie.
“What’s he like, this Jake guy?” Shayla asked, eyeing her friend. “You really seem to like him.”
Startled, Maddie had no choice but to laugh. “I do, you know. He’s human and stubborn, but he seems to have a good heart. Plus, he’s cute.”
Her comment brought a grin to Shayla’s face. “Too bad on the human part, since he can’t come here.”
Maddie hesitated, and then decided what the hell. “I might as well tell you everything,” she said. “He wants to hire me. For some reason, he’s obsessed with getting inside Broken Chains.”
As Maddie explained, Shayla listened, her expression changing from incredulous to dismayed. When Maddie finished up with how the Pack Protector had threatened her, Shayla shook her head. “You need to dump him,” she advised. “Jake Cassel might be cute, but I don’t think he’d be worth all that trouble.”
“But don’t you see?” Maddie protested. “He hasn’t done anything that other humans haven’t done over the years. You know as well as I do that we get at least one per month, wandering down the alley and trying to open the door. Yet he was beat up, probably by Pack Protectors, and left for dead. Now someone is staking out his house. I’ve clearly been seen with him, and now I’m being threatened. None of this makes sense.”
Shayla tilted her head. “You’re not going to back off, are you?”
“Of course not,” Maddie scoffed. “How could I? You know me. I can’t let a puzzle go unsolved, and that’s what this is.”
Shayla laughed. “Just be careful,” she said, taking a sip of her wine.
“Always.” Maddie noticed her friend glancing at her watch. “What’s up? Is there somewhere you need to be?”
With a sheepish grin, Shayla shrugged. “Not really. I’m just missing Zach.”
“You could have brought him. I wouldn’t have minded.”
“Really? He wanted to come, but I told him it was girls’ night. I thought it might be good for us to come up for air.” Shayla blushed, leaving no doubt as to what she meant.
Maddie pushed away the twinge of jealousy. “Someday,” she told her friend, “I hope to find a guy who makes me feel the way Zach does you.”
“Oh, Maddie.” Shayla jumped up and hugged her. “You will. Wait.” She pulled back, peering into Maddie’s face. “Are you thinking Jake might be that guy?”
“Who knows?” Maddie took a drink of her beer to hide her confusion. “I suppose anything is possible. Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Gut instinct.” Eyes narrowed, Shayla watched her closely. “Let me hear what your gut instinct says.”
Because they were such good friends, Maddie gave serious thought to the question. “I’m attracted to him,” she finally answered. “Intrigued by him. I don’t know how much of that is because of the mystery, though. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind having an intense fling with him as well as getting to the truth of why he’s considered so dangerous to the Pack. Beyond that?” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Apparently, her answer satisfied Shayla. “Fair enough,” Shayla said, raising her wineglass in a toast.
They sat and chatted another hour, each having one more drink, until the band began to play, making conversation difficult. Finally, their glasses were empty and they settled up the tab. Arm in arm, they walked to the door and outside.
At the end of the alley, Shayla stopped. “Now what?” she asked.
“Now I walk you to your car or to get a cab, like always,” Maddie replied. As a Mermaid, Shayla couldn’t defend herself like a Shifter or Vampire could. Therefore, Maddie or Carmen or both always made sure she was never left unaccompanied.
“Oh, that...” Shayla blushed again, just as an SUV pulled up. “I texted Zach so he’d come and get me.”
“That was quick,” Maddie said, her tone dry. “Let me say hello to the lovestruck fool and then I’ll let you two go on your way.”
“Of course. But what are you going to do for the rest of the night? It’s still pretty early. Maybe Jake would like some company.”
Now it was Maddie’s turn to blush. Unfortunately, when she did, she knew her pale skin turned the color of an overripe tomato, not all soft, appealing pink like Shayla’s did.
Seeing the blush, Shayla chuckled. “I think you should find out if he would,” she said. “Now come say hello to Zach so we can get home.”
Maddie walked around to the driver’s side and Zach rolled down the window. He tore his gaze away from his new bride long enough to smile at Maddie. “Do you need a lift to your car?” he asked. “I’d be glad to take you.”
“Not tonight,” she told him, lifting her head and sniffing the air. “With weather like this, I don’t mind a walk.” And since she was Shifter, she could easily defend herself if someone tried to jump her the way they’d jumped Jake.
Just thinking about him made her blush again. Luckily, Zach and Shayla were too engrossed in each other to notice.
Maddie said her goodbyes and watched as her friends drove away. Then, before she chickened out, she got out her phone and called Jake.
* * *
After ending the call with Maddie, Jake looked outside again. The car was still there. He thought about walking outside with a bottle of water and offering it to the driver, but in the end decided against that idea. His bruised and bandaged body and aching ribs warned him to be more careful.
Though he hated to admit it, Maddie was right. He did need to rest and heal. Instead of giving the stalker something to do, he’d let him sit out there with nothing going on and be bored. At least that made Jake’s mood improve. More than anything, he hated to feel as if he were powerless. After the childhood he’d had, he’d sworn never to put himself in that position again.
He pulled out his laptop and continued his research about werewolves. As far as he could tell, they were the stuff of urban legend. Lots of people claimed to have seen one, but there existed absolutely no proof. They were beloved by literature and filmmaking, and these days people seemed to regard them with a kind of benevolent fondness rather than any real fear.
Not for the first time, Jake doubted what he’d seen with his own eyes. Of course, he shouldn’t. He was a trained reporter. Observant by both nature and calling. It wasn’t likely he’d imagine something like this. Especially since he’d never even thought about werewolves at all until the moment he’d actually seen one.
When his cell phone rang, he almost didn’t answer. But when from habit he checked the caller ID and saw it was Maddie, he did.
“Are you still awake?” she asked, a smile in her voice.
His heart skipped a beat. “Of course. What’s up?”
“My friend had to go. Since it’s still early, I was wondering if you still wanted company? I mean, I could come by if y
ou’d like.”
“I’d enjoy that,” he responded, not bothering to pretend not to care. “We can talk about the case.”
She laughed. “You definitely have a one-track mind. I’m not sure whether to be flattered or insulted.”
Was she flirting with him? He swallowed, stunned.
“Come on over,” he said, his voice as casual as he could make it. “I’ve got beer. We can order a pizza if you want.”
“Now you’re talking. Text me the address again, please. I’ve got to walk to my car and then I can get on my way.”
“Walk to your car?” He hoped it wasn’t a long walk. A beautiful woman out walking alone made an easy target for some guy looking for trouble.
“Yep. It’s not too far now. Just a couple of blocks. I’m near The Strand, so there are lots of people around.”
He rattled off the address and ended the call. She’d said she was near The Strand. Had she been near the dead-end alley with the mysterious door? He resolved to ask her directly. After all, he saw no reason why they should play games.
Twenty minutes later, her headlights swept his front window. He hurried to the door, just in case the guy in the parked car decided to try and confront her. To his surprise, the stalker was gone.
“Hey there!” Smiling, Maddie greeted him. With her wavy red hair loose around her shoulders, she managed to look both innocent and sexy in her black skirt and green top, with a sleeveless back tank underneath. He noticed that even though she wore flat shoes, her legs seemed to go on for miles. As she got closer, a jolt of pure lust punched him low in the gut.
“Come on in,” he said, stepping aside. As she walked past him, he got a tantalizing whiff of her perfume, which was floral and light. She took a seat on his couch and eyed his laptop, which he’d left open on the coffee table.
“Just doing some research,” he told her. “Nothing too serious. Would you like a beer?”
“I’d better not,” she said. “I had two at the bar. Just water for me, please.”
When he returned from the kitchen, she was leaning close to his laptop, unabashedly reading what was displayed on the screen.
Finding the Texas Wolf Page 6