Perfect Reflection

by Jana Leigh

  Someone knocked on the door, Lex thought it was room service, but it was Vander. There was an awkward moment as the human man realized that two men still sat in his friend’s room. His protective instincts reared up and he stepped forward toward the large Beta and got into his face.

  “Where is Jewels?” Lex could see Vander flexing his hands into fists.

  “She passed out, and we put her in the bedroom,” Lex said smoothly, not really wanting to piss this guy off anymore than he had to. Shit, he was a wolf and could kill the Detective with one swipe of his claw, but he held his control. They were going to have to either tell the human what the fuck was going on, or risk their wolves getting pissed at his supposed hold on their mate, and kill him. For some reason he didn’t think Jewel would really approve of that, so he calmly stepped aside and let the human in the room. Vander ran to the bedroom, obviously not trusting that he was telling the truth.

  When her friend entered the room and saw Retten sitting beside Jewel caressing her face, Lex thought the man was going to have a meltdown right there.

  “What the fuck are you doing? Don’t touch her.” Vander went to Jewel’s side, looking at her, checking to see if she was okay. Retten got up allowing Vander to sit beside Jewel. Lex went to his Alpha and tri-mate’s side and held his arm when he stepped toward the human when Vander touched her.

  “Detective. She is fine. I think she is exhausted and hungry. We have ordered her a rare steak and when it gets here, we will get her up and feed it to her. Her body needs the food for energy. Then she needs to go back to bed and rest. We wouldn’t hurt her. We are only trying to help her,” Lex said in a calm voice and frowned at his friend when he growled. Lex looked around the human and saw Vander reach over and pick up Jewel’s hand caressing it. Shit, they were going to have to talk about this. Laying out the rules for a non-shifter is always weird.

  “I told you I knew about shifters,” Vander said, never turning around. He continued to hold Jewel’s hand and kept speaking. “I guess you’re wondering why she told me.”

  “Yeah we are, since humans don’t know we exist,” Lex growled in response. Both of the powerful shifters tensed as they waited. They knew she was not sleeping with him, they would have scented it. Therefore, her partner’s reaction could have been one of two things, and both could make them kill their mate’s partner.

  “Well that’s a long story. Put simply, I know because Jewel and Josh, her mate that died, loved me and wanted me in their lives, so they trusted me enough to include me in their secret. I will take it to my grave because that is what friends do for each other. So you don’t have to worry about me telling anyone.” Vander continued to sit and stare at Jewel while holding her hand.

  Retten looked at Lex not knowing what to do about Vander. He knew he couldn’t hurt him because he was touching his mate, but he wanted to. Lex moved to the other side of the bed, took Jewel’s hand in his, and brought it up to his face caressing it. Vander watched Lex.

  “She is going to resist this,” Vander said. “It is not what you think. She is like my little sister, I just don’t want anyone to hurt her, you know.”

  “Vander, come into the living room,” Ret said as he walked out the door going into the living room area. Lex put Jewel’s hand back down, took the small blanket lying at the foot of the bed, and covered her up. Vander watched Lex before he walked into the other room, went directly to the bar, and pour himself a drink.

  “Before you get all growly, let me explain. I know the whole shifter thing is important. However, she just found out about you two, and she is in shock. She never thought she would find her true mate,” Vander said.

  “You said she was married before?” Ret said.

  “Yeah, to her high school sweetheart, Josh. When he died, she fell apart. It took her a long time to get right in the head about the whole thing. He was killed in a car crash, his parents shut her out, and she was left alone. It was she and I for a long time. She didn’t let anyone in. It was just over the last few years that she began to loosen up a little. Dude, you look like an older version of her mate. Seriously, she doesn’t understand it, but I think she was just at the end of her rope. In the car, she had no clue how to say that to you. Then this case came along, and she has been strung tight ever since. Something is bothering her about this whole thing, but she can’t figure it out,” Vander said and sat down.

  “What?” Ret roared—he was her mate, he did not look like her dead mate.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Jewel demanded from the doorway.

  Ret rounded on her at the same time there was a knock at the door. Lex held up his hand and walked to the door. All of them sat silently until the waiter finished and then Lex led him back out the door, smirking at the way the boy scampered from the tension.

  “I am your mate!” Ret said forcefully when the click of the door sounded.

  Jewel rolled her eyes, walked forward, and sniffed. “Who ordered?”

  “We did,” Lex said and pulled her back and held out a chair for her. All the guys settled into their chairs and started eating before anyone spoke again. The tension in the room, however, had not eased. She wanted to make a smart-ass comment, but she also knew when to hold her tongue. Therefore, she waited it out, and soon Ret looked at her with a glare.

  “I am not a killer!” he ground out and then waited for her to acknowledge she knew he was trustworthy.

  Jewel chewed slowly and then put down her fork and looked up at her partner who was trying hard not to smile and laugh at her predicament. This was bullshit, she thought she could control the situation, but Lex and Ret were both Alphas, and no matter how strong she was, they were oozing power and control.

  “You are not the prime suspect anymore,” Jewel said reluctantly. “The killer is trying very hard to make you one though, so we need to figure out why.”

  “I have plenty of enemies, you can’t be the Alpha of one of the largest packs in the world and not have made enemies,” Ret said slowly and looked at Lex.

  His Beta nodded and then shrugged, “I can get a list; however, it is pretty long.”

  “Since the crimes were in two different cities, we can eliminate most pretty quickly,” Vander said and pointed his fork at the men. “However, the feel of them is more directed toward someone or something. The M.O. is distinctive, and shows a lot of rage, so we have to be looking for someone you pissed off a lot.”

  The group continued to eat in silence, Vander had to feel the tension in the room. Jewel was still trying to come to terms with the fact that Ret looked so much like Josh. She had no clue how to talk to them about this, and she was not going to do it with her partner in the room, that would be weird, and so she waited and shifted in her seat. Damn, they were making her panties wet by just sitting with them.

  “I can contact my secretary and have her send over the files we need. We keep certain things on record. Excuse me,” Ret said and stood, pulled out a phone, and walked to the balcony. Lex sighed, sat back, and looked at Jewel intently.

  “What are you thinking we have going on here?” Lex asked.

  Vander looked at Jewel before she spoke and he shrugged his shoulders. “We found his signature but have not told anyone, only our Commander. It is something we need to keep quiet.”

  Lex leaned forward closely and stared at her, waiting for her to further explain to him the situation. Unfortunately, they were interrupted by a knock on the door before Jewel could speak.

  Chapter Eight

  The Redeemer sighed and looked at the woman with pity. She was tied to the table and whimpering as he talked to her gently about how she landed in this predicament. It was her own fault, and she had to realize that. He would never hurt an innocent, he was not crazy, he thought, and then pulled the ties tighter because this woman was a shifter, and he had no clue if her strength was going to play into this.

  “Madeline, I am sure you will understand and agree. As the Alpha Redeemer, how could I let someone I don’t trust act
ually join my pack? The others would frown upon it if they knew you were a cheating bitch like the ones we are trying to rid the world of,” he said softly.

  “But I only slept with you, no one else. My mate is not my true mate, I told you that, we met years ago and since we couldn’t find the one meant for us—” Madeline whined, cutting off her words when he growled.

  He growled and leaned over the woman and frowned. “Are you saying my thinking is flawed?”

  The woman shook her head and then closed her eyes. She knew he was right, she was just as bad as the rest of them, and now that he had gotten what he wanted from her, it was over. He ran his hands down the body he had allowed to touch his. This was so different from killing a stranger, more intense—more satisfying. He should have done this a long time ago, it would have been better than searching out weak humans, they had not been able to withstand the torture he dished out and died very quickly. Madeline was going to be a treat.

  He pushed himself back and looked at his tray. Special instruments for a special lady, he thought, and then took the lighter that was on the tray and studied it. There was a can of sterno he lit, then slowly picked up one of the utensils he had, a small brand to mark her skin. It was the NYC Pack symbol and he grinned, nice. Using the flame, he heated the metal, then turned back to her and said, “Are you ready to learn your lesson?”

  She quivered in fear and he could feel himself getting hard already, the scent was pouring off her, she was terrified, and well she should. Madeline knew what he was capable of. He pressed the utensil next to her skin and grinned when he heard the sizzle and smell of burning flesh.

  “You see, I have thought about this. You betrayed your own Alpha whom you promised to obey, then you slept with me and betrayed your mate,” the Redeemer said and laughed like he made sense. “If anyone else would have found out about this, you would have been killed anyway. So basically I am doing you a favor, with this cleansing you will be able to repent your sins and meet the creator with a clean conscience. So, Madeline, what would you like to confess,” he said in a sing-songy voice and waited.

  Madeline gritted her teeth and opened her eyes, she was finally getting that she was not going to be released or escape, he was way too powerful for that. Her eyes narrowed at the man whom she had trusted with her life, she stole from her Alpha for him. It was so unfair; Madeline thought she had finally found someone who needed her as much as she needed them.

  She refused to open her mouth and scream, this was going to be so much fun. He held the brand to the iron again heating it so she would feel the searing on her skin. She needed to feel the pain, she needed to confess her sins, he would break her—there was no other choice.

  Once again he pressed the metal to her skin, this time over her sensitive breast and laughed when he saw her bow off the table in pain, oh he was just getting started, he thought and laughed. Before that, though, he had to make sure his cover was still intact.

  Chapter Nine

  Ret and Lex excused themselves to the terrace when there was a knock on the door. While Vander went to answer the door, Jewel made a phone call. She needed support, and the only one she knew who could provide it answered the phone.

  “Hey, Benny,” Jewel said into the phone. “What the fuck do you mean you are here, too? That’s bullshit; do you know where The Wexford is located? Okay, see you then.” Jewel hung up, pacing back and forth. She was pissed, he was following her but why? Because he didn’t trust her?

  After giving the waiter the empty dishes and seeing him to the door, Vander turned around and asked, “Well I don’t have werewolf ears so I don’t know what Benny said. So are you going to tell me?” as he watched his best friend pace and worry about something. She was biting her bottom lip, which meant she was either pissed off or worried about something.

  “He is here in New York and he is on his way here to The Wexford,” Jewel said with a flat tone.

  Vander knew her well enough to not try to pull anything out of her. She would make a decision about what she thought.

  “Wow, that’s convenient. Why is he in New York?” Vander asked.

  “Don’t know. He is always traveling for his job. You know Benny; he is always around when you need him.” Jewel walked over to the window opening up the blinds. New York was a beautiful city, especially at night with all the lights. Vander watched the thoughts run through her head.

  Finally, she turned back to him. “Do you think I am handling this case right?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Vander asked and looked at Jewel incredulously.

  “I don’t know, I mean you know Benny, he wouldn’t come here unless there was something up. Maybe it’s me,” Jewel said.

  “Uh no, I don’t think that is it, I am pretty sure he is here for a purpose, just ask him,” Vander said and thankfully, there was another knock on the door.

  She could smell that it was Benny at the door so she opened the door to an older but still good-looking man. He was here too quickly, but she refused to question why he was here, if she did, it would drive her crazy.

  “Hey, Jewel,” Benny said when she opened the door to him.

  “Hey, Benny, come on in.” Jewel hugged Benny, loving how he made her feel safe. Benny came in and saw Vander sitting on the couch. Vander got up and shook Benny’s hand telling him to have a seat.

  Vander knew that Jewel was having a hard time with this. Her face must have given away something, because Vander asked for her. “Benny, why are you here?”

  “Why? I thought it was obvious, once I actually opened the file my men gave me I had to come, Jewel, he looks just like Josh. I mean it was clear to me you would struggle with this, or suspected him of homicide, fucking right I would come here to help you,” Benny said with a shrug and then looked at the partners and grimaced. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Retten Wexford and Lex Doyle are her mates.” Vander raked his fingers through his hair. “Look, I know I don’t know too much about mates, but I do know they are all going nuts. You were right, she needs you, to knock her upside the head,” said Vander.

  Benny looked at Jewel sharply and then back to her partner, “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “When I opened the packet on the airplane I just knew. Then in the airport it was confirmed by their scents, they are my mates. We have looked at Ret, and he had strong alibis for two of the murders, we are having them checked out, but I think he is being set up,” Jewel said forcefully and stood, she was confused, so many things happening that didn’t make sense.

  “Listen, you know when you find your mate that is it. You have two, so what. They are not going to be patient forever though, you need to figure out what is going on and quickly. Who would want to set up Ret?” Benny said and sat back.

  “A lot of people,” Lex said from the balcony doorway and they all turned. “Including you, Benny.”

  Jewel looked at the two men in surprise, no way, what the hell were they talking about? She never heard Benny say anything about the NYC Pack or it’s Alpha. She watched as the men entered the room and took a seat on either side of her, like they had already claimed her. She went to stand and both of them gripped her thigh.

  “Benny?” Jewel growled.

  “I was a member of the NYC Pack before I moved to Atlanta. My father was the Beta of the Pack and I was supposed to take his place,” Benny said slowly and looked at the two men without flinching. Jewel could feel the power in the room and waited. “However, when Ret was named as Alpha, he chose Lex. I moved on and became the Beta of the Atlanta Pack until I joined the Elders.”

  “You stated in front of the entire pack that you were going to make sure I paid for the snub,” Ret said smoothly.

  “I think maybe you are thinking too highly of yourself. Once I left, I didn’t care,” Benny said smoothly and then looked into Ret’s eyes. “I still don’t care. If she needs my help though, I will give it to her.”

  Both men growled at the older man and w
aited. Jewel put a hand on their thighs, looked at them both, and made a sound. “He is like a father to me, let it go.”

  Ret turned to her, breaking the eye contact with the other wolf and he sighed, “Fine, whatever, listen it is late, we have a lot of shit to talk about. I can’t find my secretary, so I have to run into the office to grab the file. Lex and I are staying on this floor also, in the room down the hall.”

  Benny nodded and said, “Me, too, let’s take the night and come at this fresh in the morning, shall we?”

  Jewel nodded and looked at the men around her, fuck, two friends and two mates, all thinking they knew what was best for her. Well, they could piss off, when she got them out of the room she would do what she did best. She was going to make her murder board, and try to connect some dots that seem to be flashing in her mind but would not connect.

  “Come on, Jewel, let’s get you back in bed.” Lex hugged Jewel, rubbing up and down her back. Jewel let him help her.

  Ret stood and held out his hand, Jewel looked at it, sighed, and allowed them to lead her to the doorway to her bedroom. She had to unpack, maybe she could waste a bit of time before she called down to the front desk and asked for supplies—and a bottle of wine. They acted like just because she passed out that she was helpless, shit, it was from lack of food and sleep for two days. Neither the first time nor the last that Jewel would be sucked into a case. Seeing the way that bastard liked to inflict pain on females, she wanted him off the streets, and she pushed herself hard. Get the fuck over it, she thought and then frowned. Well, all of them were going to find out how strong she was. She was not a push over, she was a bad-ass female with a gun, and damn it, they would respect that.

  “Benny, Vander, meeting here at eight in the morning sharp. Lex and Ret, have the files delivered to me tonight so I can get them done,” she said briskly. “I can handle it from here, I am not a child. Go, and I will see you in the morning.”