Outside, the sun burned the eastern horizon. She’d be here soon. Rafe turned from the window. “Have you been able to pick up tracks at his former haunts? Any signs that he’s back?”
Luc shook his head. “He’s smart enough not to do that. If I’m right and Anton is behind this, he’ll keep his eye on you, so I’d watch your back.”
Gabe snorted. “He wouldn’t confront Rafe face-to-face. If he’d wanted to do that, he would’ve done it years ago instead of running.”
“Don’t underestimate him,” Luc warned. “Back then, he was a white-collar criminal. He’s hanging with a seedier, much more dangerous crowd these days.”
Gabe sneered. “I guess committing murder will do that to a person.”
“I agree with Gabe in part. I don’t think he’ll attack me directly.” Rafe leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “If that were his plan, he would’ve taken me out, not hit people I know.”
“Which brings me back to that delicious detective.” Luc smirked when Rafe scowled, then followed Gabe’s gaze to the portrait and frowned. “Anton killed someone he claimed to love. What do you think he’ll do to a woman who catches your eye? Hell, he gets one whiff of your interest in her and...bull’s-eye.”
“All right. You’ve made your point.” Rafe struggled with a flood of emotions.
He had vowed to make Anton pay for what he’d done to the Stone family. He’d expanded the Lykos Institute to accomplish just that. He and his brothers had spent months focused on the search for Anton and other rogue Lycans. And Rafe had postponed his search for a mate, not wanting to risk endangering another woman—at least not until Anton was gone.
Now, it seemed Anton had finally brought the fight to him. A challenge Rafe was more than ready to deal with. But that made the risk of a possible relationship with Mackenzie that much more perilous.
Rafe cast another glance out the window and sensed movement through the trees. Cars coming up the drive. Mackenzie was here.
“Gabe. Change.”
“Damn it, Rafe, I don’t think—”
“Now. She’s coming. I don’t have time for a debate. They won’t leave until they get samples from all the wolves on the property, and since she’s seen you as G, suspicion will fall more firmly on me if you aren’t here.”
“Samples?” Luc asked as Gabe cursed but started the change.
Rafe watched his brother’s clothes puddle on the floor while sparkling light filled the room.
“Samples of what?”
“G and the wolves are donating their DNA to the cause of proving my innocence.”
I’m all for proving you innocent, Rafe, but if one person comes near my ass with a thermometer, I’ll hold you responsible for my actions.
Luc laughed at Gabe’s telepathic warning. “You’re such a beta wolf.”
I’ll show you beta, asshole. With ears straight up and teeth bared, Gabe snarled.
“Roll over, Mutt. I don’t have time to play.”
“Stop provoking him, Luc.”
“He needs the practice after spending all his time with beakers, test tubes, and microscopes.”
“Not now. G...Be nice. Luc...Do something with his clothes.”
Don’t you dare stuff ‘em under a cushion. I don’t want ‘em wrinkled.
Luc sighed loudly but picked up the outfit, just as the doorbell rang.
Chapter Nine
Mackenzie watched the state police agent press the doorbell. She kept her face blank, serious, official, and let the agent take point.
Her partner eyed her with concern. Cooper didn’t know the extent of her duplicity. He was unaware that she’d tipped off the suspect to this warrant. But he wasn’t an idiot either. Since he hadn’t specifically asked her about it, she hadn’t lied, at least not outright. She just hadn’t volunteered the information and hoped that omission didn’t come back to bite her.
The huge door opened to reveal Marge, the Stone’s housekeeper.
“Hello.”
Mackenzie stood almost at attention as the agent and housekeeper began the official conversational exchange. When Rafe appeared over the old lady’s shoulder, Mackenzie’s stomach flipped.
He pushed the door wider, smiled at the housekeeper, who stepped aside, and faced the agent. He didn’t glance at Mackenzie, but she wondered whether their awareness of each other was a tangible thing, easily noticed by others.
“I’m Rafael Stone.”
“Mr. Stone, this is a warrant to search your property.” The agent held out the official papers for him to see. “Please move away from the door.”
Rafe stepped back, holding the door wide as the officers filed in. Mackenzie expected to see a team of attorneys standing in the entrance hall, but was relieved to find it empty.
The agent was asking whether anyone else was in the house when Lucian entered through a door to the right, carrying some clothing in one hand.
“Here, Marge.” He gave the bundle to the housekeeper. “Gabe left his clothes lying around again.”
A harsh growl from behind Lucian made Mackenzie and the officers tense.
“G, come here.” The large black wolf responded to Rafe’s command, moving forward with sleek cautiousness, his tail high, ears back. When he reached Rafe, he nudged his hand and sat. His golden gaze settled firmly on Mackenzie and her pulse quickened. The animal made her feel as if she wore a shirt that said, T-bone. Right here. Bite me.
“How many more of those are around here?” the agent asked Rafe.
“None in the house...at the moment, although a wolf pack has a den about a half-mile west of here, and they are free to roam the entire property.”
As the agent and forensics specialists who would procure the wolves’ DNA samples talked with Rafe, Mackenzie focused on the wolf. He continued to stare, almost accusingly, as if the beast was capable of such thoughts. She lifted one heel in reaction to an almost overwhelming compulsion to retreat from the fierceness in his eyes.
She vaguely heard Rafe explain that Luc could take them to the pack’s den. The wolf broke eye contact when one specialist pointed and suggested they start with him.
“Very well, but not in here. Come, G. Let’s get this over with.” Rafe walked into the room Luc had come from.
The wolf followed, leaped onto the coffee table, and sat. Mac walked through the doorway and took up a position beside Cooper.
Rafe glanced at the specialist who pulled some equipment from his bag. “No tranqs. No muzzles.” He aimed his gaze at each person circled around the room, as if he were daring them to argue his point. When he stopped at Mac, she felt sweat bead at her nape. “Detective Lyons, you’ll assist me, won’t you?”
Mackenzie blinked at the challenge in his tone. “Me? Why don’t you let the team handle it?” She gestured toward the wolf. “They’re quite capable of securing it to extract the samples needed.”
“Because G is not an ‘it’. He’ll submit to this voluntarily...not by force. But if you want the evidence, you will have to help get it.”
“You don’t need Mac’s help,” Cooper said, turning to point at Lucian. “The animal knows you. You can help hold him while the samples are taken.”
Lucian leaned against the wall with arms and ankles crossed and a smirk on his face. “Don’t look at me. I’m not on the city’s payroll. Besides, G and I annoy the hell out of each other.”
Cooper scowled and stepped forward. “Fine, I’ll do it.” A half step later, he came to an abrupt halt as the wolf snarled and his hackles rose in warning.
Rafe hadn’t moved. He gave no signal that Mackenzie noticed, but still the wolf made it clear Cooper was not welcomed.
“Call off the damn dog, Stone.” He grabbed the tranquilizer dart gun from the specialist.
“You don’t want to do that, Detective.” Rafe’s voice dropped ominously.
“Or what? Are you threatening me?” He snatched the warrant from the agent’s hand and held it up. “This is an official warrant. You want to face char
ges of interfering with an investigation?”
The canine’s growls became more ferocious. The specialist looked around with uncertainty, while the agent’s hand crept toward his firearm. Rafe and Cooper stared at each other challengingly.
Mackenzie placed a hand on Coop’s shoulder. “Stop. It’s all right. I’ll do it.”
Cooper was one of the few people on the force aware of Mackenzie’s problem with ailurophobia, although she’d misled him into thinking she was allergic to animal fur rather than afraid of cats. He was trying to cover for her, but things were getting out of hand. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
Rafe placed a hand on G’s head, and the wolf settled down. Mackenzie frowned at the pair. Didn’t the idiot man know this made him look even guiltier?
“Damn it, Mac.”
“I said I can do it.” She met Coop’s concerned expression. After a moment, he nodded and stepped backward.
“One false move though...” He held up the tranquilizer gun and eyed Rafe. Mac didn’t know whether his intended target would be the man or animal, but she didn’t have time to really dwell on it. The wolf was staring at her again.
Holding out her hand, Mackenzie made herself move forward, closer to that panting mouth filled with sharp teeth. Her breath caught in her throat.
He’s a dog, a pet, not a cat. Her heartbeat raced, and her mouth felt like sandpaper. She glanced quickly around the room, seeking assurance that she was not in the woods. Not alone in the dark. Her gaze met Rafe’s, and she saw he was smiling.
Her lips started to curve, until she felt a wet tongue swipe her palm. Her jaw dropped.
Another lick and Mackenzie’s lungs collapsed as they released her pent-up breath. “N-nice wolf.” Maybe she’d misread the animal’s demeanor earlier. She must have. Wild creatures didn’t understand suspicion or accusations, and the wolf certainly seemed friendly now. Maybe he didn’t get along with men, other than Rafe, of course. Even Lucian appeared unwilling to get near the animal.
Rafe nodded to the specialist who approached with caution.
“He’s not wearing a collar. How do I hold on to him?” she asked. The wolf licked the tips of her fingers as if she’d dipped them in his favorite dog food flavor. Maybe she had. She’d eaten some M&Ms on the way to the estate. Did dogs like chocolate?
“Enough, G.” Rafe glowered at his wolf before looking at her. He took her hands, placed one on the wolf’s neck and the other around one front leg. “Just hold him.” He took the wolf’s other front leg in a firm grip while Mac cocked a skeptical brow. If the wolf leaped into action, there was no way either of them would be able to hold him down.
The specialist used a brush to collect hair samples first. The wolf didn’t move, except for an occasional flick of his fluffy tail. Mackenzie relaxed a bit, her fingers curling into his soft, thick coat. She rubbed the wolf’s neck.
As the specialist collected a blood sample, the wolf didn’t even flinch.
Rafe released his grip and turned to watch the vial disappear inside another container. The specialist packed up the rest of his gear and removed his latex gloves.
The wolf rolled onto his back and pawed her hand, causing Mackenzie to smile.
“I thought the ‘G’ stood for grim guy, but you’re not such a grouchy fellow, are you?” She chuckled and rubbed his belly.
Lucian snorted something that sounded suspiciously like, “Goner.”
“G!” At Rafe’s sharp voice, the wolf kicked the air, twisted, and fell off the table. Mackenzie winced. “For Pete’s sake, woman, don’t pet his stomach.”
“Why not?” She glared at Rafe and scratched behind the ears of the wolf, now seated beside her.
“Why? W-well...because...” The look he gave her was almost comical. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was jealous of a dog. “Because he doesn’t like it.”
“He certainly seemed to enjoy it.”
Lucian suddenly went into a coughing fit, which drew Rafe’s wrath.
“What the hell are you still doing here?”
Lucian held up both hands as his coughs subsided into obvious chortles. “Enjoying the show.” His mouth spread into a wide grin.
“Well, get out of here. Take these guys to the den. They can use the monitoring equipment to locate the pack. And take G with you.”
As the wolf trotted out of the room, giving Rafe a wide berth, Cooper approached Mackenzie. “May I speak with you a minute.” He motioned her away from the others. “You should’ve put gloves on beforehand,” he whispered.
“I’ll wash my hands. I’ll be fine. I’m going to stay behind here...keep an eye on Stone while you guys take care of the other animals.”
He frowned and leaned closer. “I understand you not wanting to press your luck with a pack of animals, but I don’t like leaving you here alone with him.”
“He’s not going to do anything with you all somewhere on his property.” She gave him a stern look. “Besides, I’m a cop. I can take care of myself.”
“Damn it, Mac. I know that. You think I can’t see something going on between you and Stone?”
“And exactly what is it you think you see, Coop? If you doubt my integrity—”
“You know damn well your integrity is not in question. You don’t have to prove yourself with me. I know you’re a good cop, and if you want to be known as the force’s number one coldhearted, by-the-book cop bitch, that’s fine. But I don’t trust him, and you haven’t been yourself in days. We’re partners, Mac, and you’re keeping things from me. Don’t think I don’t realize that.”
“Detectives? Luc’s waiting.” Rafe stood across the room with the others.
“We’ll discuss this later,” she snapped.
“You’re damn right we will.” Cooper stalked toward the door.
“Will you be trekking through the forest as well, Detective Lyons?” Rafe asked, curiosity written in his eyes, as he watched Cooper pass by without a word.
“No. Where’s a bathroom? I need to wash my hands.”
He peered at her a long moment before pointing to a door to the left of a large portrait hung as a centerpiece on the wall. “There’s a half-bath through there.”
“Thank you.” She escaped through the door.
Mackenzie was composed when she came out of the bathroom, but beneath that calm façade churned a volatile mix of emotions. She’d taken an extra few minutes to align her jumbled thoughts, but her nerves were another matter entirely.
Her investigative efforts so far were like treading water, and it was getting harder for her to see over the waves. Her only suspect was a man who tempted her from across a line that she feared, once crossed, would prove to be a one-way trap. He made her second-guess her abilities, and was a distraction she couldn’t afford. Her partner didn’t trust him and was now suspicious of her. And she had no one to blame but herself. She should’ve included Cooper in more of the encounters with Rafe. Maybe then she wouldn’t be in this predicament. But she hadn’t, and now, her boss ordered her to stay close to the one man who challenged everything she’d ever believed in. The one man who could destroy her if she was wrong about him...if Cooper’s doubts proved accurate.
“I know Cooper is your partner, but I wonder whether he accepts your definition of that term.” Rafe waved her toward a chair positioned at an angle to his.
She crossed the elaborate rug and sank wearily into her seat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The television was on but muted, the latest stock quotes scrolling across the bottom of the wide screen. Soft instrumental music played from some hidden speakers.
“I sense a willingness on his part to become partners of a different sort.”
Mackenzie snorted. “Your senses are off. Coop’s a playboy, sure. But we’re partners because he knows I won’t mistake his harmless teasing for sexual harassment. And I don’t have to worry about a partner trying to make business personal.”
“I see.” Disbelief laced his tone as
he continued to watch the figures on the TV.
His nonchalance irked. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of mixing business with pleasure.”
Those deep, honeyed eyes turned toward her, focused and steady.
“Besides, I think I know my partner better than you do. You’ve met him, what? Twice?”
“Care to make a little side wager?”
His question surprised her, but the challenge in his eyes made her say, “What do you have in mind?”
He glanced at a grandfather clock in the corner of the room. “I say Detective Cooper sees you first as a woman...” To punctuate his point, his gaze slid over her body, leaving behind an irritating trail of tingles. “And secondly as a fellow cop. I believe the evidence to back up my claim will arrive within the next five minutes. Your partner will check up on you.”
Mackenzie smiled. Cooper might be suspicious of her recent actions, but he knew she could handle herself as a cop. There was no reason for him to pop in within five minutes or five hours. “The winner gets?”
“If I win...dinner with you at a location of my choosing. If you win, name your prize.”
“You submit to a lie-detector test, with me asking the questions.”
His eyes narrowed briefly, and she thought for a second that he’d back out, but then he nodded.
“You’re on.” She looked at the clock and saw the minute hand tick once. “Starting now.”
He watched the television. She watched the clock’s hands. At four minutes thirty seconds, her lips curled into a small smile. At four minutes forty-five seconds, she heard footsteps coming toward the room. Five seconds later, Cooper’s face appeared in the doorway, and Mackenzie muttered a curse.
“Mac, I need your keys. Gotta get some gear out of the trunk.”
Bullshit. There wasn’t any gear in the trunk that he couldn’t have gotten from the forensics specialist’s kit. With a frown, she dug her keys out of the pocket of her blue jeans and tossed them to him.
Cooper eyed her but cast glances at Rafe, who sat silently staring at the muted financial report.
“Did you need something else, Coop?” She didn’t try to hide her annoyance.
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