“What do the walls have to do with anything?” he strained to say.
“Nothing much. I just want to look at them.”
He shook the inappropriate thoughts from his mind and turned around. “Get in your car and go home.” He frowned, remembering that he hadn’t seen a car in the parking lot. “How did you beat me here anyway? The parking lot is empty.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Pft, as if I’d park my Yamaha R4 right outside. That would send the po-po here to investigate.”
“You ride a motorcycle?”
“Yeppers. I ride a speed machine filled with awesomeness.”
“I ride a MV Agusta F4CC,” he said smugly. If she thought she had a good bike, she’d worship his. It was a limited edition model that only true riders would appreciate.
Her eyes opened wide. Just the response he was looking for. “No shit. How much are those things? About a hundred grand?”
“If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it.”
“Don’t be a wise-ass. I was just asking you a question.”
“And I’m telling you, forget about how much my bike costs. You couldn’t afford it anyway on a teacher’s salary.”
“Keep it up and I’ll knock you out again,” she muttered under her breath.
“Again?”
“Yeah, again. Remember? I hit you with this?” She pointed to her forehead. “And you went.” She rolled her eyes and pretended to fall to the ground.
He pulled back his shoulders. Never before had a female taken him down. “I was taken off guard.”
“Yeah, but you’re head of security. If I were your employer I’d think twice about entrusting my company’s welfare to you.”
“I don’t have employers. I own the company with my two brothers. We work together.”
She snorted and walked around the desk, messing with some of the objects on top of it. “Well, that explains a lot.”
He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing. I’m sure they made you feel real important when they gave you that job and title. You wouldn’t by chance be the youngest brother would you?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
She held back a smile.
He shook his head. “I have better things to do than try to figure you out. You need to get out of here and go back home.” He went to her and pulled her from behind the desk. “On second thought, you’d probably set off an alarm, if you haven’t already.” He pointed to a chair on the other side of the room. “Go over there and stay put.”
This was no time for a woman to be in his way, especially if she just wanted to nose about and inspect the walls. He had to pull it together and make her leave. He’d send her right out the front door… Hold up. The front door had been locked and alarm system engaged when he arrived. Of course he disarmed it so he could complete his task without worrying about tripping an alarm, but how had she gotten around it? It wasn’t sophisticated by any means, but still, he doubted she knew how to silence it.
“Stay put? Like I’m a dog or something? If anyone set off an alarm it was you. I came up the side of the building and entered through the third story window. There weren’t any alarms.”
He could feel the color draining from his face. Did this woman have some kind of death wish? “You what?” It took all his composure not to yell at her or shake some sense into her head.
She lifted a shoulder. “I scaled the wall. Don’t get your panties all in a bunch. It was the back wall, so don’t worry, no one saw me.”
He shook his head. “I don’t believe you. I don’t even know why I’m listening to any of this.”
“Whatever. I don’t have anything to prove to you. I’m here looking for clues. I’m conducting my own investigation. I’ll leave you to conduct yours.”
She turned away from him. Before she could get too far he grabbed her arm, stopping her. “Let’s pretend that you did in fact scale the wall and entered through the third story window. How would you have learned something like that?”
She pulled her arm from his grasp and continued to walk toward an office. “My dad.”
“Why would a father teach his daughter something as dangerous as that?”
She stopped at the door, but didn’t turn to look at him. “My dad taught me a lot of things that I’m sure would be questionable in your eyes.”
He had no choice but to watch her walk through the door and disappear into the other room.
What the hell was up with that woman? Meisha had a dangerous streak in her. One he was sure men didn’t appreciate. Hell, he shouldn’t be appreciating it either. She was all hell and spitfire.
He pulled his gaze away from the empty doorway. Meisha was nothing but a distraction. When he was done looking for clues, hairs or anything of that nature, he’d be out of here. And if Trudy’s computer was still here, which he doubted, he would take it back to the hotel so that she could continue her work on finding out who was embezzling from Dark Wolf Enterprises.
He forced thoughts of Meisha out of his mind and concentrated on the desk. The computer monitor lay toppled on its side and had a large crack down the middle of the screen. The phone receiver dangled off the side of the desk, the cord was stretched out and misshapen. He assumed the other wolves had most likely used it to strangle Mark.
There were file trays lying on the floor, and the papers he figured had once been piled neatly into them were scattered about. A coffee mug with the words “World’s Greatest Dad” was written across it, with hearts around the words, lay on its side. Coffee—now dried, formed a black trail from the mug and crossed the desk to only come to an abrupt stop. Speckles of blood dotted the desk and had pooled in two different spots, one toward the middle and the other near a sharp corner. They probably banged Marks’s head against that corner.
Mark hadn’t stood a chance. Poor guy. The two wolf-shifters had really done a number on him.
Lajos sniffed. All the blood was human, not a trace of shifter in it. He hadn’t expected there to be. He didn’t think Mark had gotten off any defensive licks, causing the wolves to bleed or anything. But Lajos had still hoped for a lead. If he could smell their blood he would’ve had an easier time tracing the pack they belonged to. He looked around for anything else that could give him some clues about who they were, and found nothing. The local police would’ve bagged anything of importance anyway.
He opened Mark’s desk drawer just as Meisha was coming out of Trudy’s office. “Her computer is gone. Do you think those punks stole it?”
He rummaged through the desk, finding nothing but extra pens and office supplies. “Probably.” He picked up a small spiral notebook. It was small enough to fit into a pocket.
“What’s that?”
Lajos could hear her walking toward him, but didn’t bother to look up. He was too engrossed in his find and didn’t answer her either. He opened the notepad and flipped through the pages. Mark had written notes about doctors’ appointments, physical therapy sessions, bills that were due…
Shifter.
The scent hit his nose. He let the smell waft over him. He’d recognize that scent anywhere. It was from the shifters he and Kristof had stopped from attacking Trudy earlier. The same scent that also lingered in this office. He eyed the entrance that led out to the hallway. It was empty now, but he knew the wolves were in the building and coming their way.
His wolf growled, pacing in the back of his mind. He wanted out. Lajos didn’t know what form the others would come in but he knew most shifters, like him, preferred to fight in their animal form. With Meisha here, he didn’t want to chance her finding out about him, but if two wolves came rushing through the door he would have no choice but to shift and fight.
“Meisha,” he said low, as he stuffed the small notebook into his pocket. “I want you to go into the office and barricade yourself inside. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out.
She froze. “What’
s the matter?” she whispered.
“We have company. Go and hide now,” he said urgently.
She dropped what she was holding and began to take slow, tentative steps backward. “Is it the Yaruzi? Are they coming for me?”
As much as he wanted to ask why she thought a Japanese gang notorious for political corruption, drugs, weapons and money laundering would be after her, he refrained. That would have to wait for another time. “It’s not anyone from the Yaruzi.”
With that news her features turned from fear to relief then confusion. “Then who are we hiding from?”
“Whoever was here earlier is coming back for another visit.”
He knew it was the wrong thing to have said when she stopped backing away and narrowed her eyes. “In that case, I think I’ll stay. I owe them a little something for messing with my friend.”
Chapter Six
“Meisha, my order isn’t up for debate.” Lajos kept his eyes on the door, anticipating the wolves to come storming through. Their scent was closer than it’d been just minutes before. He sniffed at the air again. They were just beyond the door.
His wolf pushed, trying to come forward. Hold back, he coaxed. We can’t show Meisha anything.
A picture of Meisha standing on the other side of the threshold of Trudy’s office projected in his head and then he flashed to another of Trudy’s door closed. His wolf was sending him images of what he wanted Meisha to do.
He had to try again. “Meisha,” he said her name more forcefully this time. “Trudy’s office. Now.”
From his peripheral vision he saw her crouch and fiddle with her ankle. When she stood, she held a dagger in each hand. “One day you’ll learn to stop trying to give me orders.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to protect you.”
She twirled the knives in her hand like they were nothing but mere batons. “You do you and let me do me.”
Movement outside the door caught his attention. He snapped his focus where it should be and readied his stance. Meisha side-stepped to hide behind one of the partitions.
At least she’ll be out of the way.
A low growl emitted from the door. It was human, meaning they hadn’t shifted—yet. His wolf’s anticipation grew at the challenge. Lajos growled back.
Challenge met.
The first shifter came across the threshold, slow and predatory. His gaze darted side to side and then narrowed on Lajos. Lajos tensed his jaw and balled his fists at his side. His wolf sent him pictures of Lajos shifting and ripping and tearing at the man’s flesh. The shifter made room for the other to enter. He’d been right. They were the same shifters that he and Kristof had chased from Trudy’s house.
One was larger than the other, but both were bigger than Lajos. They had the muscled bodies of people who spent a lot of time lifting weights at the gym. Most wolf shifters didn’t lift weights because it made for a bulky wolf, and big wolves couldn’t run as fast and didn’t have as much stamina as the others. Lifting weights was left for the bears and lions, where brute strength was needed more than agility.
The shifters were tanned, with dark hair. As he stared them down, mentally cataloguing their appearance, they did the same to him. They stood side-by-side, blocking the entrance, as if they thought Lajos would try to flee.
Lajos smiled. They obviously didn’t know who they were dealing with. He’d never run from a fight in his life.
“Happy to be dying today?” the taller one asked. He had a distinctive, heavy Russian accent, something that Trudy had mentioned to the police earlier. The tall shifter chuckled and elbowed the other one, who also laughed.
Lajos stretched his neck from side to side. “A lot of things make me happy. Mainly killing rogue shif—” He caught himself from revealing anything while Meisha was in ear shot. “I like teaching lessons to assholes who go after defenseless women. I find it…” He took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with air. “Invigorating.”
The shorter one inclined his head toward Lajos. “How much do you think we can get for the youngest pup, Alexei?”
Alexei raised his shoulder. “Who cares? I’d kill him for free. It’ll send a message to the others.”
“I told you we should’ve gotten them both when we had a chance. Do you think—”
“Holy fuck, Fedir! Shut up.” Alexei yelled, frowning and looking down at his friend.
Lajos focused on what Fedir had said. “Do you think what, Fedir? Your employer would give you more for killing Kristof and I?”
Fedir looked over at the other shifter.
“Don’t open your mouth, Fedir.” And then the shifter inclined his head at Lajos. “Are we going to fight or what?”
“I’m always up for a good tussle,” Lajos replied.
Fedir let out a growl and charged at Lajos, head down and hands out.
Lajos stepped to the side and shot out his arm just in time to catch Fedir in his neck. With an “Omph,” Fedir stumbled back and grabbed at his throat. Lajos took the opportunity to jab Fedir two times in his face, sending him crashing to the floor. Alexei jumped over Fedir and came charging at Lajos. Lajos stood his ground, ready to do the same move, but at the last minute Alexei crouched and kicked out his foot, hitting Lajos in the knee before he could jump of the way.
Pain shot up his leg. His wolf howled.
When Alexei went to uppercut him, Lajos turned in a circle, moving out of his reach and making Alexei miss his target. Lajos used the momentum from the turn to drive his fist into Alexei’s side. It was like punching a brick wall. Lajos could hear his knuckles crunch under the force.
Alexei laughed as Lajos pulled his hand back. “Alexei has muscles of steel.”
“Okay,” Lajos said, trying to ignore the pain from his hand. “Referring to yourself in the third person is not crazy at all.”
Alexei puffed out his chest and hit his fist in the middle of it. “Hit me. I give you one chance.”
Never one to pass up a free opportunity Lajos balled his throbbing fist and went after Alexei with all his might, hitting him in the stomach, trying to catch him off guard. His fist felt like it broke into a million pieces. Lajos bit down on his lip, holding out against the pain. He balled his other fist and hauled back to lay another punch. Alexei ducked and, before he could react, Fedir wielded a chair, bringing it down on Lajos’ head. Lajos stumbled back as the pieces of chair broke around him.
As they both rushed him, Lajos jumped to land on the bloodied desk. Good thing the police had already done their investigation, otherwise the footprints in the crime scene would’ve caused more confusion and probably prolonged the investigation.
“Why don’t you tell me who hired you, eh?” Lajos stepped out of Alexei’s grasp. The big shifter was slow. “Tell me the name of the coward that lets knuckleheads do all his dirty work.”
“Never.” Alexei tried to grab Lajos’ leg again but was met with a mouthful of shoe. Lajos swore he heard Alexei’s teeth crack under his kick. Alexei cupped his mouth, giving Lajos just enough time to grab the phone off the desk and smash it across Alexei’s skull.
His momentary joy of having gotten off a shot was short lived when, from the corner of his eye he spotted Meisha leaving her hiding place, inching toward them.
Go, run away, he willed. If she left he could shift and make mincemeat out of these two. But no, she inched her way closer to Fedir. If she survived this he was going to throttle her.
Lajos was getting his ass kicked, and if she didn’t help him he’d probably end up getting killed too. While she hadn’t found any kind of signs that the Yaruzi had been responsible for Mark’s death, she still couldn’t be certain that these men hadn’t been hired by them. Maybe they forgot to leave a calling card—a message for Meisha and her family. That could be the reason why they returned, to paint the Yaruzi gang sign somewhere.
Well, if she could help it, these men wouldn’t be relaying anything back to the Yaruzi.
Meisha went for the smaller one, while he was
preoccupied with trying to get his hands on Lajos.
She gripped the handle of the knives she held and crept forward as softly as possible. Her steps were light and fast. What she planned to do was stab the motherfucker in both of his thighs and, when he fell, stomp his face into the carpet. But when he turned around and snarled at her she knew her plans had to change.
“Trying to sneak up on me, bitch?” A sinister smile crossed Fedir’s lips. “I can smell you a mile away. I have plans to take care of you properly once we finish off the Hungarian pup.”
She tilted her head. “And by ‘properly’ what are we talking about here? Rape? Murder?” She brought one of the knives up by her face and kept the other one aimed low.
He chuckled and his eyes gleamed. “A little bit of both.”
“Meisha,” Lajos yelled. “Run. Get out of here.”
She didn’t allow herself to take her eyes off the threat in front of her to look over at Lajos. But she could hear the strain in his voice and in her peripheral vision she could see him trading blows with the other guy.
“Go ahead, run,” the asshole in front of her said. “I like a good chase.”
Split them up.
She turned and bolted for the door. The guy behind her laughed. Fedir was sure she would be easy pickings. When she made it to the hallway she turned right and continued her sprint. She allowed herself just enough time to look over her shoulder. Just as she expected, he was coming out of the office to follow her.
She turned around, focusing her attention ahead.
Boots slamming on the linoleum came up fast behind her.
She just needed to make it to the next corner.
The sound of his boots disappeared.
Shit. Did he stop his pursuit?
Turning around to look would only slow her down, but she had no choice. She looked.
What the fuck?
Fedir had kicked off his boots and was pulling his shirt off over his head as he ran.
He’s getting ready to rape me.
She was going to fucking kill him.
She rounded the corner and slid to a stop. She whirled around and slammed her back against the wall, sliding down to a crouch and readying her knives.
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