He spread the clean shavings around the stall and folded the bag as he came back out. We watched the mare in silence while she walked in tiny circles in search of the perfect spot to drop and roll in the new wood shavings.
I waited for my brother to answer. It wouldn’t be long now—Adam was a hothead. Even with his new Alpha powers, I still had all the patience in our gene pool.
Adam wiped his forehead, his eyes meeting mine. “I’m not spying. But I know you’re not being honest with me either. You tell me you’re in Vegas. I see news headlines about a man with a shady past who ended up with his skull crushed in a back alley. It’s not tough to connect the dots.” He turned toward the bay mare in her stall. “I haven’t seen a news story about her though. So, have you found her? Did Sasha survive the shoot-out at the lake?”
I nodded. No sense lying.
I chose not to mention that I was the one who saved her that night at the lake, though.
Adam glanced at me. “Any reason you’ve been keeping that a secret?”
“All your questions are starting to piss me off.” I glared at my brother. Having all the patience in our gene pool didn’t mean I was Job. “I’m not some kid, and you’re not my father. I can take care of myself.”
He started dusting the shavings off his shirt. “That’s not what I’m worried about. If she’s still alive, she can come after Lana and the babies.”
My hackles started to rise. Adam had every right to suspect the worst from Sasha, but the wolf inside of me demanded I protect her. I did my best to keep my voice even. “Sasha isn’t working for Nero anymore.”
Adam raised a brow. “How do you know that?”
“Because I killed the guy they sent to look for her. Nero wants her back.”
Chapter Four
My brain buzzed as I stared at the text on my phone. I tried to call the number, but it was blocked. If I were still on the police force, I could’ve triangulated the cell towers to try to narrow down from where the person sent the text. It didn’t really matter. With all the cell phone users in Los Angeles, it’d be like trying to find a needle in a haystack anyway.
Besides, I wasn’t a detective anymore.
I took in a slow breath through my nose, regaining control of my heart rate. The text was creepy, but all it really meant was that someone who knew what I was had gotten my cell phone number. It didn’t mean they knew where I was staying.
But it also didn’t mean they
A drop of adrenaline shot through my bloodstream. I set the phone back on the nightstand and got up. Pacing back and forth, I ran scenarios through my head until I was dizzy with all the potential outcomes and probabilities.
All of them sucked. Dammit.
I sighed and went to my bag, digging around for a hair tie. Panic wasn’t getting me anywhere. I needed to think. Once I had my hair pulled back in a ponytail, I snatched one of the large towels from the bathroom and laid it on the floor beside the nightstand. I wanted to clear my head and calm my spirit so I could think, but just in case, I wasn’t going to be far from my gun. Sitting on my knees I took a couple deep breaths before warming up my body with a few simple yoga postures.
Stretching out my muscles felt like heaven. Between the anonymous text message and the long drive across the desert, my entire body ached. Focusing on my breathing and balance quieted my mind until I finally felt peace replacing the anxiety. My pulse found its normal rhythm, and rational thought came creeping back.
Whoever was looking for me wouldn’t have bothered sending a text if they knew where I was. They would’ve just made the grab. They were trying to rattle me and force a mistake. I still had the upper hand.
I straightened up and took the towel back in the bathroom. Untwisting the hair band, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. With my fair complexion and now auburn hair, my brown eyes seemed even darker, almost black. I shook my hair out, letting it fall back on my shoulders.
The wolf still recognized me.
The wolf… Maybe he sent the text. It didn’t really seem like his style, but it was a lead to consider that calmed my nerves a little. At least he was a known entity. I needed some sleep before I attempted a coherent conversation, but later in the afternoon, I’d do a little searching and track him down. He wasn’t the only one with stalking abilities.
Not that I wanted to talk to him again. I shook my head, rolling my eyes. Who was I fooling? Dammit, I needed to get him out of my head. This annoying attraction was throwing my focus off. I couldn’t afford to be distracted.
But I didn’t know why in the world he would help me, so what reason could he have for taking out the Nero informants? It definitely couldn’t be to help me. I found out through Sebastian that the Pack’s Alpha died in the fight at Lake Tahoe. Nero wouldn’t have been there if it weren’t for me. It was my fault.
I closed my eyes, struggling to keep the memory of that night from replaying in my head. Waking to find a huge werewolf licking my face, sharp deadly canines brushing my skin almost tenderly. It hadn’t been until he stepped back, favoring one of his hind legs, that I’d realized I recognized those dazzling green eyes.
Ugh. I shut down my line of thought. He was good looking, strong, and brave, and he’d saved me. Any woman would be attracted, but it had to end there. I had to stop thinking about him. Instead, I thought about Sebastian. That’s what trusting a man brought—betrayal and pain. I’d vowed to never forget and never make the same mistake again.
I slid my fingers back through my hair and rolled my eyes at my reflection. A wolf was the last thing I needed in my life right now.
It’d be much easier to stop thinking about him if he’d been wearing his shirt when I walked into that emergency room. No man with a chiseled torso like his should be allowed to sit around without a shirt on. And those eyes, that voice.
The leather band that covered my left wrist stole my attention. I knew what it covered, but some part of me always hoped that somehow that damned tattoo of the lion head with an “N” on its forehead would vanish. Sadly, the black brand that labeled me as a Nero operative was still there, staring back at me, reminding me of every crime I committed for them. No amount of evidence against Nero would clear my conscience, but if I could get away and go back to my job on the police force, at least I could start making strides toward justice and the woman I used to know.
Rubbing my wrist, I went to the bed and picked up the Ruger beside my cell phone. After checking the chamber to be sure it was loaded—a force of habit—I slid the pistol back under my pillow. With my weapon stowed, I crawled under the covers and clicked off the light. When I woke up I’d check with the wolf about that text message, and then I’d get back online and see if I could hack my way into some photos or records inside the locked ward of the Nero compound. Having a plan calmed my mind. If I could get some dirt on them, I’d have the leverage I needed to get them off my ass and stop running. That was the goal anyway.
I just wanted my life back.
Chapter Five
From my corner office, I had a view of downtown Reno, surrounded by mountains in the distance. After my dad died, I could’ve moved into his office. I knew he’d want me to have it. But it felt haunted to me.
