the sign I was anxious for my clothes and definitely my shoes. I retrieved my backpack, and my brow furrowed.
I smelled the wolf again.
I ripped my bag open, my pulse racing. The scent was stronger inside. He’d been in my pack. I pawed through my clothes for my guns. Both pistols were there. I checked the magazines, and the bullets were all accounted for, too. Frowning, I scanned the area. What was he after? I didn’t have any money, and my wallet and cell phone were locked in the trunk of the car.
The keys.
With my heart pounding in my ears, I yanked the rest of my belongings out of the pack and let out a sigh of relief. The keys to the Beamer were safe at the bottom of my backpack.
Maybe he’d given up when he realized there wasn’t any cash or credit cards? But it didn’t add up. Why would a werewolf be up here anyway? Unless he tracked me here, it was the only explanation that made sense.
I put on my bra and shirt while watching the bushes for any sign of movement. He could still be out there somewhere, although right now his scent only lingered around my bag. I picked up my pants and realized he had taken something after all.
The sick bastard had my underwear.
Gritting my teeth, I finished getting dressed. Once I had my Glock and my Ruger back in place, I felt less exposed and phenomenally more pissed.
Why was this asshole toying with me? I needed to force him to make a mistake so I could take him out.
Game over.
I got back to my car and opened the door. An unopened pouch of kitty treats waited for me on the driver’s seat. The asshole had been in my car. Instinctively, my hand slid under my coat, hovering over the handle of my Glock while I took cover behind the driver’s side door. Nothing moved, but that didn’t mean I was alone.
How could he have known this was my car? I glanced at my leather BMW key ring and sighed. I had the only BMW parked in this lot. He didn’t have to be a genius to figure it out. My car had probably been the only one left in the lot overnight.
He’d be able to tail me now.
I waited. Waiting was the toughest part of police work. All it took was a second of uncalculated panic for all hell to break loose. That’s how cops died.
Okay, so shouting for a stalker to come and get me wasn’t standard procedure, but I didn’t want him to think he scared me. Plus the sooner I found out who was after me, the sooner I could take him out. But he wasn’t grabbing the bait.
I kept my gun at the ready as I went to the trunk to grab my wallet and cell phone. My fake ID and credit cards were all accounted for. Maybe he hadn’t been through the trunk. I reached for my cell phone, and my heart stopped.
My welcome screen read “Meow.”
In case he watched me from a distance, I struggled to keep my expression neutral. I slammed the trunk closed, slapped the cat treats out of the car, and slid behind the wheel. My palms were slick with sweat as I revved the engine. The tires squealed when I cranked the wheel, spinning my car into a 180-degree turn as I punched the accelerator. My eyes flicked from the windshield to the rearview mirror, watching for a tail. Where was he?
When no cars followed, I relaxed my grip on the steering wheel and forced myself to take a deep breath. This wasn’t just another informant for Nero. Not this time. This guy was too slick to be a snitch. But if Nero had sent an assassin to take me out, it would be a jaguar. Wouldn’t it? There were rumors floating around of werewolf experiments, but they’d been abandoned years ago.
I pulled out my cell and hit the number for Sebastian.
He sounded out of breath when he answered. “Not now.”
“Did Severino put someone new on my tail?” I kept watching the road ahead and behind me.
“I said not now. Beware the Jabberwock.”
The line went dead. My brow furrowed. The cryptic poetry signaled his phone was compromised. I was on my own.
I checked my mirrors again. Seeing that my stalker still wasn’t following me, I had to assume he put a tracker in or on my car somewhere. I’d have to swap cars. But first I needed to be sure Nadya was safe. I hit her number on speed dial and held my breath.
“Sash?”
I’d never been so grateful to hear her voice. “Yeah, it’s me.”
“Thank God! I was worried about you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Worried?”
“Yeah, the paramedic called me this morning asking if I was a relative. He told me you were in an accident, and he needed to know if you were allergic to any medications.”
I fought the urge to hyperventilate and took the next exit off the freeway. “How long ago did he call you?”
“So you’re all right?”
“Nadya, he’s not a paramedic.” I stopped in a McDonald’s parking lot and shut off the engine. “There was no accident. This is about that case I’m working. He stole my cell phone.”
In the silence, I could almost hear her frown as she connected the dots. “I didn’t tell him where I am, Sash.”
“Good.” I rested my forehead against the steering wheel. “Get packed and call a cab for the airport.”
“The airport? Where am I going?”
“I’m not sure yet, just get out of Massachusetts. This guy is good, Nadya. If he wants to use you as leverage to get to me, he’ll find you.”
“But I didn’t tell him where I was. I can’t just up and leave. The semester’s not over yet.”
“Tell the Dean you had a death in the family. Staying there isn’t an option.” I rubbed my forehead, fighting against the headache blooming behind my eyes. “He has your number, and he knows your name. It won’t take him long to find you.”
“Fine.” She sighed. “I can’t afford to repeat a semester.”
“Nadya, it’s only money, okay? I’m talking about your life.” I did my best not to yell. It wasn’t her fault any of this happened, and because I couldn’t tell her what was really going on she had no concept of the danger.
I’d tried so hard to keep her out of all this.
“Okay, I get it. I’ll get packed.”
“And ditch your phone.”
“But all my—”
“Just get rid of it. We’ll buy you another phone. Email me from your laptop when you’re at the airport. I’ll get you an eTicket out of there.”
“You’re sure you’re all right?”
“As long as you are.” I just had to keep her that way. “Talk to you soon.”
I closed my phone. The bastard had spoken to my sister. My weak spot was exposed. I slapped both hands against the steering wheel. He was probably already on his way to Massachusetts. That would explain why I wasn’t being followed.
I rubbed my hands down my face. Sitting on my ass worrying wasn’t going to right this sinking ship. With Sebastian on the run, I couldn’t count on him for help either. Besides, while I was fairly certain he didn’t have anything to do with the sick asshole tracking me, I still couldn’t be sure of his motives.
I’d never trust Sebastian completely. Never again.
I stared at my cell phone and sighed.
