Shooting him would be a lot less painful. For both of them.
Chapter Two
Julio had been dealt a truly shitty hand.
Sighing, he tossed in two cards. “Pony up some good ones this time, Dade.”
Wesley Dade eyed his stack of chips, the stack in front of Julio, and let his gaze drift around the rest of the table. “This is an embarrassment to psychics everywhere. A couple of precogs, and we’re letting them beat us at poker.” A deft flick of his wrist slid two fresh cards across the polished wood. “And Alec can’t even count.”
Alec snarled an unintelligible curse and glared at his cards. “You dealing from the bottom of the deck?”
“No.”
His frown deepening, Alec slid three cards across the table.
“There’s only one explanation,” the brunette at the end of the table drawled in a light, lazy voice. “McNeely’s packing four aces and is about to take us all for our money.”
Wesley sent three cards skimming toward Alec. “Yes, Giselle. We know you’re intimately acquainted with what McNeely’s packing.”
Julio choked on his beer as the woman flashed Wesley a familiar, confused look. “I think you’re getting your reality wires crossed again,” he suggested quietly. After all, judging from the woman’s blush, nothing of the sort had happened—yet.
Wesley frowned. “But I thought…”
To his left, New Orleans’ only shapeshifting police lieutenant glared at Julio. McNeely was a huge man who intimidated cops and criminals alike, but he looked ready to crawl under the table. “What did I say about letting him drink?”
Only one defense against that. “I’m not his mama.”
Alec cast the final member of their game a questioning look. “Are these meetings always this cranky?”
Jackson kept his gaze on his cards. “It’d be even crankier, but Zola was busy tonight. You should see the fits that woman pitches when she loses.”
“Hard to believe you misfits are keeping New Orleans running while I’m shouting at the Conclave in New York.”
As far as Julio was concerned, it was a small miracle. “Too bad you and Carmen don’t make it down here more often. You could help us out.”
“Trust me, buddy, we’d both rather be here.” Alec shuffled his cards around. “At least your sister’s doing some good right now.”
“Sure.” She’d spent the last year working her ass off to improve the lot of wolves everywhere, and Julio had to wonder if she was staying so busy to keep her mind off how miserable things were in New York.
Alec’s gaze flicked to the corner, where his massive bodyguard had turned down the offer of joining the game in favor of reading a book. “Was there anything else? If we get through business, I can fly out early and meet them in Little Rock.”
Giselle tossed in her cards. “Word on the street is that things are pretty quiet. We’ve had an influx of new shifters, and by new I mean made. Still wet behind the ears. I took on a few of them and sent the rest Julio’s way.”
“Andrew and Kat’s doing?” Alec asked, glancing at Julio.
“Some,” he admitted. “They’re finding wolves scattered all over the place, with no pack and no idea what the hell’s going on. But I’ve heard others say word’s getting around they’ll be protected here, so we’re also drawing small groups.”
“As long as they don’t stir up trouble.” McNeely’s deep rumble was self-conscious, and he carefully avoided looking at Giselle. “Quiet is a nice change. There’s only so many times I can cover up massive shapeshifter hell- raising in a given month.”
Jackson laughed. “Liar. You love it, man.”
“Bullshit.” But the man smiled, just a little.
Alec tossed his cards into the middle of the table. “My hand’s crap. Julio, have you got a few minutes? I want to catch up and get gone. I don’t like Carmen traveling without me.”
She probably wasn’t crazy about it either, and Julio shoved down a flash of irritation. “I had nothing anyway.” He threw in his cards and rose, bringing his beer with him.
Wesley Dade shrugged and dealt another hand as Julio led Alec into the lobby area outside the offices. Alec shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed. “I know she’s okay. I know she’s got her bodyguard and Franklin’s with her, and your sister can damn well take care of herself… but I still hate this.”
It almost made Julio feel bad for being irritated. “She has to miss you. Don’t forget that part.”
Alec—unshakable Alec, who faced down the Conclave on a daily basis—flinched. “Just makes me feel worse. She’s been working herself hard to get these clinics going.”
“What did you expect? She’s not going to have tea and throw dinner parties. It’s not who she is.”
That earned him a frown. “She could take a weekend off and read a book.”
“Carmen?” Julio snorted. “You married her. You should know better.”
“So why are you acting like you want to break my face?”
The older man leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. “Of course she’s upset. We
He was just like everyone else—doing the best he could. “Sorry. It’s hard to see, that’s all. I know you’d make it better for her if you could.”
“If she’d let me,” Alec corrected with a grumble. “Your sister’s a stubborn, bossy woman.”
“Yeah, she is.” Julio glanced at the open doorway where the others were still engrossed in their card game and lowered his voice. “Have you heard anything about a handful of wolf mercs turning up dead? Patrick McNamara showed up the other night, busted to hell and back.”
“Aw, shit. No, haven’t heard anything…but I bet he knows how to make a body or two disappear.”
“He says his vendetta’s over, but I don’t know.” Julio met Alec’s gaze. “I think some things get to be a habit.”
“Yes, they do.” Alec rubbed a hand over his beard, his eyes unfocused. “Did Patrick shove off again, or is he sticking around this time?”
“He made a quick trip to Atlanta, but he’s back now. Staying at the apartment over Mahalia’s.
Want me to talk to him?”
“Maybe your brother. I wouldn’t usually ask him to snoop, but a telepath could give us a heads-up if Patrick’s about to go over the edge.”
Alec deserved the warning. “If Anna finds out…” Julio made a face.
He got a blank look. “If Anna finds out what?”
Shit, he really
Alec’s mouth fell open, and he gaped at Julio as if he’d lost his mind. “Are you telling me
“Not totally mushy, but soft enough to rip our heads off if she thinks he’s in danger.”
“Well that’s some goddamned end-of-days shit.” Alec shook his head with a muffled laugh.
“Anna’s still living with Sera, isn’t she? Maybe she can provide a soothing influence, keep Anna from blowing her top.”
“Maybe.” Julio hesitated. “He’s a friend, Alec. It’ll be okay.”
“I trust you.” And they weren’t just words. The way Alec slumped back against the wall, his very weariness a weakness, proved it. “Listen, I know it’s hard now, with us in New York and you knowing your sister’s having a shit time…but this won’t be forever. We’re digging our heels in because we’re making some progress, and it’s
