I forced my lips into a firm line. Weapons weren’t my style. I could use a gun, but I wasn’t comfortable with them. Watching her slap the magazine back into the Glock and snap up her smaller pistol from the nightstand, it was easy to see that her weapons were an extension of her body. She trusted them like she did her own legs. Almost on cue, she placed her right foot on the chair and pulled up her pant leg. A leather calf holster was already in place and her weapon stowed in the blink of an eye.
An efficient killer if she had to be.
A sexy killer.
I ground my teeth together, trying to keep my head. This was the same woman who seduced me and then wanted to pretend it never happened. She ran hot and cold until I couldn’t find my equilibrium anymore.
She snagged her coat from the closet and glanced back at me. “You coming, wolf?”
I fought the urge to remind her of my name and just nodded. She did let me open the door for her, and when we got to the elevator she glanced up at me. “I’m sorry.”
The door opened and we stepped inside. That was all I was going to get, but for now it was enough.
…
Sebastian’s eyes locked on mine the minute we walked into the Denny’s. He had a table in the corner of the nearly empty diner. I hadn’t seen him since the night Sasha shot me.
The bastard had been busy conning my brother and Lana at the time.
My eyes narrowed when he stood up. Sebastian opened his arms to Sasha, but she just raised her eyebrow and slid inside of the booth. Tough not to smirk at that.
The jaguar’s dark eyes moved from her to me. “Should I take care of this wolf for you?”
This was the same cat that had killed Gabe, a member of my Pack. He’d bitten Sasha and ruined her life, and he’d also gone after Lana. A smooth jaguar assassin from the Nero Organization. More than enough reasons for me to take him out.
My hands balled into tight fists, but I didn’t move. Decking him in the middle of Denny’s would only land me in jail. I couldn’t help Sasha from behind bars.
So I baited him to throw the first punch. “Now that I’m not tied up, I’d like to see you try, you gutless bastard.”
Sasha cleared her throat and leaned out of the booth. “Can you two save the pissing contest for later?”
“But of course.” Sebastian rolled his shoulders back and shot Sasha a GQ smile that made me want to pummel him all over again. “Not that it would be much of a contest.”
A growl escaped my throat at his taunt, and I smiled when Sebastian took his seat in the booth, leaving me the last man standing. “I think I can finally agree with you on something.” I sat down beside Sasha never taking my attention off of him. “It wouldn’t be a contest at all.”
Chapter Sixteen
Aren waited for Sebastian to sit down before he moved into the booth beside me.
“Thank you for meeting us.” I kept all my attention on Sebastian, but underneath the table I gripped Aren’s knee.
I hated myself for the weak moment. It was like my hand reached out for Aren without any conscious thought on my part, an instinctive need to touch him and know he was with me. At least he didn’t react outwardly. I just felt his large hand cover mine in silent solidarity.
Did he know that was exactly what I needed from him? It didn’t have to mean anything. Nothing about tonight changed the facts.
Seeing Sebastian reminded me of my own mistakes. His dark, handsome face brought back memories of him purring lines of poetry against my ear. He wrapped his long fingers around his coffee mug, and for a second, I could remember him touching me, filling my head with lies about love and destiny, using me to complete his mission and ruin my life. Asshole.
Under the table, Aren’s hand gave mine a squeeze and I loosened my grip on his knee. Damn it. I needed to focus.
“Severino hired a new guy to bring me in.” I lowered my voice a little. “He was carrying a Beretta with a silencer.”
Sebastian sipped his coffee like none of this surprised him. “Before we talk business I need to know why this wolf is at our table. Is he your prisoner again?”
Now Aren’s hand clamped onto mine, almost painfully, under the table, but he remained silent while I replied. “No, and why he’s here is none of your business.”
Sebastian raised a brow and lowered his mug. “I believe it
I ran my tongue over my teeth, fighting the urge to reach across the table and slap Sebastian. “The bounty hunter Severino sent is a werewolf. Who would be better to catch a wolf than another wolf?”
I prayed Aren would stay quiet. I could explain everything later, but I needed Sebastian to buy this. The bounty hunter could’ve told Nero about my sister already, but until I was sure, I wasn’t going to chance it.
If I told Sebastian about Nadya, eventually Nero would know too.
Sebastian started to smile. “Very good point.” His eyes flicked over to Aren. “So how much is she paying you, wolf?”
“Enough,” Aren said.
I squeezed his knee, silently thanking him for playing along and focused on Sebastian. “What do you know about this werewolf on my tail?”
“The last informant that Severino sent for you got word back that you survived the attack at Lake Tahoe. We were all questioned. He suspected me, given our romantic past…” He shot a smile at Aren, which made the wolf’s entire body tense up beside me, but thankfully he didn’t take the bait. “Severino knew someone on the inside was assisting you, so he hired outside.”
“Far outside if he’s paying a werewolf,” I added.
Sebastian shrugged. “And not just any wolf.” He lowered his voice. “He went to the last member of the Lycan Squad.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sounds like a bad horror movie. Are you telling me the government has a division of the military filled with werewolves?”
Sebastian wet his lips. “There are many secrets I cannot share with even you, Beautiful One. I will tell you that when Nero began the government funded our program. There are branches of the military that even top- secret security clearance cannot reach.”
“So this guy could be working for the government
“I don’t know that yet. Our communications are not safe right now so do not contact me through the phone or Internet. I will find you when I have more information.” He paused, glancing at Aren before he met my eyes again. “Because of the
My back stiffened at the realization that my infertility made my life completely worthless in the eyes of Nero. For a moment Sebastian’s features softened, all of his arrogance melting away. “If I could have made different choices I would have. I never meant for any of this to happen to you.”
“Too late for that.” I nudged Aren who took the hint and got up from the booth. Once I was on my feet, I nodded to Sebastian. “Thank you for the information.”
I turned on my heel and headed for the door. Outside, Aren popped the locks on his car and we got inside. He didn’t say a word until we pulled out of the parking lot.
“Severino is the founder of Nero, right?”
I nodded and kept my focus out the window.
“So Sebastian is the son of the head of Nero.” He bopped the steering wheel. “Perfect.”
