Page 103 of Fangs and Fudge

Vena shoved his phone back at him.

“If you’re sending my brother in as bait, I have a right to be there. Ev and I will follow at a distance. I promise we won’t get in the way, and we won’t attract notice.”

Shepard pocketed his phone. “I suppose it will be safer to keep you where I can see you to ensure you don’t pull one of your ill-planned stunts.”

“I’m slightly offended, but I will take this as a mutual agreement.”

“Are we ready then?” Cross asked.

“Ready,” Vena said.

I wasn’t. Not really. Every time we did something like that, things went wrong. But I kept those dark thoughts to myself.

Cross plucked the fairy from the jar and held it at eye level. “You will forget everything since leaving this house and sleep until you hear the door close.”

It gave a nod and fell asleep in his hand. Cross set it on the table.

“We’ll be outside waiting for you,” he said with a nod to Shepard. “Make it believable.”

Cross went to Miles. “You will wake up after you hear the door close. You will forget that Vena, Everly, and I were here. Shepard arrived to check on Tank.”

The three of us left to move the car so Miles wouldn’t spot it the moment he left the house. We’d just parked at the other end of the block when Shepard and Tank left the apartment and jogged over.

I rolled down my window and Shepard leaned down to look at Cross in the back seat.

“The fairy stole the ring when it thought I wasn’t paying attention,” Shepard said. “I told Miles I needed to borrow Tank for thirty minutes. He’s going to move fast.”

A large black truck pulled behind us. Shepard swore softly, and Vena groaned.

“Change of plans,” Shepard said to MC as he opened his door. “Vena and Everly don’t need an escort home. We have a lead we’re following instead.”

“A lead?” MC asked, getting out. “On Anchor?”

I watched MC inhale and look at Cross through the back window. I glanced at Shepard, hoping that he’d keep his word to work with Cross now that it was three wolves to one vampire.

MC reached the car and leaned down to look at Vena in the driver’s seat, but his gaze swung to Cross in the back, and he swore. The hair on his arms rippled before Shepard blurred around the car to push MC away.

“Get back in your truck,” Shepard said as he opened the back door. “Tank, go with MC. Follow at a distance. I’ll ride with Everly and Vena.”

“And a vamp?” MC growled. “What the fuck are you thinking? Is this how you–”

“Go,” Shepard snapped. “That’s an order!”

MC glared at him but moved away from the car.

Shepard slid into the backseat with Cross.

“Is letting MC come with us smart?” I asked.

“Tank will ensure he keeps his mouth shut until this is over.”

“First, you buy me lunch, and now, you’re protecting me,” Cross said with a smirk. “Be careful, Shepard. I might start thinking you’re developing an affection for me.”

Shepard growled, and Cross grinned.

“I really hope one of your own kills you,” Shepard said as he rolled down the window. “You’re stinking up the car.”

“I could say the same. It smells like wet dog in here.”

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