Page 81 of Broken Wolf

I nodded and left, wondering how well we’d been figuring it out so far, and that was part of my problem. It had been over six months since our engagement and then blowup, and we were still… Not us.

I focused on what I needed to during the chopper ride over. Then I talked with CPD brass and gave them everything we had on the people we needed to find. We didn’t know if they were all dropped to the same place Marie was, but it stood to reason that was their pattern. I also asked for their help in picking up the “kids” who had screwed over these poor people.

And there was a list of them. We knew of forty already from the evictions. I doubted that was the end of it.

Not even close.

Perez was in town for the moment and asked me what I needed, so I asked him to do the press conference. He was shocked, but I just couldn’t handle the press on top of everything else.

And I didn’t want my being a shifter or Alpha or the woman the First Lady was calling the Whore of Babylon to be reported on instead of this crime. He could give me credit or not.

I didn’t care. I cared about getting people help and catching criminals.

Which apparently was something he said in his comments. I watched a clip someone sent to my phone from YouTube.

“This is a huge case of massive fraud, corruption, and more,” he told the press. “We’re using it as a training and teaching moment, there is so much to do and it’s so layered. I asked Chief Thomas what I could help with, trying to take some of the load off of her because my title can get more things done at times. All she asked was I handle alerting the media.

“That was it. She didn’t want the spotlight or people focused on the wrong thing instead of the victims who were hurt by all of this. I knew from working in DC that she wasn’t a gloryhound like some accused and she didn’t care about the credit, but working closely with her all of these months makes me a bit envious of her.”

“How can you say that?” someone called out.

Perez gave a half shrug. “Even I like a pat on the back. We all do. We all need it. Thomas has had such a rough time in the FBI and in the media that all she wants is less crap. She wants less people talking down to her and asking her questions they shouldn’t. She doesn’t care about the pat on the back but hopes to stop getting kicked in the face for her hard work.

“And I’m ashamed as one of her bosses that she has to constantly worry about that. I’m ashamed as an American that someone who is so dedicated and hardworking is treated that way because she’s a werewolf or woman—any of it. She never stops. She is an amazing leader, and that is why her wolves and the Chicago offices are so loyal to her.

“As a colleague I respect, I’m tired of the attacks on her. It’s—people need to understand…” He sighed and shook his head before glancing at one of the agents on his detail. “How many times has she bought us meals?” He nodded when the guy snorted. “We stay late or it’s the weekend and she orders food and gets some for whoever is working.

“Always. Her security is always bringing in something because she needs to eat more, or they do, and we’re included. She’s probably spent six figures so far this year just feeding people she has absolutely no responsibility to feed. And people are horrible to someone that nice. That’s how she spends her money. She’s always feeding someone.

“And she can’t take the credit she should for juggling this huge mess and quarterbacking this case flawlessly to catch all the criminals after she put it together better than I could.” He shrugged again when people seemed shocked. “She’s a better agent and division chief than I was. I have no problem saying that.

“She isn’t made for being the big boss of the FBI and the patience we have in DC and jumping through all the hoops. She knows that. She says it regularly. I’m better at that, but she is a better agent, SAiC, and division chief than I was. I have no problem saying that either. I hope people start hearing that instead of unhinged accusations and lies going forward.”

“Oh boy, not sure he needed to take that shot against the First Lady or Galvin’s ex-wife,” I said with a groan.

“Yeah, I should have because I’m with you on this,” Perez said as he came into my office. “And I heard you were the one who offered to let me have an office here in Chicago while Galvin tries to ruin my marriage.”

I handed back the tablet to the agent and thanked him, making it clear it was time to duck out. I waited until he left and closed the door behind him. “I said you can have it in Brian’s building because we know someone would make it about me needing supervision otherwise.”

“Yeah, they really would,” he sighed. “But you’re good with it? Really?”

“Yeah, I’m good with it. If you want an apartment in one of my buildings so your wife is safe while you’re traveling—whatever you need, okay?” I nodded that I wasn’t kidding. “I know this is all important and matters to you, but don’t blow your marriage. That woman is too fucking good for you.”

He snorted. “I’ve known that and I was a lucky bastard from the moment she agreed to go out with me.” He went to leave but then paused. “Thanks, Sera. Really.”

“Yeah, yeah, stop telling the world I’m a damn softie.”

He walked out laughing… But I was serious. He was going to get me invaded by another wolf. Idiots thought kindness was a weakness.

People thinking I was a bitch actually protected my people.

How fucked up was the world that we had to live our lives that way?

22

“Alpha, a courier dropped off something for you,” Christos told me when I stopped home to change clothes and catch a shower. “And for the record, when Mauro recommends that one of the ancients who wants a quiet life takes over the desk for me so I can be more of a Beta, I’m fine with it. I think I was needed originally, but now we don’t need a Beta to make the calls here.”

I blinked at him for a full minute. “Thank you, but repeat that later when I’ve had more sleep, okay? I get you, but my brain is like melted Jell-O.” I thanked him for the box and headed up with my security.

---