Page 38 of Her Wolf

Finn’s vision doubled. He’d been heading for the stairs leading off the roof, but had to pause and grip the banister as the roof sagged beneath his feet.

“All right there?” Bailey asked. Luckily, by the time the guy reached him, the world had righted itself.

He drew a deep breath, and ripped his hand away from the butt of his pistol where he’d been rubbing the smooth metal.

“Fine,” he said, but through his teeth.

They walked down the stairs in silence.

Cora’s bedroom door stood open, which made Finn’s hackles rise the instant he noticed. He sped up, hurrying into her room and scanning it with a sweeping gaze.

She sat in his armchair, holding a glass of wine. Opposite her, in the settee, perched a nervous-looking Lars.

What the fuck?

Bailey came in behind him, and Cora cocked her head to the door. “Close it. Lock it.”

An invisible tremor shot through Finn. His beast sat on its haunches, sniffing the air as if trying to locate something.

Like the Cora he knew.

This woman sat that armchair like a queen…and a pissed off one at that.

“What did you do?” Finn barked at Lars, and the man tensed.

“Nothing,” he said, widening his eyes and spreading his hands. “I found her like this.”

“Sit,” she said, taking a sip of her wine as her eyes tracked his and Bailey’s reluctant steps across the floor.

There was only the armchair and the settee, which meant the three of them had to crowd into it. He sat on the edge, which meant at least one of his arms had elbow room. Bailey looked particularly uncomfortable sandwiched between him and Lars, and Lars hadn’t made a single wisecrack since they’d walked into the room.

His beast growled, but low and soft as if it didn’t want Cora to hear.

She took another long sip of wine, and then rested its base on the armrest.

“Neo came to see me.”

That had all three of them sitting forward. Bailey’s elbow slammed into Finn’s ribs, and Lars cussed under his breath so he’d probably gotten Bailey’s other elbow.

Finn craned around Lars. “You were here, right?”

“I arrived just in time,” Lars said, and then added, with a sheepish grin, “to see him leave.”

Finn swung back to face Cora. “What did he do?”

“Neo?” she asked, sounding surprised. “He had a discussion with me, Finn.”

He drew a breath, and forced it to stay inside his lungs until his jaw relaxed. “That’s all?”

“You think I can’t protect myself?”

“I know you can’t—” Finn began, but Lars coughed so hard it was like he was trying to expel one of his lungs. He glared at Lars, who refused to look in his direction.

“Our dealers want their product,” Cora said.

He didn’t like the tone of her voice. It was like she was trying to sound ten years older with a degree in physics.

“Product we don’t have,” she went on, when the three of them remained silent. “We’re setting up a meeting with them tomorrow to discuss—”

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