Page 15 of Stripped

“I need to work,” I said.

He growled with irritation, but he helped me to my desk. He headed for the door, already pulling his book out of his back pocket.

“You mentioned a council that would be angry at Alpha for interfering with my club,” I said. “Any chance they have sway over the vampires?”

Zane pinched his eyes shut. When he opened them, they glowed supernaturally amber. “The council views Alpha's pack as a threat to the acceptance humans have shown for werewolves. They're looking for an excuse to break up the pack and bury them in isolated towns or in woods so thick sunlight can't get through. The vampires… They've worked their own exposure to their advantage and they bring in a lot of money and prestige for members of the council.”

He didn't have to spell it out for me. It was a lesson I'd seen repeated every day in my club, money is power and power is amoral and hungry for more. “Could you get in trouble with the council for helping me against the vampires?”

He smiled, his eyes returning to their normal color. “For the time being, the Mule Springs pack is safe. Thanks to Julie and her reality show.”

Julie Jacobs, former MMA fighter turned werewolf, and wife to the alpha of the Mule Springs pack, had used her social media platform to out the wolves and save the life of the pack alpha, Axel. That had resulted in a year-long reality show and every woman in the country and most of the men, falling head-over-heels in love with the pack. I'd watched a couple episodes of the show, but I hadn't seen Zane until he'd walked into my club. Maybe I'd make the time to watch the rest of the season and learn more about the pack.

Zane left and I bent my head over my paperwork. It was time to pull money out of nowhere so I could buy all the stuff I knew the local pack wouldn't be able to afford. They couldn't conjure the money to replace the top shelf liquor I'd carried for the few people in town with expensive taste or all the glasses that had been broken in the brawl.

***

“Oh, my god,” I said. I clapped a hand over my mouth and swallowed hard to keep from sobbing aloud. “It's back.” Alpha and his pack had actually replaced a good bit of the stuff that was broken. They'd used their own chairs or tables or some that had been borrowed, none of which matched my chairs and tables, but it didn't matter. I had the seating I needed. There were even glasses, of all shapes, sizes, and colors, lined up on the bar top to replace what had been broken.

Next to me, Zane cleared his throat. “I'm sorry nothing matches. Leopold and his vamps started the fight, but Axel, Paulie, and I broke more than our fair share of stuff. We would replace it if we could.” He straightened. “We will replace it, just as soon as we're able.”

I waved a hand. “It's fine. It's not like my clientele are the type to notice their chair doesn't look like their neighbor's chair.” I sighed. “I just… Thank you. I know enough about Alpha and his pack to know you probably had to put some pressure on them to actually get them to finish this and replace what was broken.”

He nodded, looking supremely uncomfortable. “Are you done for the day? Want to get something to eat?”

The health inspector had shown up while I was in my office working. There'd been no need for me to shadow the poor woman, so I'd stayed in my office until she was done. She'd left before talking to me about her findings, but I wasn't worried. I figured she had a busy day.

“Sure,” I said, my stomach rumbling. “I could eat.”

“Know anywhere good?”

I considered. Aspens Whiten wasn't a foodie destination by any means, but there were some decent restaurants. “How about Italian? Mama makes it homemade.”

“Your mother?” he asked, eyes wide.

I laughed. “No. Far as I know, she doesn't have kids. Everyone just calls her Mama. She makes the most amazing gnocchi.”

“Anything for us meat eaters?”

“Sure. She's got everything.”

We locked up the club and left. I would have suggested walking, but I was still shaky and tired. Zane drove my car the three blocks to the restaurant and parked on the street.

The place was a nondescript, squat building on a street of nondescript, squat buildings, but my stomach rumbled at the sight of the sign over the door and the sounds of Italian opera flowing out.

“Hey, Abby,” the hostess, a petite, redhead I'd gone to high school with, said. “It's been a while since I've seen you here.” Her sneer was well-practiced and subtle. She'd been one of the popular kids in school who'd ostracized me and made fun of my dollar-store shoes and hand-me down dresses. She'd considered me weird. My job as a stripper just gave her more reason to dislike me.

“Hi, Rachel. Have any tables open?”

She looked over my shoulder at Zane and her eyes widened. She licked her lips, clearly seeing something she liked. Rachel was single, happily so, from all accounts. Clearly, she had ideas about fun with Zane. Zane stepped forward and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. Rachel's smile fell and her subtle sneer returned. “Sure, Abby. Mama's always got a table for you.” Her sneer deepened. She hated that Mama loved me and she couldn't use her minuscule hostess power against me.

A waitress appeared as if by magic and led us back to a table for two in a dimly lit corner. She left us with two menus and promised our waiter would be there soon.

“What's good?” Zane asked.

“Abigail White,” Mama said, floating over to our table with a huge grin. Mama had stark white hair, a plump figure, and the glow of a woman happy with her place in the world and eager to enjoy every pleasure life had to offer. She and Rixton had gotten along beautifully. It was one of the reasons I hadn't eaten there in a while. “Have you been hiding from me?”

I knew better than to lie to Mama. “I figured you'd be mad I broke up with Rixton.”

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