Page 34 of Memphis Heat
The gangly truck driver shook back his shaggy hair, swiveling his head as he surveyed the back section of the compound.Spotting her in the shadows, he swore.“Posol na khui.Zaebal yje.”
“I don’t want to know anything about your dick, you insolent cub, and I have no intention of fucking you.In fact, the idea of seeing you naked makes me want to retch.Get your head out of your ass and pay attention.We don’t have much time.”
The man’s thin lips pulled back in a snarl.“My dick would make you very happy,Suka.”
Pure Alpha bitch boiled to the surface, aching for release.And why not?Everyone here knew she could shift, even if the mongrels had no idea what she was.Terra rolled her shoulders and let out a low growl of warning, shifting to her battle form, ready to rend the impertinent whelp into puppy chow.“On your knees,kozel, before I carve my family tree into your eyelids, one branch at a time.”
The truck driver’s arrogant sneer faded to a pale wash of terror.“Forgive me, Mistress.I did not know…”
Somewhat mollified, Terra shifted back to her human shell.“Of course you didn’t know.That’s rather the point, is it not?Now I want your report, quickly, before the mongrels notice we’ve strayed.Why are the Human half bloods still alive?Their stench offends me.Did I not order their destruction?”
“Jarod may be human, but he is strong.He took out Viktor.Alexi has made the mongrel his second.”
“Kakoi kashmar!Alexi is a stupid ass.The mongrel cop could bring down our entire family.”
“This Alexi knows, Mistress, but since Alexi’s son was Jarod’s sire, Alexi claims Jarod as his heir.”
Pure hatred boiled in Terra’s veins.Mongrel blood usurping her rightful place?She swore fluently in Russian.“Who the hell does he think he is?The Pack is mine, by birth and by right.Only an oldkozellike Alexi would think to make an outsider his Second, let alone his heir, just because I’m a woman.I will spill his entrails the length of this God-forsaken state.I will --”
“Everything all right?”
Terra snarled and grabbed Sergei and shook him by the neck.“I just caught ourguestchecking out the security of our back lot.I think it’s time for our visitors to leave before I show this one just how secure this facility really is.”She shook the smaller man again for emphasis.“Go home, little man, before I tie yourgenealogyin knots.”
Chapter One
Officer Amanda Black stared down at the maps covering the pack war room’s conference table.“So what’s the plan?Do we evenhavea plan?”
Agent Miller pointed to the biggest blot on the map of Memphis.“According to Jarod, all trucks are routed through a main distribution point downtown -- the old MPD headquarters.You know all that historic landmark renovation crap that makes that part of town a traffic nightmare?Looks like the Russians got the renovation contract -- they’ve been here long enough to have people in semi-legitimate businesses, and they bid on the contract and won.”
Amanda frowned, looking at the snakepit of impossible traffic patterns.“Damn.All those construction vehicles… perfect cover.How the hell do we take that place?It’s a fucking fortress.”
Lt.Jamie Callahan looked more annoyed than ever.“What the fuck?How did these guys get a contractor’s license?Doesn’t anyone vet these guys?”
Officer “Remmy” Ramirez squared his shoulders.“Hey, just because they’re not from this country doesn’t mean they can’t get a legit contractor’s license.You pass the test, you get a license.My dad’s a contractor.He could have bid on that job.Except he’s not fucking loco.That building’s in piss-poor shape, and nothing short of a miracle’s going to bring it up to code.”
“Andthatis how we’re going to get in.”Snorrasan stood, pacing the room in short, quick strides.“Ramirez, theoretically, couldn’t inspectors make a progress check on the building before they make the next payout on the construction contract?”
“They should, yes.Every phase of the construction has to be approved and up to code.”
“Good.Do you know enough about building code to fake your way through this?”
Ramirez got a wicked gleam in his dark eyes.A crooked smile spread across his face that was anything but friendly.“I spent my childhood following my dad around construction sites.I can do more than fake my way through.”
Amanda laughed.“This should be fun to watch.”
Snorrasan raised an eyebrow.“I think I just heard you two volunteer to run backup for our newest pack member as the MPD Liaison officers.”
Callahan sighed.“Just remember.This time it was not my fault.”
* * *
The site manager stared at the forms in front of him, his ruddy face getting redder.“Who are you again?”He didn’t addand why are you fucking with my schedule, but he didn’t have to.
Had Callahan actually been there, it would have been all he could do to keep from snickering like a schoolboy.Remmy was good.Very good.
Remmy pointed to his badge.“Inspector Ramirez.”
“We don’t have time for another inspection.Every time you guys show up we lose another day.I got the mayor calling me daily reminding me this project is behind already.”The taller man lifted his safety hat and ran his fingers through his sandy hair.“Inspections, inspections, always another inspection!This is what’s wrong with this country.Can’t get nothing done but paperwork!”
