Page 45 of Visions in Blood
“Then why would you think it was the same man?”She didn’t appear to doubt me, only wanted to understand my reasoning.
I tugged on my arms.She released me, and I instinctively rubbed them, though they didn’t hurt anymore.“I’m not sure I can explain, but I think it was how he moved.The man at the party had that same skulking movement, like he didn’t want to be seen.The second I saw him tonight, I immediately thought of the tea party.I know it’s crazy.”I hung my head, sorry I’d brought any of it up.
“I wish I’d paid more attention.”
My head popped up.She believed me?
“I agree it could be a coincidence, but I’ve had better luck with much less.It’s still not enough for retaliation, but…” She tapped a fingernail against her teeth.“…if he’s snooping around, we might be able to catch him at his own game.”She glared at me.“Not a word of this to Devon.”When I opened my mouth, her fangs slipped out.
“Not a word.But what are you planning?”
“I want to see if any of this has merit before adding to Devon’s agenda.I have several people I can put on this.”
“And you’ll need me.”
She gave me a long look.At least she didn’t laugh.“Not yet.But when I have a suspect, I’ll call for you.”Without another word, she threw the car into drive and raced out of the lot, debris flying behind us.
I glanced out the side window, hiding a smile she wouldn’t approve of.Bit by bit, I was becoming an integral part of the team.Then my grin faded.What the hell was I thinking?
ChapterSixteen
Devon hunchedin a corner seat with his collar turned up, hair left untamed, and his focus on the bar that stretched along the far wall.The place was similar to The Den, the fight club Decker owned, but instead of nightly fights, this club held them on weekends.From what Decker told him, the rest of the week was reserved for customers to make underground connections and enjoy the more pleasurable aspects of sexual pursuits.While Decker’s club would never entice high-end customers, this club thrived on the Hollows’ underbelly.
“Here he comes.”Decker kicked out a chair as a man and a woman headed in their direction.They both took a seat, but the dark-haired woman shifted hers to take in the whole room, while the man had merely given the room a single scan before facing Decker and Devon.
“Elijah.Thanks for coming.”Decker pushed the open bottle of whiskey toward the man, but he shook his head.
“I prefer tequila.”Elijah lifted an arm to flag down a server.
“When did that happen?”Decker swallowed a shot and poured another.“Never mind, don’t tell me.Boobs as big as inflatable rafts and legs up to here.”He lifted a hand up to his chest to reflect an exaggerated motion of long legs.
The woman snorted, but Elijah grinned.“Something like that.”
“I think you know Devon.”
Devon didn’t wait for the man to reply.“We met briefly at Remus’s gala about a year ago.I was expecting Mateo.”
If the shifter was annoyed by Devon’s reference to The Wolf’s beta and second in command, he didn’t show anything other than another broad smile.“Mateo is back east on a territory dispute.This is my beta, Raquel.”
Raquel gave them a curt nod before returning to her hawk-eyed study of the room.
“Elijah is the alpha of the Humboldt pack,” Decker interceded, playing the negotiator.
Devon sat back and considered the shifter.The Humboldt pack controlled the territory north of Santiga Bay and east to Redding.From what he understood, they were one of the strongest packs in the US, and since it ran along the border of Remus’s personal territory, it made sense for The Wolf to call upon Elijah when his beta was called away.
“I remember.Apologies.I’ve been too focused on internal matters lately.”
Elijah shrugged.“That’s one of the items Remus asked me to discuss with you.”
Devon finished his shot and pushed the glass to Decker, who refilled it.“I wasn’t aware my internal matters were a concern of The Wolf’s.”
“It does when it appears to interfere with our longterm partnership.”
Devon picked up his shot and flashed a glance to Decker, who held his gaze, and he caught the look of a man walking a fence.Decker was a rogue shifter, and while he didn’t belong to a pack, he’d given his allegiance to The Wolf.At the same time, Decker had saved Devon’s life, and though they hadn’t spoken in years, their decades-long friendship was as strong as ever.It would take a great deal more than Decker siding with the shifters to break what they had.
He sipped the whiskey as he turned his attention back to Elijah.“I understand his concern and remember our timetable.My current internal affairs are part of that plan, but I need time to nurture those before we can complete our endgame.It won’t be much longer.”He sat back and gave the alpha a slow grin.“In fact, it was Remus who gave me the key to unlock the information we need.”
Elijah didn’t hold back his surprise, then he grinned and showed off his wolfie bite.“I’ll be interested in hearing that story someday.”
