Page 13 of Obsessed in Blood
“You know what you need to do.”
“There’s no guarantee she’ll see me.”
“It’s worth the time. There’s nothing else for you to do while the cadre completes their investigation.”
“Thank you for taking the risk of putting the medallion on.”
Lyra took the necklace off and laid it on the table. “I’ve worn it before, but I have to admit I was concerned who might greet me. I purposely focused on my room. Cressa and I have had the most wonderful talks there.”
They stared at the fire for some time. Lyra thought he might have fallen asleep, but then he released a long sigh. She patted his leg, knowing he’d come to the right decision.
He hugged her close and kissed her temple. “I’ll leave for New Orleans in the morning.”
Devon joggeddown the stairs and dropped his travel bag in the foyer. He was on his way to the office when the front door burst open. He spun around to find Decker racing in.
“Sorry. I got tied up.” Deep creases marred Decker’s forehead, and dark circles punctuated his haggard look. For the last month, he’d been showing up late to everything. It wasn’t like him.
“Are you getting enough sleep?” Devon studied the shifter. He’d been gaining weight but now seemed to be losing it again. Light tremors shook his hands.
“Plenty.”
When the shifter grew closer, he stank of cigarettes. Then Devon understood.
“Are you going cold turkey or just slowing down?”
“Both, depending on the day.”
“It’s not easy when you own a bar.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve moved most of my office home, and I don’t keep any alcohol there. Sabrina keeps me solid at the club. I just have to find my balance again.”
“What brought this on?”
Decker gave Devon a long look, his eyes burning with old wounds. “When I heard about the accident.”
He nodded. “It’s only been a day.”
Decker ran a hand through this hair, leaving it looking even more disheveled. “Maybe it’s been since the beast incident. I’d already been cutting back then.”
Devon laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “You don’t have to explain it to me. Lorenzo’s days are numbered. He just doesn’t know it yet.” His friend wasn’t just having problems sleeping; he was remembering, and that never bode well. “Let’s get this done. They’re already prepping the plane.”
When they strode into the office, everyone was already there. Lyra sat at his desk with the cadre circling it. Devon walked to the bar, but not before stopping to lay a hand on Bella’s shoulder. She leaned her cheek against it while grasping his fingers, where she placed a light kiss.
He dropped onto a stool as Decker pulled out the other one, leaning back, his elbows resting on the bar.
Lyra’s brow rose when she glanced at Decker, worry in her gaze, but it disappeared when her focus dropped to the paper in front of her. “We’ve been going over our security plans again. With you and Sergi in New Orleans for a couple of days, Simone has agreed to handle the security details.”
“I’ll stay at the manor while you’re gone.” Simone was dressed in her tactical gear. Black cargo pants, a black sleeveless turtleneck, and a light Kevlar vest. Two knives were visible in addition to the short blade she wore at her hip. “Oasis is on full lockdown with perimeter security on high alert. The dogs are patrolling.”
“Dogs are good, but this might be the time to bring on those rogue wolves I’ve told you about.” Decker gave the cadre a wicked smile. “They’ve been trained by the best. I’ve shared their profiles with you already. They might be rogues, but they all have good reasons for it. Remus uses them on occasion. You could put them on the outer perimeter where they can cover more ground than dogs. Keep the dogs closer to the buildings as part of your inner security.”
“The Wolf uses them?” Sergi asked. “Why would he use rogues?”
“Because they’re rogues. No allegiance to any pack, which means no one would suspect Remus’s involvement. He doesn’t look at rogues like outsiders do. Sure, they come with some baggage, but we all do. Unlike vampires, who consider rogue vampires untrustworthy because they refuse to commit to a House, the wolves are pack animals straight to their bones.
“Rogue vampires are loners, maybe working for a House or two as consultants. Rogue shifters tend to congregate. They make their own pack, but there’s no hierarchy. They look out for each other, but it’s more like a commune where each shifter can come and go as they want. They don’t stay long because they like to roam. And they don’t start families. When they get the urge to settle down, they reapply for pack status.”
“You say these particular rogues have been vetted?” Simone asked, her eyes shifting between Devon and Sergi.
