Page 54 of The Wild Moon
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a firm nod, preparing to head out.
“But if we’re going to leave that fast, then you’re going to have to help me.”
I paused. “Help you with what? I thought I was paying you. Isn’t that enough?”
“Not to leave that quickly,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re going to have to help me get my team together.”
“Team?” I said, dumbfounded. “This is the first time you’ve mentioned a team!”
Aaron just stared at me, waiting for an answer. He wasn’t about to explain himself. That much was clear.
“Fine,” I said grumpily. “Where do we start?”
He grinned at me, and I nearly gave him the finger. Aaron was enjoying the victory, and if I got lippy, he would probably like it even more. So, I gave him sullen silence instead. I’m so mature.
“The docks,” he said. “Tonight. Ten.”
Chapter Thirty
“Istill don’t understand why I’m here helping you,” I complained as we exited his car and headed down toward the waterfront. “I’m paying you. You’re supposed to do all the work.”
Aaron shrugged. “I need someone to keep watch. Have my back. My normal guy isn’t back yet, and if you want to move faster, this is the way it has to be.”
“I’m not your thug,” I growled.
“Really?” he shot back. “Because the other day in the ring, you beat that other guy rather handily. It was impressive.”
“That was different,” I said, declining to explain as to how or why. I had emotion on my side that day. Johnathan deserved that ass-kicking. “Besides, these guys could have guns.”
“They won’t,” he said with a confidence that surprised me.
“We’re at the docks. How can you be positive nobody will have guns? This place is seedy as hell,” I told him.
We walked along the sidewalk, headed toward a cluster of buildings. On our left, the commercial docks were fenced off by a ten-foot-tall chain-link fence topped with razor wire. Stacks of shipping containers as tall as small apartment buildings loomed over us, the sparse lighting creating a wild play of shadows and darkness.
Above them, the lifeless cargo cranes lay still, like ancient beasts in silent slumber, looking down over their territory. The gentle lapping of water against shore could be heard if I focused hard enough, along with the soft groaning of thick ropes as a giant container ship rocked against the dock.
In the daytime, this place was bustling, alive with energy and the calls of dockworkers. At night, however, it was eerily empty and deserted. I listened carefully to my instincts here, even with Aaron at my side. At one point, the hairs on the back of my neck rose, but looking around, I couldn’t see anything that would cause alarm.
The faded lights of several dockside taverns and shops greeted us as we approached one of them,The Winking Scow.
“Such imagery a simple name can evoke,” I muttered. “I justknowthis is the one you’re going to take us into. Isn’t it?”
“I can’t surprise you with anything, can I?” Aaron said. “Remember, watch my back. Stay out here.”
The way he said that, with the quiet belief that I could protect him, made me pause and consider. Did Aaron know what I was? Could he possibly be aware of the existence of shifters? Or did he just want to make me work for this trip as a way of protesting the short departure time?
Infuriating. The man is infuriating.
Yet, whenever I was around him, the drumming of the Soulbond–long since grown above the gentle pulsing it had started with–was diminished. Not erased or cut off, but dulled. Easier to resist. Like he was a constant source of cold water being poured over me. I appreciated that immensely, which was why I wasn’t too upset about helping him.
I eyed the outside of theScow, noting the half a dozen lookouts lounging around at tables or leaning against the wall. All of them were trying to act innocent or occupied, but it was clear they were there to keep unwelcome guests out.
“Nah, I don’t think I’ll be waiting out here like your butler,” I growled, surprising Aaron with a burst of speed as I walked past the lookouts–several of whom rose to try and stop me–and pulled open the door to the bar, walking inside.
I paused.
My wolf’s vision let me penetrate the deep gloom of the bar with ease. Most of me wished it didn’t.
