Reno patted his shoulder and chuckled. “Some of that whiskey’s fine.”
The amber liquid splashed in a crystal glass, and he swirled it before handing it to Reno.
The Weston pack lived in the territory, and Prince held a strong alliance with the newly formed pack. A tight bond existed within their family that made them strong and dependable allies despite the modest size of their pack.
“Everything is going well?” Prince inquired, taking a seat in the chair across from Reno.
“Dandy,” Reno replied, sipping on his stiff drink.
Prince often used this quaint, less formal room for men who liked a good cigar and a glass of brandy. Reno wouldn’t be impressed with his gold room, and it might have made him uncomfortable. Prince had never reached out to another pack for assistance, so he wanted this meeting to go smoothly.
“I’ve got to admit, you’re the last man I expected to call me with a job. Respectfully, of course,” Reno said, lifting his glass.
“Were you able to uncover any information on Vladimir Romanov?”
Reno frowned and widened his legs, tapping his boot heel on the floor. He set down his glass on the table to his left and began spinning a small globe that sat atop it. “Nothing came up on my radar showing any recent trades—at least not using that name.”
“He’s used an alias before, and that could be a problem.” Prince traced his finger along his brow. “I don’t think he’s here for business. I believe this is a holding station of some kind—perhaps where he keeps his captives while locating a buyer. He maintains a home outside city limits, one with a hidden basement.”
Reno’s lips peeled back and his gaze drifted away. “Men like that are the reason why I love my fucking job. I can’t help you if he’s not trading around here; he might as well be a ghost.” After another sip of whiskey, Reno’s gravelly voice smoothed out. “How’s that pretty blonde doing—the one you offered a ride to? I couldn’t help but notice you noticing her,” he said with a chuckle. “She would have been a handful for Denver, but I get the feeling a woman like that would be right up your alley.”
“The man you’re looking for took her.”
With lightning speed, Reno shot up to his feet and clenched his fists. The tension was palpable.
A knot twisted in Prince’s stomach, but he maintained composure. “I’m doing everything in my power to find her, and I hope you’ll continue to offer your assistance.”
Reno’s voice became low and dangerous. “I ain’t gonna sugarcoat it for you. If I find him, I’m going to put him in the ground.”
Prince admired the wolf before him. Reno didn’t know Nadia, but a noble man didn’t need a personal connection to take a stand for what was right.
“No need,” Prince said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I’ll be doing the honors myself.”
“I don’t blame you. If someone tookmywoman—”
The doorknob jiggled, and both men turned to look.
“A person could get lost in this place,” Kat said, out of breath, inviting herself in with a dramatic swing in her step. “It’s like a labyrinth. Hey, did you ever see that movie? I always wanted to be Sarah, but what was the deal with Jareth? A formidable goblin king and the best he can do is white spandex and puffy shirts?Fear me, love me, do as I say?” She laughed. “If any man ever said that to me, I’d stuff him in a mailbox and return to sender. But that’s just my opinion.”
Prince rose to his feet, his eyes drinking in the way she glided across the room in his direction.
Reno’s expression altered as he stared at Kat’s familiar features and then glared at Prince. “Are you messing with me?”
Prince curved his arm around Kat when she stood beside him, then began with the introductions. “This is my lover, Katarina Kozlov.” He refrained from smiling when he felt her hand claw at his back, apparently shocked by his open declaration. Or more precisely, his claim.
Reno folded his arms and gave Kat a hard look.
“Kat, this is Reno Cole. He’s the private investigator I was telling you about.”
An awkward silence hung in the room, and Prince didn’t like the way Reno was staring at her.
“You look like the blonde,” Reno said.
Kat stepped away from Prince and lifted her chin, hands on her hips. “She’s my twin.”
He studied her a moment longer and then smiled. “Yeah, I’m a little familiar with the twin situation. You sure as hell don’t dress alike.”
“I’m the one with style,” she quipped.
