“Me either.”
“It’s my job to know where everyone is, yet Silas didn’t tell me where he was going. I thought he’d tell you.”
Laina shook her head. As much as her brother could be a pain in the ass, she loved the man. Where was he? He never missed a shift on purpose. She retrieved the burner phone from her back pocket, the one Silas had given her in case of an emergency, and texted him. A few seconds later, the device chimed as his response came through.
I’m fine. Won’t be there. You can handle it without me.
She showed it to Cameron.
“Hmm. Spoken like a true leader.” He stroked back his black hair, longer now that they neared the shift, as was his facial hair. “Shall we grab a burger before the main event?”
She started to say yes, but Monty interrupted her, bellowing her name from the pub door, the ogre’s eyes sweeping the woods until he locked on to her. “Laina, you’d better get in here. We’ve got trouble.”
She broke into a jog, Cameron right behind her, backing her up. “What is it? Has something happened to Jason?” As she broke through the protective enchantment, the trees and flowers faded away and were replaced by the illusion of a dark alley, complete with potholed lane and city dumpster. Monty motioned her inside, then slammed the door in Cameron’s face.
“Hey—”
“Fucking Kyle Kingsley is standing in my bar holding a fairy box and asking forAnna.” The malice in his voice was as real as his foul breath.
Feeling light-headed, she strode from the back room and into the bar proper. She came up short at the sight of the man her wolf had pined for since their last encounter. Kyle Kingsley.
His eyes widened in recognition. He knew who she was—who shereallywas. Mouth pressed into a straight line, he shook his head. “I’m not sure what this is.” He held the fairy box between his fingers. “But rats seem to love it.” He tossed the box at her.
Catching it in one hand, she noticed the lid was closed. That explained why Kyle could see it but not who’d found and closed it. Those were not things a human could do. She forced her expression to convey total ignorance. “Why are you giving this to me?”
“Who the hell are you? The paperwork you gave Wesley said Anita Woody, but you told Nickie your name was Anna.” He pointed a finger at her. “But I know you. You’re—”
Monty coughed, cutting him off. “I think you’ve got the wrong girl. This one was here workin’ last night. Wasn’t she, boys?” Jeff and the other regulars chimed in affirmatively, no doubt hoping to be rewarded for the lie with a free beer.
“Really? My security cameras disagree.” Kyle’s hazel eyes narrowed. He pulled himself up to his full height, which almost rivaled Monty’s. “I get it, Monty. You’re worried I’m going to move in on your business. But this is a felony.” He pointed at the box. “And if you think this shit is going to work, you don’t know me.”
“Lotsa girls got her colorin’. I think you’re confused.”
“Coloring, yes. Face and figure, no. This is the one.”
“Aw, fuck you, Kyle. You’re barking up the wrong tree. I had nothin’ to do with this. If the girl’s in your video, take it up with the girl.”
Laina whirled on Monty, her eyes flaring with anger. Did he just throw her under the bus?Bastard!
“Don’t look at me like that, Anna. It’s you who’s fucked up. Fucked up big-time by the looks of it.” Monty placed both hands on the bar and glared at her with no remorse.
Laina turned back to Kyle, her wolf growling and snapping inside her head over Monty’s betrayal. At least the anger was doing a good job of fighting back her lust and her fear. How could this happen? Especially now, with the shift happening in a matter of hours. What if he had her arrested? Becoming a wolf in a prison cell would be disastrous.
“Can I speak to you privately in the back room?” She pointed a trembling hand toward the storage area. It was all she could do to maintain her composure.
He nodded and followed her inside, allowing the door to squeal shut behind them in the same tone as a coffin lid. She faced him in the narrow aisle between the cases of alcohol. A bare bulb cast a harsh circle of light around them, but the ugly environment did nothing to curb her wolf’s interest in him. Her heart galloped, and she shifted uneasily, trying to manage the growing ache between her legs.
“You came here instead of going to the police?” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Don’t overthink it. It isn’t in Hunt Club’s best interests to call attention to a rat problem in our kitchen, even if it was sabotage. If I file a police report, this will be all over the news. I’m sure Monty knew that when he hired you to do what you did. Although, I will do it if the two of you force my hand.”
“You won’t have to.”
She waited patiently as he stared her down. Best to remain silent. Why offer information she didn’t have to give? Information that might incriminate her?
“What happened at Four Paws the night of our date?”
Surprised, Laina spread her hands. “I thought Becca called you…”
