Chapter Thirteen
Declan
In order to stay true to his word and give Lily time to work through her feelings over what happened between them, Declan focused on the work he was doing for the Black Water Pard. Every night he slipped into Baton Rouge and silently recorded the ever-growing group of jaguars congregating in one area on the outskirts of the city. Knowing that trouble was brewing, he’d put in a few calls to some of his old buddies—shifters he’d worked with in Special Ops. They were people who, like him, had finally had enough of killing for the government and retired, but he knew if he needed them, they’d come, just as he’d be there for any of them if he was needed. In two days’ time his old team would arrive in New Orleans to help him, and he would put a plan in motion to stop an attack on the leopard’s territory before it began, or barring that, help the leopards fight them off.
“You still stewin’ over what that little bitch said at the mall the other day?”
The question caught Declan’s attention and he moved on silent feet to close the distance. His scent was covered so none of the jaguars would know he was there. Something about the remark got his hackles up. He’d been with Remy when the leopard had gotten the text from Lily about her and her friends being followed by some jaguars while in Baton Rouge.
“I might have to go put the little bitch in her place. She talked big out in the open; I’ll bet if I got her alone, she’d change her tune.”
“We know where she works; we should stop in for a visit.”
“Not tonight. You know the Alpha’s waiting. We got business to take care of, and visiting that little bitch will be all pleasure,” he said with a dark chuckle as they made their way to where the Alpha and a large number of their Clan were gathered.
Declan’s eyes narrowed. He would have to send a warning to Lily, just in case she was the woman they were talking about. True, they didn’t mention the woman being with friends, but he’d feel better knowing she was forewarned. When they moved away to join a larger group he followed, keeping to the shadows.
“We’ve been putting pressure on the leopards; we need to keep it up. Our Clan is larger and we have more fighters than they do. They’ve kept control of New Orleans long enough—benefited from being in a city that sees a high volume of tourists every year. It’s time for the territory to change hands. Our plans are coming together. Several of our people have slipped into the city and taken up land in integral areas right under the nose of that arrogant fucking leopard. Soon we’ll put our plan into full motion.”
“How soon? I’m sick of the scraps we get in Lafayette,” one of the jaguars called out to his Alpha.
“Another few days and everything will be in place,” Lucas Cormier, Alpha of the Red Moon Clan, replied.
Declan slipped away, and once he was headed back to New Orleans, he sent Lily a text.
I know I said I’d let you be the one to contact me first, but this is important. Keep an eye out for jaguars tomorrow night. Can’t go into details, but I’m helping Caine with his problem and I overheard something that leads me to believe they may be paying you a visit. Do NOT go anywhere alone tomorrow.’
He just hoped she listened.
Lily
When her phone alerted her that she had a text, she was curled up with a glass of wine, talking with Emelise. They’d gotten together for dinner once Lily’s work day was over, and now they were reminiscing about her brief stay in Phoenix. She read the text and frowned.
“Let me guess, Declan just texted you? I thought he was giving you time to work through things on your own?”
“Yeah, it’s from him, but it’s not what you think. It seems he’s helping the Pard with their jaguar problem, and he somehow overheard a conversation that he thinks has to do with me. He warned me that I might be getting a visit from those dickheads I went off on and told me not to go anywhere alone tomorrow.”
Emelise sat up at that. “Lily, that’s not something to brush off. If they’re causing trouble for the Pard, don’t take his warning lightly. If something happened to you, I think that wolf would flip his shit.”
“I’m not going to take it lightly but I’m not going to let myself get freaked out either. If they show up, I’ll deal with it.” She shrugged and changed the subject.”Have you found a place to live yet?”
“I think so. I’m going to check out an apartment tomorrow over on Henriette Delille Street. It’s eight hundred a month, which I know isn’t bad considering some of the other rental prices I saw while looking. From the photos I saw of it, it’s really cute, and it’s only three blocks from the French Quarter, and it’s not too terribly far from the club so I can walk there most days if I want to. Granted, it’s unfurnished so I’ll either have to rent furniture or make a mad run to Phoenix to get all my shit out of storage, but I can’t pass up such a good deal, you know?”
“Girl, we could so take a road trip, get your stuff out of storage, and get you moved in if you get the apartment.”
Emelise laughed. “You know it’s a twenty-hour drive, one way, right?”
Lily gave her a look. “And your point? Emile would give me the time off; I work my ass off for him.”
“Do you really think Declan would want you driving there with me? He’d be afraid you weren’t coming back.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “That’s his problem. Seriously, if you get the apartment, we can take a road trip, load your stuff up in a U-Haul, and bring it back here.”
“Fine, I’ll let you know if I get the place. I should probably head back to the hotel; it’s getting late.” Emelise stifled a yawn behind her hand.
“Just crash here tonight, Eme. The sofa pulls out into a bed, and I have plenty of extra pillows and blankets.”
Emelise debated a moment before she shrugged. “Why not? I really don’t feel like going back to the hotel tonight anyway.”
