Lucky cat. Wolfe had rescued him from a park near the office, cleaned him up, and let him pretty much do what he wanted. As he grew, his eyes had gone from all blue to just one blue and one green. It was pretty cool. His food bowl was full, as was his water, so he was content. The little bastard probably would sleep with Dana, so the kitten was one lucky feline.
“He’s almost too big for my jacket pocket, but not quite.” Wolfe’s leather jacket had hand pockets that were wide enough for the kitten to burrow into, if he so wished. Wolfe tossed several case files onto the table next to Dana’s research.
Her phone buzzed from her purse, and she sighed, reaching in to stop the noise.
His patience was close to an end, but he kept his voice mild. “Who is bothering you?”
“Nobody.” She stretched her neck, the movement both stubborn and sexy—an intriguing combination.
Heat ticked down his back. “I could take your phone from you, you know.”
Her eyebrows rose, and challenge filled her intelligent eyes. “But you won’t.”
She was correct. He wouldn’t take her phone because he didn’t have the right to do so. She wasn’t his, and she never would be. “I want to help.”
“If I need help, I’ll ask.” She turned for the bedroom, taking the kitten with her, that sweet butt swaying. “Good night, Wolfe.”
“’Night.” He watched her go, his hands feeling way too empty. When the door shut behind them, he quickly texted information to Brigid so she could track down the two guys in the black truck. As soon as Wolfe took them out, Dana could go back to her safe apartment and his house could go back to being empty and too quiet. Good plan.
Now what?
He looked around the comfortable home, which had come furnished. He’d purchased it from Malcolm when Mal had moved into the house next door with his girlfriend, Pippa, who was an amazing cook. In fact, wasn’t there some leftover apple pie in the fridge? Being Pippa’s neighbor came with definite perks.
He moved toward the refrigerator just as an ominous ding came from a kitchen drawer. He went cold and then moved to it, taking out the untraceable burner phone. “Wolfe,” he answered.
“Hi, buddy. Rumor has it you’re looking for me.”
Freezing claws raked Wolfe, and he leaned against the counter, forcing his heart rate to stay normal. “Who dis?” He drawled, nearly choking on the words.
Gary laughed, the sound slightly off. “Cute. For old time’s sake, I’m gonna give you one chance to fuck off and stop the hunt.”
“Never.” He’d wondered if Gary Rockcliff would call the phone, the one from their time in the unit, so he’d kept it charged.
Gary sighed. “We both know I could find you before you find me. I’m better at this.”
“I’m motivated, Rock,” Wolfe said, listening for any background clues that would tell him where Gary had holed up. Had he been paid from the sale of his stolen drugs yet? If so, shouldn’t he be on an island somewhere drinking rum?
“Move on, Wolfe.” Gary’s voice turned serious. Deadly. “You keep this up, and I’ll tear through everything and everyone you love before you get a bead on me, and then it’ll be too late. I trained you. You’re not that good. Don’t lose everything I haven’t already taken.”
Rage burned through Wolfe’s throat. “Do you have any regrets? Those men trusted you. I trusted you.” Sometimes fury could be colder than ice.
“No. They, and you, made the mistake of getting involved with something you shouldn’t have. If they hadn’t pursued me, they’d be alive. Take a lesson from that, or I’ll take it all.”
“Well now, there’s the rub.” Wolfe straightened. “I don’t have anything else to lose. Don’t love anybody or anything.”
Gary’s chuckle scraped Wolfe’s nerves raw. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
Wolfe blew out air to keep calm. “Why don’t you stop being a coward and just meet me? The two of us? Get it over with.”
“You and me to the death? You want to beat me until I stop breathing?” Gary almost sounded amused.
“Yeah.”
“What if we kill each other?”
Wolfe rolled his neck. “Okay.” He’d figured that would be the result, anyway.
“I guess I haven’t taught you everything, then.” For a moment, there was a heavy silence on the line. “Death is easy. Living can be hell. The game is on.” He disengaged the call.
