“You know he would. Especially if he has time to solidify his position in the pack.”
“He’s already too strong.”
“No,” Frankie said, investing power in her words. “No, he’s not. Because I’m going to take him down. But I need the location of the serum. I need you to get it from Brady. And if you won’t do it for me, do it for your sons.”
There it was, all laid out. But would Noelle help? Because without Noelle, Frankie was sunk.
Chapter 10
Ryan tossed the garbage in the dumpster, feeling the strength in his arms as he tossed the heavy bags away. His body was solid, eerily so given the traumas of the last week. But that was the only part of him that felt normal. His thoughts, his feelings, even his breath felt different from any other time in his life. And that worried him.
It wasn’t normal for a bear to feel so protective of a wolf woman. It wasn’t normal for him to think of her safety before his fellow bears, his job, or his city. He’d sworn to protect and serve all of Detroit, not just Francesca Wolf.
But what really threw him was the sight of her holding a child. She’d looked so perfect it had felt like a kick in the gut. She’d seemed beautiful, with easy strength in her body as she nuzzled the child’s head. Like she could do anything she wanted with grace. But even more, he’d felt a pang that she wasn’t lovinghischild. That the babe in her arms wasn’t from him and her in perfect union.
He didn’t even believe in perfect unions. He thought the best relationships struggled and that innate selfishness often won out over love. And yet his mind and his heart felt completely dedicated to her and their child. They didn’t have a child and frankly, the odds of them ever getting together were nonexistent. He intended to make her entire family pay for what they’d done to Detroit. She might end up blameless in that, but she’d never forgive him when he arrested her father. Because he did hold the wolf alpha responsible even if Raoul was the force behind the throne.
That was the price of being a leader, especially in shifter clans. The alpha held ultimate responsibility for the pack actions, and in this case, what the wolves had done was heinous.
He left the dumpster, his senses on alert. Nothing untoward happening out here. He hurried back inside the building and headed for the cases of bottled water. An older gentleman was struggling to pick up a case, so Ryan grabbed two and followed the man to his apartment where his wife was waiting at the open door.
He knew they were wolves from their scent, and they must have known he was a bear just as easily. But though they eyed him and his police badge with suspicion, they accepted his help with grudging thanks. Even told him to be careful because this Flu was hurting everyone.
Which gave him the opening to question them, at least a little. “Isn’t it the wolves who are creating this Flu?” Just how much did the normal members of the pack know about what their higher-ups were doing?
Both of them gasped in shock. “That’s damn crazy,” the man said. “Fact is, latest email said the bears did it.”
Ryan reared back in shock. “The bears? Why? What would we gain from it?”
The wife shrugged. “What would the wolves gain?”
“So you haven’t taken any of the serum or drank any of—”
“Raoul’s vitamin water?” the man scoffed. “We don’t hold with all that chemical nonsense. We eat local farm to table, and vegetables I’ve grown myself at the Wolf Urban Gardens next to the community center. Then Maisy here cooks it from scratch.” His eyes narrowed in aggression. “That’s right. We’re vegetarian wolves, and we’re doing just fine.”
Ryan held up his hand in surrender. “You look like you’re doing great.”
“So you stop dumping shit into the water, crazy bears.” He shook his head. “And if you aren’t the ones doing it, then go out and find who is. Because this Flu ain’t right. Things we’ve seen on the TV, it’s bad for all of us.”
“I agree.”
The man snorted. “So go fix it, cop.” He looked down at the case of water by his feet. “And thanks for the help.” Then he shut his door firmly in Ryan’s face.
Well, that had been enlightening, especially that part about an email saying the bears were the cause of the Flu. He’d have to warn Simon that the lower pack wolves clearly believed they had right on their side. Which made it all the more likely that the wolves would fight tooth and claw to defend their city.
Hell. He hefted the second case of water and headed to Noelle’s apartment while texting one-handed on a burner phone Vic had given him. The need to get back to Frankie was heavy in his gut, but he also needed to solve this crime.Someonewas poisoning Detroit—he believed it was the wolves—but he needed to get proof. And that meant pushing Frankie—
He pushed opened the door to Noelle’s apartment, all his senses hyperalert. Then he felt ridiculous standing there all bristling and anxious because everything looked serene. The boys were playing with cars, Frankie worked in the kitchen making something, and Noelle…He cocked his head.
“Noelle in the shower?”
Frankie nodded. “Yup. Have a seat. I’m making dinner.”
Dinner? His stomach growled in hunger, but he looked around in confusion. “I thought we were going to find your brother’s cache of the serum.”
Frankie looked up, her eyes flashing new grass green in the sunlight. “Wearen’t.”
“I’m not letting you go alone—”
