Page 39 of Brandon’s Mate

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Caleb wanted the bar, and I couldn’t keep him and his guys out. They killed all the decent crows in the crew, or bullied them into doing what they want, like Jason and a couple others.” She paused and then said bitterly, “Like me.”

“Look, that sucks,” Brandon said. “But what is it exactly you want from me?” She said she had information—she must want something in return.

“I want my bar back,” she said. “And I want to bring Caleb down. But with the panthers behind him—”

Brandon held up his hand. “Wait, what? What panthers? Where are they from?”

“That’s how Caleb got the crew,” she said. “These panthers showed up in town—I don’t know from where. They seem like they have a pretty big crew behind them—at least, there’s a lot of money—but they don’t tell anyone what crew it is.”

That was… odd. Most shifters identified with their crew—they were proud to say where they were from. Why would a crew be expanding, but keeping their identity under wraps?

“All I know is they said they were representing a consortium that wanted to do business here.” She snorted. “Like Farville is somewhere special. They tried to take over the Talons—buy them out, essentially, and have the crew work for them. But my brother and Kirk—the crew leader—told them to go screw themselves.”

She grimaced. “Next thing we know, Caleb comes into the bar and tells us he killed Kirk in a challenge—but I know it wasn’t a real challenge. I think the panthers killed him. And then the others in our crew that opposed him, like my brother, started disappearing—dead or run out of town—until there wasn’t anybody left but the dregs of the crew—Caleb’s cronies.”

Damn, this was fucked up. A panther crew secretly taking over a whole town?

“After that, all the businesses in town that the panthers wanted suddenly started becoming available—their owners couldn’t leave town fast enough. Either that or they pay protection and do what they’re told. Except nobody really sees the panthers. Caleb is their front man. There’s a lieutenant named Jax who spends a lot of time at the bar, keeping tabs on him, but most people don’t know he’s the one who’s really in charge.”

Brandon frowned, thinking. “So why haven’t they tried to make me pay protection?” he asked finally.

Callie gave a snort. “They’re trying to soften you up.”

That made him grin again. “Yeah. I don’t really soften.”

“I know. That’s why—” She broke off, biting her lip.

“What?”

“That’s why I thought you might be the one who can help me take them down.”

Whoa. His main mission had been to avenge Nick’s death—which meant finding what was left of the hit squad, and the person who’d ordered the hit, and ripping them into tiny pieces.

He hadn’t bargained on taking down the Talons—let alone some kind of large, well-funded shadow organization behind them.

Was this what Nick had found? Had he wanted Brandon’s help to take down the Talons and the panthers? But why hadn’t he taken it to the Agency? This was exactly the type of case they dealt with.

“So what part are you going to play in all this?” he said. “Sounds to me like you’re trying to get me to do all your dirty work.”

Her face flushed red. “Maybe I can’t fight like your girlfriend, but nobody notices me. I’m just poor little pitiful Callie.”

Shit. “I didn’t mean—”

“Yes you did,” she said. “But that’s okay. They think I’m too weak to do anything against them, so they don’t pay attention to what they say in front of me. Even the panthers talk when they don’t think anyone can hear them.” She smiled. “I’m a lynx. My hearing is even better than yours, panther boy. It sure as hell is better than a crow’s.”

Sheeyit. “You’re offering to spy on them?”

“I already do,” she said. “I’m offering to tell you what I find out, if you’ll help me bring them down.”

Huh. She had a lot more moxie than he would have given her credit for. “What makes you think I won’t just take over this town myself? Including your bar?”

“I guess then I’d have to find someone to take you down, too.”

Brandon laughed.

“I like you, Callie the lynx,” he said. “And I love your confidence in me, but singlehandedly taking down an organization as big as the one you’re describing is kind of a tall order.”