A huge dark-haired man clomps toward me-bigger than me with a full on mountain man beard. My bear bristles because his eyes are animal-bright. Like he's having a hard time keeping his animal under control. Like he's half feral.
I catch a couple more fists to the ribs.
"Enough." Garrett's growl comes from the front door. He eyes the other bear warily and gives a single nod. "Caleb."
"Garrett." The bear appears equally wary.
"This is pack business."
Caleb shrugs. "I wasn't asking to be involved." He gives me one more look and leaves through the same door he came in.
"They brought that crazy bear in special for you, Grizz."
I stare after the strange bear. "The fuck?" I don't have a clue what he's talking about.
Garrett tips his head. "That's who you're fighting Friday night."
Of course it is.
I shrug. "He got his rabies shots?"
Garrett folds his arms over his chest. "What's going on, Grizz?"
I match his pose. "I got no beef with wolves."
"You're working for the leeches. You infiltrated our pack as their spy. I definitely have a beef with you."
I stay calm, but keep my muscles loose, ready for an attack. The wolves are itching for a fight, but I know Garrett's a reasonable guy. And I haven't taken any steps against his pack, no matter what he thinks. "Not a spy. I never spied. I worked for both of you-that's it."
"What does Frangelico have on you, Grizz? What's the big secret you're keeping?"
I shake my head. "No secret." It's a lie, but my secret doesn't concern them.
"What dirty work are you doing for the vampire king right now?"
I keep my face impassive. "You already know. Looking into the shifter disappearances."
"And?"
I shrug. "I have a few leads."
Garrett crosses his arms. "Which are?"
Fuck. I don't want to share my intel with them. They will only get in my way. Still, I'm not gonna walk out of here without my body torn to pieces if I don't give him something.
"I found the site of a shifter slave auction. I don't know who's behind it, yet."
"What's your angle?"
"That's not relevant."
Garrett fists my shirt and shoves me back against the closest high top table. He's not my alpha, but I don't fight back. Not when he's got his entire pack here to back him up. If he needs to show a little force in front of his blood-thirsty guys, I get it. I know the wolf dynamic. "I don't like your secrets, Grizz," Garrett growls in a low voice. "I don't like you playing both sides. And I sure as hell don't like not knowing what you're up to."
"I'm finding the vampire responsible for the shifter slave market. And when I do, I'm gonna take care of him."
Garrett must see the gleam of true resolve in my eye, because he studies me for a moment, then lets me go. "I want to know when you find him."
"Not to be a dick, but I don't work for you any more. Your wolves fired me," I remind him. His boy Trey, the owner of Fight Club, flipped out on me a few months ago when he found out I was working for the leeches too.
Garrett punches me in the stomach. "If you want to fucking show your face around this town, you deliver when I ask you for something. Understand?"
I grunt, partly because he knocked the wind out of me and I don't want to show it.
"What's that?"
"Fine."
"Good." Garrett steps back, as if to let me pass. "I expect the same reports you're giving Frangelico, if not better."
His wolves press in on me from all sides, eager to get their punches in, too.
"Fine," I repeat, not because I'm scared of Garrett or his pack, but because I need to get back to Jordy, make sure she's all right. I don't have time for a pissing contest with these guys.
"Let him go," Garrett mutters and the wolves part to let me through. A couple more throw punches as I pass, but I let them fall and walk out, shaking my head.
From the back I hear the feral roar of the vicious bear.
I don't know what the hell his story is, but I'm not afraid to fight him. If he can't keep his animal in control, he'll be easy to best.
Grizz
I ROLL up to Frangelico's house right at dusk. It's a brand new mansion set on a private lot down a long drive and up on a hill. The Italian-style marble columns look weird against the desert backdrop. The gate at the bottom of the hill opens for me slowly. There's no sign of security, but I'm not fooled. This place is crawling with guards, both human and drones.
I park behind a red Lamborghini and white Tesla Roadster and sit a spell, watching the sun sink behind the mountains. My fingers itch to call Jordy, but I hold off. She's safe with Declan and Parker. Their odd behavior allows people to write them off, and they fly under most people's radar.
I head into the house, striding between the white marble columns to the front door.
Two goons emerge from opposite sides of the house and stop me. I strip out of my leather jacket slowly, holding out my arms for them to wand. Inside, I walk through an archway I know holds a hidden metal detector. Vampires are paranoid fuckers, and their king is the most paranoid of them all. That's what's kept him alive.
Frangelico steps into the living room without fanfare. As much as he loves ceremony, he's pretty direct and good to work with when we're alone. Or maybe he just doesn't want me in his house for long.
"Broderick. Welcome."