Moonlight (17 page)

“I’ve never dated anyone who could eat as much as I do.”

I kicked his foot under the table. “Are you saying I eat too much?”

“I’m saying I don’t have to pretend to eat normal portions with you.” He grinned and lowered his voice. “I can be myself.”

Then he growled, and his hand slid up my leg. My entire body responded, my breath catching in my throat. I snatched his hand to keep him from getting us both in trouble and leaned in close to him to whisper in his ear. “I love you…wolf and all.”

I nipped his earlobe just enough to get his attention and sat back, gratified to see him shift in his seat a little. Sexual prowess wasn’t something I was very confident about, but being with Adam made me feel empowered. I knew he wanted me. There were no games or power plays.

His phone buzzed on the table then, and we both flinched. Aren’s name flashed on the screen. After getting his flight information—just a quick connection in Las Vegas and then he’d be back in Reno—we finished up and made our way through the casino to the parking structure.

“Do you think Aren could ever warm up to me?” I asked softly.

“It’s not that he doesn’t like you. He hardly knows you.”

“Is he such a racist that he can’t see me as a human being?”

Adam groaned. “No, it’s not that.” He paused and shrugged. “Okay, maybe that’s got a little to do with it. It’s more that he’s worried about me. After his run-in with Sasha, I think he finally believes you didn’t plot to kill Gabe with Sebastian. But he’s not ready to make you his sister yet either.”

“The feeling’s mutual, believe me. With brothers like him, I wouldn’t need to worry about Nero anymore.”

“He’s not a bad guy, Lana. I’ve just never kept a secret from my brother, so finding out about you and also finding out you’re a jaguar threw him. He’s pissed at me and worried. That’s a dangerous combo with my brother.”

We got back in the Jeep and he frowned when his knees jammed up into the dashboard. He looked over at me and laughed. “No one has ever adjusted this seat before.”

“I couldn’t reach the pedals.”

He shoved the seat back and leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Thanks for taking good care of Chaney.”

I tried not to blush. “Sorry I stole him.”

“Sorry I made you feel like I wasn’t proud to have you in my life.”

…

We got to the airport before five p.m. With the top off the Jeep, Adam assured me my scent wouldn’t linger, and as long as I didn’t touch Aren it wouldn’t stick to him either. I couldn’t see us hugging at the airport so I figured we were safe. The sky was just starting to turn orange. Aren’s plane wasn’t due in for over an hour, but Adam kept checking his watch.

“What’s wrong?”

He pulled out his cell phone. “Aren was supposed to call me when he got to Vegas. I should’ve heard from him by now.” He punched the number for his brother, but quickly hung up. “It went straight to voice mail.”

“His plane must’ve been delayed. It happens all the time.”

“Yeah.” He looked like he was trying to convince himself. “You’re probably right.”

We headed into the airport to get drinks while we waited to hear from Aren. He practically jumped on his cell phone when it finally buzzed.

“Aren, what took so long?”

The voice coming from Adam’s phone was definitely not Aren’s. He tilted the phone to save his ear from the loud female voice, and I leaned in closer.

“If you want to see your brother alive, bring your girlfriend to Las Vegas by tomorrow night.”

Adam’s knuckles were white he was gripping his cell so tight. “Let me talk to my brother.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

“How do I know you didn’t just steal his cell phone?” A male moan came through the phone. Adam raked his free hand back through his hair. “What’d you do to him?”

“In case you didn’t notice, your brother is a little bigger than me, but it was nothing a Taser couldn’t handle. Meet me tomorrow night at the Stratosphere Hotel on the strip. Seven o’clock. Bring your girlfriend and no one else, or I kill your brother.”

The line went dead. Adam slammed his phone on the table and shook his head. “Goddammit.”

I didn’t know what to say. This was all my fault. If I had never come to Reno, none of this would have touched Adam and his Pack. Gabe would be alive, and Aren wouldn’t be a hostage. My chest constricted, weighed down with guilt. I needed to make this right somehow.

Adam looked over at me and shook his head. “I don’t know what to do.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You need to tell the Pack and go rescue your brother.”

“She’ll kill him if I show up without you, but there’s no way in hell I’m bringing you to her.” He shook his head. “Aren is the plotter, not me.”

I didn’t have any experience with outsmarting trained assassins either.

Wait a minute. I took Adam’s hand. “You’re going to hate this plan, but just hear me out. We need Sebastian.”

“What?” Adam jerked his hand free of mine and got up from his chair. “No. No way, Lana. He’d kill me sooner than he’d help me. No way.”

“He won’t help you, but whatever his reasons are, he also doesn’t want Nero to get their hands on me. If we tell him we’re going to Vegas to meet Sasha he won’t be able to resist following.”

“I don’t like it.”

I could almost see the wheels turning in his head, playing out every scenario. My heart swelled. And somehow I realized I loved him even more every day.

None of the options we had were good. I watched him thinking, doing his best to keep a cool head. Giving up was never going to be the answer for Adam. His Pack had nothing to worry about in their future Alpha.

Finally, he turned to look at me. “If we do this, you have to remember that Sebastian is not our friend or even our ally. Until we know why he wants to keep you away from Nero, we can’t assume he’s completely in our corner. Understand?”

I nodded. “The next problem will be finding him.”

Adam looked around the airport. “I’m guessing he’s not far away. If I walk away, he’s bound to show up.”

“Probably. He seems to think I can never be left alone.”

Adam leaned down to give me a kiss and whispered, “I’ll stay where I can see you. Once he gets here, keep him here.”

“Be careful.” He gave me a nod and turned away.

Adam walked out of the airport bar and dramatically pulled out the Jeep keys from the pocket of his jeans as he headed toward the door. I made a point of sipping my iced tea and watching his backside in his faded Levis.

He blended into the crowd outside the airport and I lost sight of him. After a refill of tea, I caught a familiar scent. When I looked up, a tall, dark-haired, olive-skinned man made his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on mine. Sebastian sat across from me without an invitation.

“How can you waste your time with that inept wolf? I thought we understood you cannot be left unguarded at any time.”

I raised a brow. “Hello, Sebastian.”

“I have no time for pleasantries. We need to leave this place. Now.”

Adam walked up behind him and pulled up a chair, spinning it around so he could straddle the back. “Not so fast, my feline friend.”

Sebastian shifted, raising his chin slightly. “We are most definitely not friends, and you will never be able to keep her safe. A wolf does not deserve such a treasure.”

Adam took my hand. “You’re right, I don’t deserve Lana, but I
will
keep her safe.”

“So why did I find her alone, again?”

“Because we were looking for you,” I interrupted before I gagged on all the testosterone. “We figured the quickest way to flush you out was for Adam to leave me alone.” Sebastian snorted, but I went on before he could interject some smarmy, elitist comment. “We’re going to Las Vegas to meet with Sasha.”

Sebastian’s eyes widened. “You’re insane.”

“She has Adam’s brother.”

“He is expendable. You should go get a head start while she waits for you to arrive. This is your chance to disappear. I suggest you take it.”

“Are you nuts?” My brow furrowed. “He’s in danger because of me. I can’t just turn my back on him.”

Sebastian sighed and shook his head. “Then you will walk right into her trap. Sasha negotiated many hostage situations before she was transformed. She knows you will come to her. She will still kill the wolf’s brother, and she will also deliver you to the Nero Organization.”

“Not if you help us.”

He laughed. Not a good sign. Adam gripped my hand tighter, and I shot him a look. This was not the time to beat up our only hope of backup.

I leaned in closer to Sebastian and whispered, “We could just bring in a gun and shoot her before she knows we’re there.”

His laughter stopped instantly, and I could almost see his hackles rise. Apparently I hit the right nerve. What was it with him and that chick? I’d heard of love-hate relationships before, but this seemed twisted.

“If I did follow you, have you thought of a plan?”

“It’s obvious you don’t want Sasha killed,” Adam piped up. “Would she kill you?”

“That I do not know.” He shrugged. “She could have killed me in San Antonio, but she never drew her weapon. However, the next time we meet could have a different outcome.”

Adam nodded slowly. “Okay, so that’s an unknown, but what if you just shadow the exchange. Once we get Aren you can surprise Sasha and keep her busy so Lana can get away.”

Sebastian was quiet for a moment, then his gaze swept from me to Adam. “Going after your brother is noble, but this is a suicide mission. Sasha is an assassin with law enforcement weapons training. She will be anticipating a trap. Any plan that we make, she will counter.”

“Look, the only sure thing is that Aren will die if we don’t go,” I said as I stood up. “So I’m going with or without you two. I won’t have his blood on my hands.”

Adam got up beside me. “I’m going with you.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes and got up from his chair. “I suppose I will have to follow.” He lowered his voice and added, “There is one more thing we can count on. Sasha will not kill Lana. Lana is too precious to Nero. She needs her alive. Keep that in mind.”

He turned and walked out without another word. I looked up at Adam. “I still don’t know whose side he’s on, but that was a good tip.”

“Don’t get too excited. Just because she won’t kill you, doesn’t mean she won’t hurt you.”

The truth behind Adam’s words sank into me along with an icy dagger of fear. Tomorrow night the man I love could die and I could be abducted. My hands started shaking.

Adam pulled me into his arms and kissed my hair. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lana.”

I wrapped my arms around him. “Don’t let anything happen to you. I couldn’t stand it.”

He pulled back and took my hand. “It’ll take more than a cat to bring me down.”

I watched the light sparkle on the silver bullet he wore around his neck and sighed. A cat with a gun could do it.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Adam

I left Lana back at her hotel alone. Knowing Sasha was in Las Vegas meant we could be a little less cautious. Plus, even though it pissed me off royally, I knew Sebastian was still lurking. He’d intervene if anyone threatened my mate.

I pulled into my driveway and frowned when I saw my father’s car parked in the driveway. I got out and jogged inside.

“Malcolm?”

He came out of the kitchen with an apple. “There you are. You and your brother have been scarce this week. I wanted to be sure everything was all right.”

“Aren had some business in Vegas.” Lying to my father sucked, but I couldn’t have the whole Pack running to Vegas now. “I’m actually going down to meet him there tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” He took a bite of the fruit. “I have a free day. I’ll go with you.”

I didn’t know how Malcolm knew something was up, but he did. My heart started pounding and all I could do was try to keep it from showing.

My father could catch the scent of fear in a second. If he figured out Aren was in trouble he’d want to bring in the Pack and my brother would be as good as dead.

“That’s not necessary. It’s nothing major.”

My father stepped closer, his eyes searching my own. I fought to maintain the eye contact. He finally shook his head and took another bite of the apple.

“It’s not like you to keep secrets from the Pack, Adam.”

I lowered my gaze and shrugged. “No secrets. Just working on a few things.”

“Does this have anything to do with hunting the jaguar who murdered Gabe?”

How did he sense these things? Could I ever be that good at being Alpha? Inwardly I begged him to drop it.

“I think we’re getting closer.”

“I caught the scent of cats on you.” He took one last bite of the apple and inspected the core. “I’ve been calling Aren, but his phone goes right to voice mail. It’s not like him.”

“I know, but we’ve got this handled. Really.”

He came closer and draped his arm around my shoulders. “I trust you and your brother, but something else is going on here. You know our Pack is family, and family is everything. Whatever is happening, we’ll understand, and we’ll come together to help you.”

If only that were true. Even if I told him about Lana and he believed she hadn’t attacked the Pack, Sebastian came into our territory because of her. And the pack would demand his death when they found out he killed Gabe. A week ago I would have too, but now I wasn’t so sure. He was a wildcard. If he really did help us tonight then I couldn’t turn him over to the Pack for justice.

“Look, if we get in too deep we’ll definitely call you for backup, okay?”

“It’s not just the jaguar I’m talking about.” His gaze landed squarely on my face.

“What?”

My Alpha raised a brow and tossed the apple core into the trash. “Luke tells me you haven’t been sleeping here in over a week.”

“Luke has a big mouth.”

Malcolm opened his hands, his all-knowing eyes were difficult to avoid. “Don’t blame the boy. You know how persuasive I can be.”

“I haven’t been around much.”

“Is there a woman behind your absence?”

“Jesus, I don’t have time for this.” It was killing me not to tell him about Lana.

“We don’t have time for you to keep playing the field, Adam. I thought you understood.”

I shook my head. “I have enough on my mind without the Pack-needs-babies talk.”

He took a step back. He looked hurt, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it right now. I promised myself I’d make it up to him later.

“Tell Aren to call me,” he said as he walked out of the house. He stopped at the door and turned back with his all-knowing stare. “I’m ready to listen whenever you’re ready to talk to me.”

…

Lana got our tickets to Vegas, but the next flight wasn’t for another four hours. Dammit. It was a good eight-hour drive to Vegas, so jumping in the Jeep wasn’t going to help either. My hands were tied, and I was stuck waiting. Waiting. I paced my living room floor, wishing I had something to take my frustrations out on.

“I’m going to go batshit crazy.” I grumbled and went out the back door to the barn. I needed to get a grip.

I walked through the barn aisle, and Bruce shook his head as I reached for his halter. “I missed you too, buddy.”

After a quick grooming, I saddled him up and grabbed his bridle off the hook. Bruce was eager to take the bit, and I easily slid the bridle over his ears, giving his neck an extra scratch as I led him out of the barn. He waited for me to get my foot in the stirrup and then started for the ring as soon as my butt hit the saddle. “Impatient today, too?”

He shook his head and we hit the arena. Every gait felt smooth. We were so closely in sync that I could cue each gait with a minor shifting of my weight. The wind blew against my face, lifting his mane so it brushed against my hands where I held the reins.

So simple. Horse and rider.

Why couldn’t life be like that?

I took a deep breath and let Bruce have more rein. He didn’t increase his speed at first, waiting for my command. I grinned and leaned forward closer to his neck. “Go for it, big guy.”

His body lunged forward, his hooves pounding the earth, faster and faster until the scenery around the arena blurred. I lost track of how many laps we did like that before I settled back into the saddle. Bruce’s gait slowed gradually until his gallop was a leisurely lope. The sound of his hooves beat out a perfect three pattern. And the calm that settled over me was intoxicating. I eased back on the reins, and his gait slowed to a jog and finally he just walked. I loosened the reins more, letting his head drop down as he cooled his muscles. When we got back to the barn, I dropped to the ground and found Luke waiting for me.

“Want me to rinse him off for you?”

Foam had accumulated where the reins rubbed against Bruce’s neck, and sweat dripped from his flanks. I gave his face a gentle rub. “Thanks, buddy. That was just what I needed.”

I handed the reins to Luke. “That’d be great. Thanks.” I gave him a small smile. It wasn’t the boy’s fault he was worried.

He led the horse back to the wash rack and unbridled him. I loosened the cinch and removed the saddle. Bruce gave a good full-body shake and pawed the ground, anxious for a reward.

“I’m going to Vegas to meet up with Aren, so you’ll be in charge again,” I said as I gave Bruce a handful of grain from the treat bucket.

“All right,” Luke replied.

I rested the saddle back on its rack and turned the saddle blanket upside down to dry out. When I came out of the tack room, Luke had washed off Bruce and was feeding him a carrot.

“I saw Malcolm when I got back today.”

Luke’s shoulders rose up a bit, and he didn’t turn around to face me when he spoke. “He’s been looking for you and Aren.”

“Yeah, that’s what he said. Did you mention the woman I brought home with me the other night?”

Luke turned around. “I’m sorry. He kept asking. You know how he is.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Nothing really.” He shrugged. “I didn’t get to see her before she took off in the Jeep. I told him you hadn’t been at the ranch much and that you had a lady with you the last time you came by.”

“That’s all you said?”

Luke thought about it and then nodded. “Yeah, that’s all I knew.” He met my eyes and straightened up a bit. “That was all I knew for sure, at least.” Maybe he assumed the jaguar scent he caught was from me tracking Gabe’s killer. Either way, Malcolm didn’t know. That was all that mattered. “Sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have.”

I shook my head. “You didn’t, Luke. I just wanted to know what you told him.”

“Is she someone special?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah. She’s very special.”

“When do we get to meet her?”

I felt my smile fade away. “Hopefully soon,” I lied.

Keeping the truth from the people I care about sucked—fucking sucked. I gave Bruce one last scratch and wondered how I was going to be able to walk away from my life.