SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON Book 5: RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES (6 page)

“I was in the neighborhood and thought I would pop in and see if you needed me to do anything for you.”

“How sweet of you. You know, Shelly can run errands for me, but lately she’s been in a hurry when she drops by. There’s no time for a proper visit.” She shook her head and rested her cane against her knee.

“I’m sure she’s just busy.” Busy with what, she wasn’t real sure.

“How about I fix you a cup of tea?” Catty stood before she could be waved off.

“You’re so sweet, dear. Thank you.”

She walked into the kitchen and frowned when she saw the state of the cabinets. They were all open and the dishes inside disturbed. Not the way Mrs. Willis usually liked her tidy kitchen.

She quickly filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove. She turned on the heat and then turned her attention back to the cabinets. She went to the first one and straightened the dishes as quietly as possible.

“Are you finding everything okay, Catty?”

“Yes, ma’am. Getting your pretty china,” she lied.

After straightening the set of plates, she closed the cabinet and moved to the next one. Immediately she spied the blue and white china pattern. The intricate pattern was no knockoff, and she knew the set must have been in Mrs. Willis’s family for years. It had to be valuable. Catty was always worried someone would break in and steal it and hurt Mrs. Willis in the process.

The kettle whistled as she finished setting the cabinets to rights. She set two cups and saucers on the counter and found the tea canister and pulled out two tea bags.

She poured the hot water over the bags and watched as the water turned light brown. She opened the cabinet to pull out the silver tray.

It wasn’t there. Maybe it had gotten moved when Shelly cleaned.

She found a wooden tray instead and set the cups down. She grabbed some lemon cookies she found in the pantry and placed them on the tray as well.

“Here we go.” Catty smiled as she set the tray down on the coffee table.

She passed a cup and saucer to Mrs. Willis before taking her seat on the couch and placing her saucer and tea cup on her lap.

“Ah, cookies too. You’re such a dear, Catty. Your mother must be so proud to have such a lady like you.”

She flinched. Her mother would be anything but proud.

“So tell me what really brings you here today.” Mrs. Willis took a sip of her tea as a smile settled around her wrinkled lips. “I may not see so well, but I know when a girl is having some man problems. You, my dear girl, are having some man problems. Wanna tell me his name?”

Chapter Ten

“Son of a bitch.” Barrett threw the package across the room and curled his fingers into tightly coiled fists. His heart pounded as rage swelled in his gut.

He knew without opening it what the box held. The coppery scent of blood permeated the room and sent anger raging through his veins.

His gaze searched the room before landing on the stained piece of paper sitting on his desk. It had been taped to the outside of the package that had been delivered via the FedEx man, who’d left in a hurry after Barrett gave him a
fuck off
look. The delivery man had been human and he had no idea of the horrific contents the box held.

He glanced down at the barely legible scrawl.

“Your wolves will pay for your arrogance, Barrett. Make no mistake about that. I will skin each Guardian until there are none left.”

The inside of the box held a hand. He could only guess it was Heimy’s.

His mind raced as he tried to think who would be behind such a horrendous act. He knew as Pack Master he certainly pissed off a lot of Weres, but there was nothing that demanded this type of retribution.

A heavy knock landed on the door. Before he could tell whoever it was to go to hell, the door swung open and Jaxon stepped through.

Jaxon must have caught the look on Barrett’s face because he stopped short. His brows knit together and his nostrils flared as he caught the faint scent of blood.

“Did someone die in here?”

“Not yet,” Barrett snarled.

Jaxon held up his hands and his eyes narrowed. “Does this have anything to do with Lucien?”

“Maybe.”

“If he needs help, then send me.” Jaxon lifted his chin as if preparing for Barrett’s wrath.

“He doesn’t need help. He’s fine on his own.” Barrett turned back to the Pack Master seal that covered the wall. Serve and protect. That was what the Guardians did. They laid down their life for their civilian Weres. So who was going to lay down their life for the Guardians?

The whole thing made him mad as hell.

“I know you sent him on a mission and he wouldn’t say shit to me about where he was going. But if he’s in trouble, then tell me so I can help him.”

Barrett rounded on the younger Were and snatched him up by the collar of his T-shirt. Hauling him off the ground, he held him at eye level.

“Don’t try to tell me how to do my job, Jaxon. You forget your place.” Adrenaline cascaded through his body. His muscles twitched, aching to punch something until it bled.

“Easy, man,” Jaxon said calmly.

He had to hand it to Jaxon. He didn’t try to act like a pussy when he was in his cross hairs. Nor did he beg.

Barrett blinked, released his grip, and stepped back. His gut twisted with regret. He’d never laid a hand on any of his Guardians, ever.

“My bad, boss.” Jaxon nodded his head but didn’t back up. “I shouldn’t have overstepped my boundaries.” He ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m worried about Lucien.”

“I know.” Barrett’s hardened gaze landed on the package. He was worried about his Guardian too. But Jaxon didn’t need to know that.

“I’ll let you know when I need you, Jaxon.”

Jaxon nodded and looked as if he was about to say something else and then thought better of it. Without another word, the Were slipped out the door.

Barrett had to handle this correctly, had to keep things quiet. He wasn't going to let one more of his men get hurt because he’d managed to piss off some psycho.

His gut told him there were no easy decisions in this matter. He was betting everything on Lucien.

If Lucien came up with nothing, then they were all as good as dead.

***

Lucien waited in the obscure shadows of a ramshackle house. He couldn’t imagine why Catty would be in this part of town unless she was up to something. Maybe she had a drug habit he hadn't picked up on.

His brows knit together as he recalled both their meetings. He shook his head. She wasn't on drugs. She didn’t have the usual signs of being a druggie, nor did he smell it on her.

Her scent
.

He closed his eyes and inhaled a breath. She smelled hot and sweet, like a breeze coming off the ocean in the middle of a scorching summer.

Her scent was as unique as her sassy mouth. Who would have thought she’d be as strong-willed as Zane?

He let out a little chuckle as he tried to image what life had been like for her growing up. And what had happened to make her end up here?

He’d seen the fear in her eyes when she’d thought her parents had sent him to find her. And the flash of disappointment that had followed when he said her parents hadn’t sent him.

Catty had a wall up. A boundary she kept up between her and the men she danced for. He’d seen it at the club, how she’d placed her mask of sexuality on, and he’d seen it when it slipped.

She didn’t belong there in the bowels of hell.

He caught a whiff of marijuana. He jerked his head in the direction of the smoke, and his gaze met a pockmarked-faced druggie.

“You looking to party?” The guy nodded at his joint before glancing nervously over his shoulder.

Lucien doubted the cops would even dare venture into this crack-infested neighborhood.

“No.” He growled and looked back at the house.

“I got some harder stuff if you want, man.” The guy shoved his hand into his baggy jeans pocket and pulled out a bag of crack. His hand shook as he held it out.

“Take a hint and fuck off.” He bowed up and took a step toward the guy.

The guy’s eyes widened and he got the message. He shoved his bag of drugs back in his pocket and took off at a run down the street.

“Fucking asshole.” Lucien kept his gaze locked on the guy until he disappeared down the alley.

“What did you expect in this neighborhood?” Catty asked.

“I could ask you the same question. You don’t strike me as the druggie type.” He turned and faced Catty. She’d managed to sneak up on him. Not good. Not good at all.

“I’m not.” She glared and crossed her arms over her amazing chest. “And you already knew. Don’t lie. I know you can’t smell drugs on me.”

“Why are you hanging around this neighborhood? Don’t you know what guys like that do to girls who look like you?” He nearly growled the words as another tweeker walked by and openly eyed Catty.

“I’m here checking on a friend.” She narrowed her pretty gaze, and he thought for a second flames would spark out of her eyes.

He stepped closer.

“Oh yeah? Who is this friend?” He fisted his hands at his sides to keep from grabbing her by the arms. Her insolence grated on him in ways he couldn’t describe. He was here for a reason, a mission. And he sure as hell didn’t have time for her frivolous games.

“Well, if you must know…” She smiled. “My friend’s name is Go Fuck Yourself.” She gave him the bird, turned on her heel, and marched down the sidewalk.

The blood pounded between his ears like an ocean wave matching the beat of his heart. Who the hell did she think she was talking to?

Shoving off the side of the house, he went after her.

Grabbing her elbow with his hand, he spun her around. “No wonder your family hasn’t come looking for you.”

Her confidence slid off her face, and for a moment he saw a hurt little girl.

His stomach lurched and twisted. It was a dick thing to say. He shouldn’t have even gone there. He’d wanted to hurt her, to see a real reaction. But even he hadn’t wanted that reaction.

He released his hold and softened his voice.

“Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it.” He ran his hand through his hair.

She shrugged and adjusted the mask of indifference she wore so well. “Even if you didn’t say it, you would still be thinking it. So it’s the same. You think because I’m a stripper I must be a whore and use drugs. To you I’m a nobody. A nobody who has no family.”

“That’s not fair. And it’s not what I…” He studied the tip of his boot and shoved his hands in his pockets. His chest ached, and he shifted his weight.

“Stop.” She held up her hand. “Just stop. It doesn’t matter.” She glanced at the house she’d been visiting and nodded. “If you want to know what I was doing here, then look for yourself.”

He looked up and the front door opened. A petite elderly woman stepped out onto the porch. She had large dark sunglasses and a cane. Lucien knew immediately the woman was blind.

“Is she a relative?” He really felt like a dick. He was no better than his brother. Instead of violence, Lucien hurt with his words.

Her face softened. “No. Just someone who was kind to me when I first moved here. I met her in the grocery store one day. Her caretaker was high and trying to steal her money at the cash register and I caught her. Since then I’ve looked after her. She doesn’t get many visitors, so I go check on her.” She shrugged.

“You help her.” He squeezed his eyes shut and scrubbed his hand down his face.

“Yeah, well, maybe I do it to even out my karma.” She smirked and walked away. “You know, to cancel out my sins.”

He forced his feet to move and caught up with her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said earlier. I don’t know you, so I can’t judge you.”

She said nothing.

She was going to make this hard on him. If he wanted information, he was going to have to eat crow.

He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out. “My karma isn’t looking positive right now. What do you suggest?” He met her gaze.

The corners of her lips twitched, threatening to break out into a smile. “Perhaps keeping your nose out of my business. That would be a great start.”

“I wish I could.” He couldn’t. He needed to find the missing Guardians and then find his brother. “Catty, there are things I’ve been sent here to find out. I think you might know something about what I’m looking for.”

She stopped and stepped into his space. There it was again. The hot tingling sensation that arced between them even though they were not touching. It was hot enough without having her standing so close, but good god, she seemed to make their space explode like a volcano.

She cocked her head and stared up at him, a hardness to her eyes.

“Honey, I’m sure there are a lot of females who would do anything you want. But I really don’t know what you're talking about. Maybe that’s why I’m still alive. I try to stay invisible.” She shook her head and stepped back. “Sorry, I’m not your girl.”

“I think you are.” He dug out his wallet and pulled out some money.

“If you want me to tell you a lie so you can pay me some money, then go right ahead.” She pressed her full lips into a line of thinly veiled rage.

“How much?”

“For what? Look, I told you I don’t have any information.” Her eyes narrowed.

“How much for a night?”

Her eyes widened as her mouth dropped. Clamping down her mouth, she curled her hands into fists at her side. “Look asshole, I’m not a whore.”

“I didn’t say you were.” He looked around as a couple of guys passing by eyed Catty with interest. “And you need to keep your voice down,” he hissed.

A guy stopped in front of them and nodded at Catty. “If you ain’t gonna take her, I will.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “How much for a blow job, sweetheart?”

Liquid anger filled Lucien’s vision as the guy grabbed Catty’s arm. He swung at the guy, landing a hard blow to his face and knocking him on the ground.

“Don’t you fucking touch her.” He snatched the guy off the ground by the collar of his stained T-shirt. The man’s eyes rolled back in his head and his head lolled to the side. Lucien punched him in the face again for good measure.

“Lucien, behind you!” Catty screamed.

He let go of the guy, who crumpled to the ground. Pain ripped through his shoulder. He spun around. A guy held up a knife covered in his blood. The guy had cut Lucien’s arm.

Adrenaline pumped through his cells and spilled over. Rage replaced pain. Revenge replaced control.

He looked up from the wound in his arm and met the guy’s gaze and smiled.

“Jesus, man. What kind of shit are you on not to feel that?” The guy backed up and stumbled over his own feet as he tried to get away.

“Lucien, we need to go.” Catty tugged on his arm.

He dragged his gaze from the asshole who’d stabbed him to the one lying on the ground. They were quickly drawing a crowd as thugs came out of the houses like cockroaches.

“We need to go,” Catty stated.

He glanced around. He might be a werewolf, but there were thirty humans who were either drunk or high and they were all carrying guns. Even if he could take them, there was a high chance of Catty getting hurt. He couldn’t chance it. He needed to get her out of here.

“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and hurried down the nearest alley.