Wolf Born (7 page)

“Do you know where he is?” Max pitched his voice equally low.

“Why?” Loren’s voice vibrated with suspicion. He moved back a few steps as if worried he’d said too much.

“Not the reason you’re thinking.” Max’s forehead creased. “If you’re right about the streets being overrun with criminals, it simply struck me that if Audrey’s father, uh, disappeared, others like him did also. We could use every trained man, that’s all. We can’t afford to have them moldering away in bunkers or wherever they’ve gone to ground.”

“I couldn’t agree more, boss, but if they come out of hiding—”

“I know. It’s a big, fat, fucking problem. Let me give it some thought. The other states are in the same boat we are…” Max let his voice trail off before he revealed more than was prudent. “I need to run. I don’t want Audrey standing out in front of her house for any longer than she has to.”

“Why the hell didn’t you tell her to wait inside?”

“I did. She said her place is in the back, and she can’t see the street. She doesn’t know I’ll be getting her. She probably thinks I sent you or one of your boys. Anyway, we’ll talk more later.” Max tugged the door open and trotted through it, intent on riding the elevator to ground level. By the time he got there, Johannes stood next to the open passenger door, waiting.

“The security guy told me they’re tailing us.” Johannes jerked his chin toward a car sitting right behind them in the
Load and Unload Only
zone.

“They are.” Max slid into the car. “Come on. Get in. That way, we’ll be ready to roll as soon as Loren, or whoever he sends, shows up. I’ll sit in the front seat. It will be easier to talk that way.”

Johannes got behind the wheel and shut the door. “Do they do everything in pairs?”

“Mostly. Why?”

“When I started in this business, we preferred to work alone. Less chance of being compromised.”

“That was three hundred years ago.”

Johannes gave a Gaelic shrug. “Things haven’t changed that much. Too many people knowing something always spells trouble.”

“We’re picking up a woman and lunch. It doesn’t matter who knows.”

“It always matters, my friend.” Johannes glanced in the rearview mirror. “Looks like we’re good to go here. Do you have an address?” Max rattled it off and then entered it into the onboard nav system. The fully electronic car would find the house without any assistance from Johannes.

Max swallowed a grimace. He knew Audrey’s address because he’d looked up her personnel records the previous evening and then felt like he was trespassing. By the time he’d pried his eyes from the screen, there wasn’t much he didn’t know about Audrey Westen. Born and raised in Bend, Oregon, she was the second of four children born to a 75 percent shifter father and a human mother. The family had relocated to the Sacramento area when she was ten. She’d finished high school with honors and gotten a degree in business from UCSF. After that, she’d gone to work for the California State Legislature and moved from there to the Governor’s office. She was twenty-nine years old and had been married once for five years. The final divorce papers were issued eight months ago. She had no children.

“Are you going to tell me about her?” Johannes asked, his voice so soft Max wasn’t certain he’d even heard the question except subliminally.

“She’s—uh, no. No, I’m not.”

“Why?” Johannes glanced sidelong at him and grinned. “You never know, I might like her, too. It’s been a while since we shared a woman.”

Max’s wolf reared up, close to the surface. Savage possessiveness knifed through him. “This one isn’t for sharing,” he gritted through clenched teeth.

“Maybe not. She works for you, so doesn’t that mean you can’t fuck her at all?” Another Gaelic hand gesture. “These modern rules. There are so many of them, I can’t keep track.”

Thanks for the reminder.
“You’re absolutely correct. Staff is off limits.”

“Who made that rule?”

“Funny,”
the wolf sniped.
“If I recall, I asked the same question.”

Frustration soured Max’s stomach. He balled his hands into fists. “Leave me alone. Both of you.”

“Who’s the other—? Never mind; must be your wolf.”

Max snarled, realized they were slowing, and knew they had to be close to her house. “I’ll join her in the back seat once we pick her up.”

Johannes laughed. “I’ll try my damnedest to behave.”

“That would be a first. On a different topic, Loren, head of Capitol security, just told me he’s sorry he’s not a shifter.”

Johannes quirked a brow. “Interesting. Does he have shifter blood?” Max nodded. “I’ll have Ryan run a background on him. Are you thinking we could make him an offer?”

“Exactly. Depending on what you find out. It would be handy to have inside help as I infiltrate the government’s structure.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Someday shifters will put your face on coins.”

Max snickered at Johannes’ attempt at dry humor. “Let’s hope I live that long.”

*

Audrey paced from one side of her living room to the other. She glanced at her wrist computer again. Another couple of minutes and she’d move to the curb in front of her multiplex. She smoothed nervous hands down the front of her black skirt and checked her jacket one more time in the mirror. A teal silk blouse was tucked into the skirt. Its fabric felt delightful next to her skin. Silk garments weren’t available anymore, either, but no one controlled what she bought at the black market.

She bit her lower lip, feeling conflicted. After getting a few hours’ sleep, she’d gone on the vid feed and made discreet inquiries based on the intel she’d studied the day before. She was nearly certain she could find the shifter underground enclave in Berkeley—or get damned close. She’d hatched a plan over coffee as the sun came up and done a few things to set it in motion. Like withdrawing credits and trading them for black market cash at a twenty-four hour pawn shop three blocks away. She had a little time; if she built her cash slowly over a couple of weeks, it was unlikely anyone would notice.

She squared her shoulders. If she went through with her plan, her life was about to change in ways she’d never be able to reverse.
Yeah, it’s not as if I get a do over on this one if things don’t work out.
She’d typed a letter of resignation, e-signed it, and sent it to her in-basket at work. Once there, she’d take it to Max.

Audrey shook her head. That was the hard part. Max. She’d never see him again, and it scored her soul down to its very roots with bitter acid. “It’s not as if he’d want me, anyway. Other than maybe to bed and forget.” She spoke aloud to steady her resolve. Not that she wouldn’t love a roll in the hay with Max, but she had more important obligations than being a slave to her libido.

The shifter underground needed help. They’d reached a pivotal point where it looked as if they might develop enough momentum to stage an effective counterattack. Maybe, if they were successful and the governmental edict was repealed, she could return to Sacramento and see if Max might be interested…

Too many maybes. Besides, I’d still be a shifter, and he’s not.

But Dad married Mom. He was a shifter, and she wasn’t…

Audrey quashed the ray of hope. It would just divert her and might pose a threat to her resolve.

“I still say we should find him and give him a run for his money,”
her wolf murmured.
“He’s one fine looking man from the image in your mind last night.”

Audrey rolled her eyes, grabbed her briefcase, and walked out the door. It didn’t help that her wolf, while the most wonderful creature ever, loved sex. She trotted down the steps, pushed the main building door open, and stopped dead.

Not Loren. Max.

He stood outside the car, holding one of its rear doors open. As always, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored dark suit, white shirt, and abstract-patterned tie. His blond hair gleamed in the midday sun. He grinned, and her heart did odd things.

“Boss. I expected—”

“Yes, yes.” He held out a hand to help her into the car. “I’ve been at the office since seven. Needed a break, so I rustled up Johannes—that’s who’s in the driver’s seat—and we headed your way. Not to worry, Loren’s team is here, too.” He gestured toward a car idling behind them.

Audrey got in and arranged her skirt. Suddenly, she wished it were just a little longer. Her throat tightened when Max walked around the rear of the car and slid in next to her. She wondered if she’d be capable of talking if he asked her something. His intoxicating scent filled the car; it set her nerve endings on fire. Her nipples hardened, and all the moisture in her body headed south. Mouth dry, thighs slick with arousal, she bit back a moan.

What the fuck is wrong with me? I’ve never had to hold myself back from jumping a guy’s bones.

“Hi there. I’m Johannes.” The man in front half turned and looked appraisingly at her with eyes that probably didn’t miss much. “Max has told me so much about you—”

“You said you were going to behave,” Max cut in.

“The mademoiselle is truly charming.” Johannes was still gazing at her.

She tugged at her skirt again. “Nice to meet you. I’m Audrey.” She nodded in his direction without exactly looking right at him. Her cheeks were warm, and she knew she was blushing.

“I thought we’d grab a bite as long as we’re out and about,” Max said, smiling at her with a ten-thousand watt grin that made her want to throw herself into his arms.

“Uh, sure. Fine.”

“Any preferences?”

You mean like stripping off all our clothes and—
She pressed her thighs together to quell the fire raging through her nether regions and shook her head. “Whatever you feel like is fine.”

“Are you all right?”

His voice was full of compassion. It nearly undid her.
Focus,
her inner voice hissed.
Remember my decision.
“Yes. Thank you for asking. I’m just tired.”

“Are you sure you feel up to working today? You really could take the whole day off.”

She couldn’t meet his sea-blue eyes. If she did, all bets were off. “It’s only half a day at this point, boss. I’ll be fine. Really. Besides, I need to rescue my car.”

She looked out the window.
How am I ever going to be strong enough to march into his office and tell him I quit?

More to the point, will I even make it through lunch without embarrassing myself?

Max settled against the butter-soft leather seat. He’d shrugged out of his suit jacket before getting into the car. He needed something to fold over his lap to hide his erection. The front of his trousers belled out. No way to mistake what was under them. He swallowed hard and tried for control. When he’d seen Audrey waltz out of her building and down her steps, it had taken every shred of willpower at his disposal not to race to her and sweep her into an ardent embrace.

He wanted to pull her hair out of its clips and pins and run his fingers through it. He needed to close his mouth over hers and taste her, craved feeling her breasts pushed against his chest.
Holy Christ! I’ve got to stop this. I’ll come in my pants.

What’s wrong with me? This is way worse than it was last night.

“Sir.” Johannes’ tone had a sharp edge.

Max focused with difficulty. “Yes?”

“I’ve asked you twice. Where are we going for lunch?”

His brain felt muddled. “Maybe that fish place. It’s between here and the office.”

“Excellent choice.” Johannes fiddled with the onboard computer. The car moved forward. “I’ll let the rest of the security team know our destination.” He tapped his wrist computer and held a hurried conversation.

Max wove his fingers together under his jacket to keep himself from reaching out and touching Audrey. She was inches away. If his nose were a judge, she was just as aroused as he. The musk of her sexual heat made it almost impossible to think. He turned toward her. “Did you sleep well?”

“In fits and starts. You?”

“About the same.”

“Why are you making small talk?”
His wolf sounded outraged.

“To be polite.”

“You can be polite later. She’s our mated one. Do something before I do it for you. Remember the first mating always involves me.”

Max sat straighter. His wolf couldn’t possibly be correct. Audrey wasn’t a shifter—well, not one with enough blood to shift. 35 percent wouldn’t do it. Some 50 percenters couldn’t even shift. His mated one had to be a shifter, just like him.
“We’ll talk about this later.”

“I want to talk about it now.”

Sharp points of claws pressed against all his digits. If Max weren’t vigilant, the wolf would force himself out.
“I’m having a hard enough time. Leave this alone for now.”

A deep, snarling growl reverberated in his belly. The wolf was retreating, but probably not for long.

“Did something just happen?” Audrey looked away as soon as he raised his gaze.

“Not really. Guess I’m more tired than I thought. Why do you ask?”

She shook her head. “Not sure. For a moment there, you looked a bit, uh, rattled. Not as composed as you always are.”

The car slowed, and Johannes pulled into a loading zone. “How about if you get out here? I’ll find a better parking place and join you inside.”

“Sure.” Max got out with his jacket draped over an arm held close to his body and moved to Audrey’s side of the car. She didn’t wait for him, though, and was already out on the sidewalk before he got anywhere close to her door.

The car with Loren’s men stopped inches away. One of the guards got out. “I’ll take over until the other guys figure out where to leave the cars.” He let out a grunt. “Downtown parking. I swear. It gets worse every day. Don’t know how places like this stay open. It’s not safe for patrons if they have to walk several blocks to anywhere.”

A hovercraft flew low overhead. The guard cursed and radioed something from his wrist computer, probably on the police scanner channel.