Before The Moon Rises (Ritter Werewolves #1)(7)
Author: Catherine Bybee

Janet picked up her phone, but before dialing, she played her messages.

Max was surprised to hear her voice come over the player. The message to herself made him smile despite the severity of the situation.

She avoided his eyes. “I didn’t know if you were a serial murderer.”

“You’re very resourceful.”

“Hey, baby girl…” the male voice boomed into the recorder.

“My dad,” Janet explained.

“I’m going out of town for a few days. There’s a car show in Vegas I’m going to check out. Be a good girl and watch Cat for me. Oh, and water your mom’s roses, too. Love you.”

“Your dad’s cat is named Cat?”

A little lift of her lips made him happy he asked.

“What self-respecting bachelor owns a cat? She showed up one day and he didn’t have the heart to take her to the pound. He tries to pretend she isn’t his.”

Janet’s smile fell. Max watched her stare at the machine. “What’s wrong?” he asked her.

“The light wasn’t blinking.”

“What?”

“The light blinks to let me know there are new messages, it wasn’t blinking.” She turned to him and grabbed his arm. “Someone listened to my messages. Why?”

Max bit back a curse. “Call the police, Janet.”

****

Within a couple of hours, the police filled out their report. They took pictures, but without any stolen merchandise, all the police could charge the intruder with was breaking and entering.

“Miss O’Brien, do you have any enemies who would do this?”

“No. No one.”

The officers exchanged glances. “Whoever did this wasn’t after financial gain.”

“That’s obvious, since they didn’t take anything,” Janet said.

“What we have to assume is the perp was after you.”

“Me?” Janet almost screamed the word. “Why me?”

The police officers didn’t answer, instead they asked, “Is there somewhere you can stay for a few days while we run our investigation?”

“I could stay with my dad.”

The cop doing most of the talking put away his notepad and pen. “Good. It wouldn’t be wise for you to be alone until we know more about who did this, and why.”

Janet shook her tired head. “My dad is out of town.”

The officers exchanged an uncomfortable look.

“Miss O’Brien will be staying with me.”

Max’s statement put her back. “I can’t impose on you.”

He smiled, his jaw twitched. “It isn’t like I don’t have a spare room.”

She knew she shouldn’t take him up on the offer, but the thought of being alone had her scared more than she cared to admit. “Are you sure?”

“I insist.” He squeezed her hand.

The police started for the door. “Okay then, we’ll get in touch with you tomorrow.”

“Go pack a bag,” Max told her. “I’ll finish up here.”

****

They arrived at Max’s estate after three. He carried her bag and led her to a room across the hall from his. “You’re exhausted.”

Janet rubbed her swollen eyes and agreed. “I need a few hours sleep.”

Max massaged her arms with his hands. The act brought a smile to her face. “Everything you need should be in the bathroom. Do you want something to eat before you turn in?”

“I couldn’t eat anything now. Can you wake me by six? Otherwise, I won’t sleep tonight. Graveyard has a way of screwing up your sleeping patterns.”

He knew that from first hand experience. Max didn’t express his thoughts however; instead he agreed to act as her personal alarm clock.

He left her alone and went to find his brother. They had a lot to do and little time to do it.

There was only five hours until the moonrise.

Five hours until he changed.

Chapter Four

He found Richard in his office. A monitoring system, like the one in Max’s bedroom dominated the back wall.

Max waltzed in to find Richard taking aim at the room where Janet was getting dressed for bed. “What the hell are you doing?”

Richard turned at his voice, then swung back to the monitors. “Surveillance.”

Max crossed over and hit a button on the wall. A full size bookshelf came down over the monitors hiding all evidence of their existence.

“She’s not for your eyes.”

“Someone’s a bit touchy.” Richard took a seat on the large leather couch, crossed an ankle over his knee. “Who is she?”

Max went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink. “Her name is Janet. She’s our next assignment.”

Richard’s brow shot up in surprise. “You brought her here?”

“I didn’t have a choice. Gorman knows I have her. This is the only place to keep her safe.”

“Does she know about him?”

Max told Richard about the vandalism on her house and the messages on her machine.

“Why trash her place? It doesn’t sound like him.”

“I think it was his way of goading me.”

Richard sent him a questioning look. He had something to ask but he kept it to himself. Good thing, because Max wasn’t up to answering anything personal.

“Does she know about you?”

Max tipped the remainder of bourbon down his throat. He savored the burn. “I just met her, Richard. What do you think? I go around telling everyone I turn into a wolf three nights a month?”

“She’s going to figure it out pretty damn fast once the sun sets.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” He slammed his glass on the desk. He seldom cursed his affliction. But today he wished he was anything but a werewolf.

“You should get some rest. It’s been a long night. We wouldn’t want Gorman to catch you sleeping.”

“He wouldn’t dare try and invade here.”

“His pack is growing, Max. Ever since we took out their last leader, Gorman is sporting for the top position. I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

Max flopped onto the couch next to his brother, his head tilted back. “It would help if you took the change.”

Richard put a hand in the air. “We’ve gone over this. Someone needs to cover your ass every month.”

“I can’t let him get to her.”

Richard nodded toward the door. “Sexy little thing, I imagine he wants her for a mate.”