Never Cry Wolf (Night Watch #4)(62)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Maya took a few more steps. “That’s a circle for protection, Josie. Did you think he was coming after you?”

“I know he is.” A sad smile. “Rafe always likes to—”

“Tie up loose ends,” Sarah finished.

Josette looked at Sarah then, a deep, probing look. “He told me about you.”

Oh, this wasn’t going to be good. Lucas reached for Sarah’s hand and closed his fingers around hers. “We can’t stay here.” There was nothing more to learn. If Josette wasn’t—

“He thought you were his mate,” she told Sarah.

“He thought wrong,” was her immediate answer.

“Rafael thought you’d be the one to give him the thing he desired most.” Her dark gaze slid to Lucas. “For wolves, it’s always about the base needs, isn’t it? Lust, hunger, vengeance.”

Lucas held her stare. “I didn’t start the war. He came gunning for me.” Not like he’d just stand there and become the ass**le’s bitch. “No one makes that mistake and lives.”

Her stare slipped to his savaged ear. “Wound for wound,” she whispered. “The way of the beast.”

No, the way of the beast was tooth and claw until death. Fight and kill. Or damn well be killed.

“He knows your weakness, Lucas Simone.” She rose with Sarah, her body shaking just a bit. “That’s how he works. He knew my weakness, and he used it against me. Knew mine, knew grand-mère’s.”

The mambo had a weakness?

Her breath whispered out. “Rafael always knows how to hurt his prey the most.”

Good damn deal for him. “I’m not afraid of pain.”

For just an instant, her dark gaze seemed to fog, the way he’d seen Marie’s do once. “Very soon, you will be.”

Not likely. “I can handle any pain the bastard throws at me.”

“I never said it would be your pain.” Her gaze drifted over Maya.

“Now you sound like Marie,” Maya said.

Josette’s face tightened.

“Piers, take Josette back to the compound.” His gaze met the other shifter’s. Don’t let her out of your sight. There was much more to learn from Josette, he knew it. He just didn’t want to question her more with the vamp and her bodyguard /mate there.

Sure, they had an alliance, of sorts, and he was in the unfortunate situation of actually owing Brody, but he made it a policy not to trust vamps too far. Or at all, really.

At his words, Maya shook her head. “Josette’s coming with me.” She offered her hand, palm up, to the other woman. “You know I’ll keep you safe.”

Josette didn’t take the offered hand. “The Dust . . .” She cleared her throat. “Why did you ask about it, Lucas? It wouldn’t hurt wolves, just demons.”

“Rafe used it to infect a demon I know.” That’s all he’d say. Josette and the others didn’t need to know about the hybrid in his pack.

Secrets stayed in the pack.

“Is he . . . is he dead?”

“Not yet.”

“I only gave Rafael one batch.”

Maya and Brody were watching with narrowed eyes. Both of them hearing everything that was said, and what wasn’t.

Her palm brushed at the tear tracks on her cheeks.

“I wasn’t even sure it would work.”

Oh, it had worked.

“I couldn’t make it. But grand-mère . . . could do anything.”

But she’d still died. No matter how powerful, everyone could still die.

“All kinds came to see grand-mère.” Her lips curved down. “When you traded . . . even angels had to fall.”

Almost helplessly then, his stare slid back to Sarah. Just because Marie was dead, it didn’t mean she still wouldn’t claim her payment. No, a payment was always due.

“Come with me, Josie,” Maya said again. “You know I can keep you safe. If you don’t want to stay with me, I’ve got some cops who will—”

“I wouldn’t trust the cops in this town if I were you,” Lucas advised.

“No,” Sarah echoed him. “I wouldn’t either.”

Indecision flashed across Josette’s face.

“Josette.” Intensity fired Maya’s voice. “You trusted me once. Trust me again. I will keep you safe.” Her gaze zeroed in on Lucas. “He just wants to use you.”

True enough. He didn’t exactly trust Josette. That circle hadn’t been all about protection—Maya was wrong. Josette had been set to raise the dead again. Marie, or . . .

No, he didn’t trust her. And he wanted her where he could keep a guard on her.

But Josette reached for Maya’s hand.

Lucas growled. “Wrong choice.”

Maya pulled the woman closer.

And he had to give a warning. Because . . . once, he’d seen past the vampire and glimpsed the woman inside. “Don’t trust her.”

Maya’s jaw dropped. “You bastard! I’d never hurt her, I’d—”

“I was talking to you, Maya.” He caught Sarah’s hand and pulled her toward the door.

“She’s not the good little Josie anymore,” Piers said.

The candles flickered.

Lucas wondered . . . had she ever been that Josie? Or had she been tricking them all along?

Death teased his nostrils.

A strong hand grabbed his shoulder. Ah, now Brody was trying to get a piece of him. Wrong move. Lucas didn’t care how old or strong that shifter was; even legends could die.

“If I find him first,” Adam Brody’s mouth hitched into a hard grin—one that promised pain. “They’ll be nothing left for you to see but ash.”

Promises, promises.

“I gave you a kill once,” Brody said. “This one’s personal.”

“You’re damn right it is.” He knew Maya had been close with the mambo, but her revenge would have to wait. “He’s after me. After my pack.” Lucas let the wolf off his leash, and he knew his eyes would glow with the power of the beast. “He’ll be dead by my hand.”

“Not if I find him first, wolf.”

Asshole. Brody wasn’t backing down. But Brody also didn’t know this town, not like Lucas did. “You won’t.” He pushed through the broken door, aware of the silence behind him, ahead of him. Everyone in the bar was straining to hear. Not that hearing would be so hard for most of the bastards. Not with their Other senses.