Never Cry Wolf (Night Watch #4)(74)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Dane blinked. “FBI? I thought—I thought she was working with the coyotes . . .”

“She was,” Sarah said, seeing the immediate relaxation of Lucas’s shoulders.

Dane had my back.

Always.

“But she was playing them,” Lucas told him, dropping his arm and stepping back. “She was undercover.”

Dane’s gaze tracked to Sarah. “She’s like you?”

“No one’s like Sarah.” Lucas shoved a hand through his hair. “No one.”

That was sweet of her wolf to notice.

“What happened to her?” Dane stepped away from the wall, his hands clenched. “Lucas, tell me you didn’t hurt her.”

Lucas frowned. “I didn’t hurt her.”

Sarah tightened her grip on the bag. “He may have saved her.”

Dane’s head whipped toward her.

“It was the demon, Marley.” Sarah wet her lips. Ah, how to be delicate?

“Turns out she was an FBI plant, too.” Lucas didn’t bother with delicate. “They’ve been watching the paranormals. Keeping tabs on us.”

“Figures,” Jordan said, slumping against the wall but his sharp gaze belied the relaxed pose. “Big brother does like to watch.”

“And exterminate.” Dane’s eyes were still on Sarah.

“Only this time, the FBI agents are the ones being taken out.” She should have been told about the connection between the victims sooner. Without that Intel, she’d been working the case blind. But if Miller thought she was the one who’d turned, dammit, yes, the bastard would have been trying to keep her out of the loop. She sighed. “According to Karen, Rafe’s been targeting undercover agents—killing them.”

“Huh.” Dane’s stare tracked to Lucas. “You’re not FBI. Why’s he so hot for you?”

“I pissed off the ass**le because I killed his bastard of a father.”

“Kaber.” A low whistle. “That piece of shit was Rafe’s father?”

“Yes.” Sarah saw his sharpening canines.

Dane growled. “Rafe should probably thank you for taking him out.”

“Probably.”

She could feel the rage in the room. Dark shadows had filled Dane’s eyes. Sarah’s toes curled into the thin carpet. “Did you—did you find Marley?”

It was Jordan who answered. “We found the burned remains of some poor human in the woods.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Marley didn’t leave a lot for us to identify.”

“Was it a man?” Curtis.

Jordan nodded. “No weapon.”

Because she’d taken his gun. Sarah sucked in a deep breath. “It could have been the agent with Karen.” Could have—who was she fooling? The odds were sky high that Marley had killed the man, and Sarah had been so intent on getting Karen to safety, she hadn’t even thought about him.

“Don’t.” Lucas’s voice snapped like a whip.

Sarah swallowed and glanced at him.

“He left us. He ran into the woods. He knew the coyotes were there, he took us to that trap and left us.” The faint lines around his eyes deepened. “His blood’s not on you.”

“No, it’s on Marley.” Dane shoved his hands into his pockets. “And that’s one of the reasons it was so easy for us to track the bitch.”

“Where?”

Sarah tensed at Lucas’s stark voice. So much fury.

“208 Mythlin Street.” Dane lifted a brow. “Sound familiar?”

“When we were looking for you—when those vamps took you—” He shoved a finger toward Jordan. “That was where we found Marie. That’s one of her safe houses.”

“No,” Jordan said, “it was one of Marie’s houses, but now Rafe and Marley are holed up inside, and I think it’s past time we went in and hauled their asses out.”

“Damn right.”

Okay, she needed to get out of the sheet. Sarah whirled around. “I’ll change and get my gun.” The adrenaline already had her blood pumping faster. The nightmare was ending. If they could take out Rafe . . .

She shut the bathroom door and yanked on the clothes as fast as she could. Hiding out at Marie’s—Rafe probably thought that was brilliant.

Sarah grabbed the knob and pulled the door open. “Okay, I’m—”

Lucas was gone. Dane was gone. Jordan still slumped against the wall. One dark brow climbed when he saw her and he shook his head slowly. “Ah, Sarah, did you really think he’d risk you?”

Her heart lurched. “He left me?” But she’d only been in the bathroom for a few moments and she hadn’t even heard the creak of the door.

“Like I said . . . I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” Jordan shrugged. “He’s not going to put your life on the line.”

Damn him. “He needs help.”

She caught the slight tightening of Jordan’s lips. “He has Dane. And Dane’s already arranged for Piers to meet ’em there. Those guys are his backup. Always have been.”

“And what about you? What are you, Jordan?”

“Now that’s a good question.” He smiled, but it was grim.

“You’re as strong as they are. I’m not—yes, I get that.” Lucas needed more back up. No telling how many of his wolf pack Rafe had brought in. And then there was Marley. “He can’t do this with just Dane and Piers backing him.” She grabbed the gun from the nightstand.

“He and Dane have experience taking down rogue wolves. I know, I saw the blood firsthand.”

“But Kaber didn’t know Lucas was coming back for him and that jerk also didn’t have a fire-throwing demon on his side.” Not good odds. “Rafe will have that house protected. He’s going to do anything and everything he can—he wants Lucas dead.”

Jordan caught her shoulders when she tried to go for the door. “You may as well be just human. If you go, you’ll just slow him down.”

Did everyone have to throw up the human comment to her? “Humans aren’t as weak as you think.” They all made that mistake. “If Rafe’s men shift . . .” Now she smiled and she knew the grin was as grim as his had been. “They’re mine.”

His golden gaze searched hers. “And if they don’t shift? If they attack with claws but still with the bodies of men? What the hell then? You’ll distract my brother. If anything happens to you . . .” His claws were out. “I’m not going to watch him go over the edge.”