Karen Whiddon - Finding The Texas Wolf

He glanced at her and grinned. “Just follow my lead, darlin’. That’s all you have to do.”

From the momentary look of confusion on her face, he guessed she wasn’t sure how to react to the endearment. He hadn’t called anyone darlin’ in years, not since his fiancée had died. But since he and Carmen were going to pretend to be spouses, he figured using it would be particularly apropos.

“Sounds good, sugar plum,” she drawled, dead-faced.

He laughed—he couldn’t help it. It had been a long time since he’d been around a woman who could make him laugh. Pity she was a Vampire. But then again, he wasn’t looking for a mate. “I think we’ll work fine together,” he finally said.

When he glanced at her again, her beautiful face wore a ghost of a smile.

“Here’s how we’re playing this,” he said, all serious again. “Word has gone out in a certain group of people that the Sons of Darkness are looking to hire someone with a biology background. They’re willing to pay big bucks. You happen to perfectly fit the bill.”

“A biology background?” she snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”

He continued on as if she hadn’t spoken. “Your credentials and employment are right there for them to look up. You’ve never done any work with law enforcement, so there’s no reason they’d suspect you.”

“Maybe not, but what’s my motivation? I’m well paid. I like my job. Why would I want to join their organization?”

Bracing himself, he gave her a sideways look. “You’ve just lost your job. That’s your motivation. Plus, we’ve set it up so that anyone looking will believe you’re massively in debt. You need to find work and find it fast.”

“Lost my job?” She might have become a statue, she went so still. “Are you serious?”

“It’s only temporary. We’ve got someone who pulled a few strings to make this happen. I’m sure you’ll be fully reinstated once this is over.”

Glowering at him, she sighed. “I’d better be. I love my job and I’m damn good at it.”

“I’m sure you are. But look at it this way,” he said. “You’ve got a chance to save the world. How many can say that?”

Chapter 3

Maddie could only stare. This guy, this journalist , had no idea what he’d just asked her to do. She couldn’t, she wouldn’t, and she needed to figure out a way to tell him that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Betraying her own kind, not to mention the other paranormal beings who frequented Broken Chains, was an act punishable by death.

“Jake,” she said, swiveling in her seat to face him. “I can’t. The private investigative agency I work for specializes. Your particular request doesn’t qualify.”

His jaw clenched. Slowly, he shook his head. “First off, I don’t believe you. Second, I’m well aware you know what’s behind that door. I’ve seen you go through it. With or without your help, I will find out what’s going on.”

Though she knew he had no idea of the magnitude of the danger he’d be placing himself in, she couldn’t help but admire—just the teeniest bit—his dogged determination. Even though it completely mystified her.

“What is it with you and that door?” she finally asked. “Do you honestly think whatever is behind it is worth you being beaten within an inch of your life? Because I can promise you, if you keep pursuing this, that’s what will happen again. Or worse.”

“Wow.” He stared at her. “Whatever the secret is that you’re hiding, it must be something big. I can’t believe you’re threatening me.”

“Not threatening. Warning.” She let her gaze roam over him. Even with his battered and bruised face, he was still handsome. His angular features and the light brown tint to his skin made his brown eyes stand out. She liked his lean muscular build and narrow waist. In fact, if she’d met Jake Cassel under different circumstances, she’d have dated him.

Even now, despite him ditching her earlier and then stating he planned to continue on his dangerous and foolhardy course of action, she felt a twinge of attraction.

A jolt of awareness struck her. She realized she had to do whatever it took to keep the truth hidden from him—and by doing so, keep him safe.

“Jake, look.” She swallowed. “I’ll do it. I’ll take the job.”

Instead of making him happy, he narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

That made her laugh. “What do you mean, why? I thought you wanted my help.”

“I do.”

“Yet you’re still frowning.”

“Because I can’t shake the thought that you’re somehow playing me.”

Good instincts, though of course she couldn’t say that out loud. Instead, she shrugged. “Up to you. We don’t come cheap. I completely understand if you’ve changed your mind.”

He tilted his head, eyeing her as if honestly trying to read her mind. “Do you have a card?” he asked.

“Of course.” Luckily, she’d just printed up a batch. She kept several in the console, so she pulled one out and handed it to him. “You can call me if you change your mind.”

He accepted it, put it in his pocket and stared straight ahead.

“Where to?” she asked. He gave her an address in a neighborhood near hers, but a few streets away. She drove silently, efficiently, keeping her concentration on the road. When they finally pulled up in front of a small yellow frame house, she parked. “I hope you get to feeling better soon,” she said.

“Thanks.” Still avoiding her gaze, he slowly and painfully climbed from the car. “I’ll be in touch.”

She watched him walk up his driveway, waiting to pull away until he’d disappeared into the house. Then, because it was her habit, she made a note of the address on a small pad she kept in her console.

As soon as she got home, she called Carmen. Her friend didn’t answer, which made Maddie suspect the Vamp harbored some resentment over being stood up. Maddie apologized over voice mail, said she needed to talk to her about a potential new case and hung up. No doubt Carmen would disappear for a day or two, as was her wont. When Maddie and their other partner, Shayla, called her on it, Carmen always simply shrugged and told them to get used to it, because that’s what Vampires did.

Simple chores, like pouring herself a glass of wine and reheating a leftover bowl of pho she’d picked up for lunch yesterday, brought Maddie a measure of calm. A creature of habit, she liked things to happen as planned and in a particular order. This made her feel secure.

Tonight she’d agreed to meet Carmen for an early drink at Broken Chains. Everything had spiraled out of control before she’d even reached the iconic door. And while she hadn’t intended to spend so much time tracking down Jake Cassel, she knew in her core that she’d done the right thing. There were procedures put in place—some of them primitive and violent—by those who protected their kind from discovery. Jake was lucky he’d only been beaten.

In fact, Maddie knew she actually had an obligation to uphold. Sipping her soup, she deliberated. If she made the call to the Pack Protectors—or, most likely, her brother, since he worked as one—they’d send people to round up the reporter. It wouldn’t be pretty, it wouldn’t be kind, and she wasn’t a hundred percent sure Jake would survive.

Though calling her brother might be the right thing to do, she couldn’t. Not yet. Instead, she’d keep an eye on Jake and try her best to protect him from harm. And from getting too close to the truth. If he’d actually hire her, that would make her task a lot easier.

She poured herself a second glass of wine and rinsed her bowl before putting it in the dishwasher. Carrying her wine to the living room, she clicked on the TV just in time to catch the evening news.