Chapter 134


    “Liam?” Leah nces at me and I usher


    her to the side. “We’ll take a table back in


    the main room,” I tell Antoine.


    I spin Leah around and get her on the


    other side of the curtain.


    “What is my brother doing here?”


    “Dining,” I reply easily. “What else?”


    We’re led back to a private alcove and I pull out my phone and text for my security detail toe in.


    “A team will be joining us, Antoine. Please position them appropriately.”


    “Of course, sir. Right away, sir.”


    We sit and take the menus he extends to


    us.


    A bevy of waiters and bussers pour drinks and ce a tter of artisan


    breads on the table. Leah reads her


    menu and I’m d that she isn’t too put off by the fact that her brother is in the


    same exclusive restaurant.


    I wouldn’t think much of it either.


    Except I know who he is eating with. And


    it’s not Tobin. Or some other Council


    member.


    Their backs were to us, but I recognized


    the tattoos on their necks. These are Old


    Country Wolves. One from an Arctic pack that traces its line to the origins of our


    kind. Two from a Eurasian pack that’s


    anchored in Brus.


    The closest equivalent to these merciless


    wolves is the mafia.


    They aren’t beholden to the Council. They operate outside of it. They don’t give a sh it about humans


    and would be delighted if humanity fell off a cliff.


    They’re weapons dealers.


    Drug traffickers.


    Their back alley dealings influence entire regions and the economics of whole


    countries.


    What-the-actual-f**k is Liam doing, taking a meeting with them?


    I can’t write this off as coincidence or


    pretend that he just runs in some shady


    circles. This is too high up. You can’t


    even get a sitdown with Michail or Ryker


    unless you’re brokering a transaction of


    several hundred million. They don’t fo ol


    around with any of the small stuff. And


    the third wolf, Dorian, I don’t think he’s


    left Gibraltar for twenty years or more.


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    What brings him to this state, now?


    1


    I’ve crossed paths with these Alphas a


    time or two.


    Michail’s pack is a bu nch of hotheads. I


    taught one of Michails’ goons a lesson


    not too long ago.


    I’m pretty sure his limb never


    regenerated.


    And Ryker, he’s a known assassin.


    Leah continues to peruse the menu,pletely oblivious to the fact that her brother is enjoying a meal


    with some of the deadliest wolves on this.


    I order a 2018 Chateau Petrus Bordeaux.


    When I see James and two of my men take up position directly outside our little room, I breathe a bit


    easier. I can hold


    my own, no problem.


    But Leah is vulnerable.


    And when she became Alpha of Pack


    Roberts it sent shockwaves through the entire paranormalmunity.


    I don’t think most wolves would think


    twice about ki lling her. The power she holds is a he ll of a temptation.


    Even for me.


    She looks up and smiles. “This is really


    nice, Aaron.”


    Right. We’re on a date.


    I don’t care about the food or the wine


    or the exclusivity of this restaurant. I just want to get her back to that room,


    unwrap her like it’s Christmas morning


    and feel her body beneath me.


    “I’m not sure what to order,” she


    whispers.


    “You don’t have to decide. It’s a tasting menu. They’re going to bring everything.”


    Her eyes go wide. “Oh. Wow. Okay. d I brought my appetite.”


    Typically the servings aren’t sorge, and there will be wine pairings and


    pte cleansing aperitifs in between.


    “Do your men want to join us,” she


    whispers. But of course they can hear. “Maybe James is hungry.”


    I watch James’ head tilt.


    “When we’re ready to leave, they can


    take our table and have a full meal too.”


    One of my men pumps his fist in the air.


    Leahughs.


    Antoine returns and decants the wine.


    He pours some for her. “Oh no, you taste,


    Aaron.”


    Funny. She looks almost panicked about


    it.


    It’s not a big deal. It’s either good or tastes corked. She shouldn’t worry about


    the pretense.


    I sip and savor the vor. “It’s good,” I


    say.


    Antoine looks to Leah to take a sip. But


    she just smiles demurely.


    She was never a big drinker, but she does like a good red wine. She must not


    be in the mood tonight.


    When we’re alone again I reach across


    the table and take her hand.


    I’m not sure why I was so determined to take her out. But sitting here with her, this feels right.


    “You’re not wearing the ne.”


    Her hand goes to her throat. “I took it off


    before the shower…”


    I pull the chain and pendant out of my pocket with my free hand.