“It was fine.” What was I supposed to say? He told me I’m in danger and you’re either fantasizing about me in bed or worried that I’ll be mauled by a wolf or bear. I shivered just thinking about either image. Not the good kind of shiver.
“I didn’t even know you guys were friends.”
“It turns out we have some mutual friends.”
“You’re into him.” Eric’s words weren’t a question.
“Yeah.”
He smiled slightly. “He’s not who you think he is. Just remember that.”
“Are you who I think you are?”
“No, but you’re already afraid of me. You should have that feeling about Toby too.”
“But I don’t.” I set aside the worn paperback of Northanger Abbey I was reading to kill the time. Late afternoons were quiet at work. We’d barely had any customers.
“That only makes him more dangerous.”
“He’s not going to hurt me.” I felt that in every grain of my body. I knew he wasn’t a saint, but he wasn’t out to hurt me.
“Probably not. That’s true.”
“You admit that but still think I should be careful?”
“You should always be careful with the unknown, especially those that make you feel safe.”
“Just tell me what the hell is going on. Who are you guys?” I crossed my legs, leaning forward slightly on my stool.
“Who do you think we are?”
“Honestly?”
“Yeah. Give me your best guess. If you get it right on the first try, I’ll tell you.”
I accepted the challenge. “Organized crime. Maybe not the Mafia but something like it.”
“What gave you that idea?”
“The suits, mysterious hours, wild animals available to attack people.”
“Wild animals available to attack? What kind of crime boss shows are you watching?”
“You told me you’d tell me if I was right.”
“You’re not right.”
“Then who are you? None of this makes sense.” I sighed.
“I can’t tell you more about it. We’re not together.” He sat down on a stool and crossed his legs at his ankles.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. If you decided you wanted to be with me, I could fill you in.”
“Be with you? As in date you?”
“More than date.” His eyes moved up and down my body.
I crossed my arms to block his view. “Yeah…not happening.”
“That was quick.”
“You’re not my type, Eric.”
“But Toby is?”
“Maybe.” I couldn’t help but think about Jared. Physically he was my type, even if his personality wasn’t.
“You’re not my type either, but that doesn’t stop me from liking you.”
“I’m not your type?” I glared at him. “Then what? You’re messing with me?” Not that I cared whether he liked me or not, but he was only confusing me more.
“I usually go for girls a little feistier than you.”
“Feistier?” I sneered at him. “I’ll show you feisty.”
He laughed. “Glad to know you care so much.”
“I don’t care.”
“Sure, sure. Get back to work, Bates.” His teasing made me think that maybe he was going to back off.
Chapter Twelve
Toby
“Who the hell let you in here?” I snapped the second I walked through my office door. I’d reluctantly said goodbye to Casey at her apartment earlier, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Jared yet.
He leaned back in my chair with his feet on my desk. “Hello, Toby. Nice to see you too. Your assistant let me in. A witch, isn’t she? She’s cute, although I think I like the girl you keep at home even better.”
“Stay the hell away from Casey.” I gave Jared a warning look. He was right about Nelly being a witch. She was the one who wiped my friends’ minds and I owed her. If they hooked up, it wasn’t my problem, but Casey wasn’t up for discussion.
“Ah. Casey. I knew she had a name. And I seem to have hit a nerve. Funny, she seemed to think you two were just friends.” He grinned wickedly, knowing just how to get me where it hurt.
“She’s unavailable.”
“Is she? I wouldn’t go after another Pteron’s mate—unlike some other people.” He put his hands behind his head.
“Allie was mine first.”
“She wasn’t your mate. But that’s beside the point. We’re talking about Casey, and she isn’t your mate either.”
I growled. “Just leave her alone.”
“Okay. I get it. You like the girl.”
“Is there a real reason you’re here, or is it just to annoy me?”
“I’m here because you suck at your job.”
“My men are on it.”
“That’s not good enough and you know it. We have to quash this before it gets any bigger.” He leaned back further in my chair, and I had to fight myself not to toss him from it. It wasn’t worth the fall out.
“What do you suggest we do?” I stayed standing. I refused to sit in one of my visitor chairs. He’d like that too much.
“Who do you have on the inside?”
“I’ve got a guy.” Marv wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do.
“Wolf? Bear?” He sounded bored.
“Bear. We’re watching him closely.”
“Have you mapped out the attacks yet? Do they fit any pattern?” He messed with the pens on my desk.
I shook my head. “No. They just keep getting progressively more public.”
“I want to avoid any outright fighting. That will just give them the attention they’re looking for. We have to do this quietly. I’ll need to look at everything you have on the packs and clans involved.”
“I’ll get their files.” My grandfather had been so old school that we literally had file folders. I planned on changing everything over to an electronic system when I got the chance.
“Good. Anything fun going on tonight?” He cracked a smile, and I knew he was messing with me.
“No.” I planned to comb through all the documents myself. Like hell I was going to let him discover anything first. Jared may have been Levi’s best, but he distracted easily. I needed to prove I could handle the situation myself if I didn’t want more of Laurent’s men on my territory.